ESPY Awards 2025 List of Nominees and Predictions for Event's Top Categories

The top athletes from the last year in sports will be honored Wednesday from The Dolby Theater in Los Angeles when Shane Gillis hosts the 2025 ESPY Awards.

Airing on ABC at 8:00 p.m. EST and streaming on ESPN+, the show will honor the best and brightest from individual sports before naming the best overall men's and women's athletes.

Who is nominated for each of the night's top honors and what are the predictions for each category?

Find out in this preview.

Best Team

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Nominees

Florida Panthers (NHL)

Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB)

New York Liberty (WNBA)

Ohio State Buckeyes (NCAAF)

Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA)

Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)

North Carolina Tar Heels (NCAA Women's Lacrosse)

United States Women's National Team (Soccer)

University of Connecticut Huskies (NCAA Women's Basketball)

Prediction: Philadelphia Eagles

From the explosive plays of running back Saquon Barkley to the big-game performance of quarterback Jalen Hurts, not to mention a smothering defense, the Eagles dominated the NFL en route to a blowout win over a dynastic Kansas City Chiefs squad in Super Bowl LIX.

Excellent in every phase of the game, they were the best in their sport from start to finish.

While the OKC Thunder had similar success, the star power and unforgettable individual efforts of everyone from Barkley to rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean, not to mention the overall popularity of the sport, mean the Birds take the biggest award of the year.

Best NBA Player

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Nominees

Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets)

Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)

Prediction: Gilgeous-Alexander

All SGA did over the last year was win the scoring title, league MVP, and NBA Finals MVP while guiding his team to the Larry O'Brien Trophy. It is a feat only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, and Michael Jordan accomplished before him, exclusive and elite company to say the least.

While the whole "free throw merchant" perception may hamper him in the fan vote, the fact that Gilgeous-Alexander was so far and away better than the competition in the year that was should be enough to propel him past the other superstars he shares the category with.

Best NHL Player

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Nominees

Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers)

Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets)

Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche)

Prediction: Kucherov

The Tampa Bay right wing was the most outstanding individual players in professional hockey this year and has the hardware to back it up.

He took home the Art Ross Award for most points scored, was a first-team All-Star, and earned the Ted Lindsay Award for being the best player in a league of outstanding individual efforts.

He scored 37 goals, tallied 84 assists, and totaled 121 points to top the NHL and help guide the Lightning to the playoffs.

If anything, it is a bit odd that no player from the Stanley Cup-winning Florida Panthers were nominated for this award.

Best MLB Player

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Nominees

Freddie Freeman (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Aaron Judge (New York Yankees)

Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Tarik Skubal (Detroit Tigers)

Prediction: Ohtani

Freeman was the most electric hitter in the World Series, Judge earned AL MVP honors, and Skubal was the most deserving Cy Young award winner a year ago. With all of that said, none are already receiving consideration as the best player to ever lace a pair of cleats like Ohtani is.

While he did not pitch a season ago as he continued his recovery from Tommy John surgery, all Ohtani managed to do was join the exclusive 50-50 club, belt 32 home runs, deliver 60 RBI, and steal 62 bases, all while accumulating a .988 OPS and 4.0 WAR.

Again, all while still recovering from Tommy John.

In a sport where tradition matters and history is rich, Ohtani continues to rewrite the books on his way to immortality as one of the most exceptional baseball players of all time. Barring "Shohei fatigue," this is his award to win for as many years as he wants.

Best NFL Player

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Nominees

Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills)

Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles)

Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens)

Patrick Surtain II (Denver Broncos)

Prediction: Barkley

Perhaps it is an upset because Allen took home the league MVP award at the NFL Honors ceremony but one would be hard-pressed to name a single player who was as dynamic, explosive, and more important to their team in 2024-25 than Barkley was to the Eagles.

Signed as a free agent, he eclipsed 2,005 yards, averaged 5.8 per rush, scored 13 touchdowns, and caught 33 passes for an Eagles team that bowled over the competition in the regular season en route to a return trip to the Super Bowl.

The iconic leap frog over Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones and his dominant touchdown runs in the snow against Los Angeles in the playoffs are iconic Philadelphia sports moments and should be enough to earn him the win here.

Best Athlete (Men's Sports)

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Nominees

Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills)

Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Prediction: Ohtani

Not only did Ohtani join the 50-50 club in 2024, he created the thing. Never before had a player driven in 60-plus runs and stole 60-plus bases in the same season. It is the most exclusive club, one reserved for one player.

Whereas no one can dispute Allen's excellence on the field, there was an argument to be made that the MVP award belonged to Barkley. While Gilgeous-Alexander was excellent and joined elite company with the hardware he accumulated this past year, Ohtani did what no other player has ever done and may never do again.

It is not hyperbole. Ohtani is the best in the world at what he does.

Does that mean fans will vote for him over the competition? That remains to be seen but beyond a popularity contest, there is one clear victor here.

Best Athlete (Women's Sports)

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Nominees

Simone Biles (Gymnastics)

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (Track & Field)

Gabby Thomas (Track & Field)

A'ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)

Prediction: Biles

The greatest gymnast in American history added to her already impressive record in 2024, dominating the Olympic games by winning gold medals in all-around, team, and vault. She added a silver in the floor routine.

Her accomplishments do not end at the world stage, though.

Biles continued to rack up awards, winning gold medals at the US Championships and the US Classic, putting to rest any questions as to who the standard-bearer in her sport is.

McLaughlin-Levrone is strong opposition for Biles in this, the most competitive category at this year's awards.

The track and field star won the gold medal in Paris in the 400-meter hurdles and set new world and Olympic records in the process. The world record was even more impressive when you take into consideration that she had set that same record weeks earlier at the Olympic trials. She added a second Olympic gold medal to her collection as part of the 4 x 400-meter relay.

Click here for a full list of awards and nominees for this year's show.