ESPY Awards 2022: List of Nominees and Predictions for Event's Top Categories

Stephen Curry will have a new job at the 2022 ESPY Awards.

For the first time, the Golden State Warriors point guard will be serving as the event's host. So, he could end up having quite a busy night.

The 30th annual ESPYs are set to take place Wednesday night at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, celebrating everything that's happened in the sports world over the past year. Not only is Curry hosting, but he's also nominated for Best Athlete (Men's Sports). And the Warriors, which won the NBA title last month, are up for the Best Team honor.

So the four-time NBA champion could end up getting plenty of airtime on the broadcast, which will air live at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Even if he doesn't come away with those top awards, he'll set the stage for what should be an entertaining night.

There have been plenty of extraordinary feats achieved by athletes and teams over the past 12 months, and those have been reflected in the nominees for the ESPY awards.

Here's a look at the nominations for several of the top honors, along with predictions for who will receive those awards.

Best Athlete, Men's Sports

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

BOSTON, MA - JUNE 16: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during Game Six of the 2022 NBA Finals on June 16, 2022 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels

Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

There's one clear advantage Curry has over the other three nominees: He has led his team to a championship in the past year. And he was impressive in doing so.

Aaron Rodgers earned NFL MVP for the second straight year with a big 2021 season. Shohei Ohtani has done it all for the Los Angeles Angels as MLB's lone two-way star, which earned him the American League MVP Award last year. No NHL player tallied more points during the 2021-22 campaign than Connor McDavid, who had 123 to earn his fourth career Art Ross Trophy.

But Curry led the Warriors to a fourth NBA title in eight years, averaging 27.4 points in 22 games. His performance against the Boston Celtics earned him his first NBA Finals MVP honor, as he powered Golden State to a six-game series victory.

Because of that, Curry should have the edge and take home the ESPY.

Prediction: Curry wins

Best Athlete, Women's Sports

Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images

TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 31: Katie Ledecky of the United States with her gold medal following the 800m Freestyle for Women during the Swimming Finals at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games on July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

Oksana Masters: Cross Country Skiing, Road Cycling, Biathlon

Sunisa Lee: Gymnastics

Katie Ledecky: Swimming

Candace Parker: Basketball

Any of these four women would be deserving recipients, but it's hard to pick against Katie Ledecky after her showing in the swimming events at last year's Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

The 25-year-old won two golds and two silvers at the Games, with her victories coming in the 800-meter freestyle and the 1,500-meter freestyle. She's now a 10-time Olympic medalist, having captured seven golds and three silvers in her illustrious career.

Since then, Ledecky also won four gold medals at the 2022 World Aquatics Championships earlier this summer. With all those accolades, she will receive the ESPY in a tight race for the honor.

Prediction: Ledecky wins

Best Breakthrough Athlete

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 07: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies slam dunks against the Golden State Warriors in the second half of Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals of the NBA Playoffs at Chase Center on May 07, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Trinity Rodman: Washington Spirit

Eileen Gu: Skier

Jonathan Taylor: Indianapolis Colts

Ja Morant: Memphis Grizzlies

Each of these four athletes ascended to the top of their respective sports in impressive fashion over the past year, but the way Ja Morant broke out in his third NBA season should give him the edge.

The 22-year-old was a solid player through his first two years with the Memphis Grizzlies, but he took his game to another level during the 2021-22 season. He averaged 27.4 points per game (8.3 more than his previous career high) and shot 49.3 percent from the field in 57 contests.

Morant was named an All-Star for the first time and was a key reason why Memphis finished as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.

Jonathan Taylor (1,811 rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns in his second NFL season) could end up taking this ESPY, but the prediction here is that it will go to Morant.

Prediction: Morant wins

Best Team

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 26: Jacob MacDonald #26 of the Colorado Avalanche lifts the Stanley Cup in celebration after Game Six of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 26, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. The Avalanche defeated the Lightning 2-1. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Golden State Warriors, NBA

Chicago Sky, WNBA

Atlanta Braves, MLB

Los Angeles Rams, NFL

Oklahoma Sooners, NCAA softball

Georgia Bulldogs, NCAA football

Colorado Avalanche, NHL

These are championship-winning teams, so each has a strong case to win this ESPY. But one of the more impressive showings came from the Colorado Avalanche, which dominated their way to the franchise's first Stanley Cup victory in 21 years.

Colorado entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and then went 16-4 in the postseason. The Avs notched a pair of sweeps, against the Nashville Predators in the first round and the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final.

And in last month's Stanley Cup Final, they took down the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning in six games.

Perhaps it's a bit of recency bias, but the team never trailed in any of its four playoff series, which is quite a feat to accomplish. So the ESPY will go to the Avs.

Prediction: Avalanche win