ESPYs 2020: Full List of Award Categories, Format and Preview
June 20, 2020
For fans who have been eagerly awaiting the return of live sports, the 2020 ESPY Awards will offer a bit of a reprieve from their absence. While the show won't serve up the thrill of competition—or even a traditional ESPY experience—it will highlight the feel-good moments that sports have to offer.
This year's ESPYs will be a joint venture with the Sports Humanitarian Awards and won't focus on usual categories such as Best Team or Best Male Athlete. Instead, it will focus on recognizing service, perseverance and humanitarianism.
"We can't really give out a best team award when the teams haven't finished their seasons, and you can't have a best moment when there was no Masters or Wimbledon," MaggieVision Productions VP Jeff Smith explained on Good Morning America (h/t ABC News' Lesley Messer).
The 2020 ESPYs will focus more on what athletes have accomplished away from the field or court over the past calendar year. For example, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love is set to receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for his efforts to help destigmatize mental health issues.
"It is an absolute honor to receive this award, and I am incredibly humbled by it," Love said in a statement (h/t ESPN). "In telling my story, if I can help just one child that is suffering to make sense of what they are experiencing, I know my efforts have been worth it."
The ESPYs will also feature a tribute to the late Kobe Bryant and the others who died in a January helicopter crash.
"It's a love letter to Kobe from the streets and the people of Los Angeles," Smith said. "It's a celebration of what he brought to that city."
While the 2020 ESPYs will have a different theme than in years past, it will also have a different look. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it will be broadcast remotely with an in-home format similar to that of the 2020 NFL draft.
The ESPYs will be hosted by Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe and Russell Wilson. Expect the hosts and other guests to address issues such as the pandemic and the movement to end systemic racism.
"It's really exciting to be someone who can come into everybody's living room and can help provide that fun aspect, that inspirational aspect, to focus on sports, but listen, there is a lot more going on right now that we’re also going to touch on," Bird said, per Newsday's Neil Best.
The 2020 ESPYs and Sports Humanitarian Awards will kick off at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday.
2020 ESPYs
When: Sunday, June 21 at 9 p.m. ET
TV and Live Stream: ESPN
Hosts: Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe and Russell Wilson
Awards, Nominees and Winners
Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award
Nominees
Nelson Cruz, Minnesota Twins
Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers
Devin and Jason McCourty, New England Patriots
Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx
Titus O’Neil, WWE
Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year
Nominees
Denver Broncos
Los Angeles Dodgers
New York City FC
Sacramento Kings
Corporate Community Impact Award
Nominees
Anthem Foundation
Nike
Burton Snowboards
Peach Bowl
Can't-Stop-Watching Moment (videos and voting found here)
Nominees
Jackson State Manager Thomas "Snacks" Lee Drills 3
Riley Sartain-Vaughn Bat Flip
Newtown Wins Title on Anniversary of Sandy Hook Shooting
Obed Lekhehle High Jump
Jimmy V Award for Perseverance
Taquarius Wair, Mesabi Range College
Pat Tillman Award for Service
Kim Clavel, Boxing
Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award
WNBA and WNBA Players Association
Arthur Ashe Courage Award
Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers