2023 ESPY Awards: Here is the list of winners

LOS ANGELES — The best athletes in the world were honored Wednesday during the 2023 ESPY Awards.

The annual awards show, nicknamed the “ESPYs,” revisited last year’s top performances and paid tribute to the top athletes in sports.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was named the best male athlete and best NFL player, while Alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin was selected as the best female athlete.

Mahomes’ Chiefs also won the best team award.

The show also supports ESPN’s commitment to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, launched in 1993 by ESPN in partnership with the late Jim Valvano, the former North Carolina State University basketball coach.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin gave an emotional speech as he paid tribute to the medical staff that helped save his life when he suffered cardiac arrest during a Jan. 2, 2023, NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bills’ training staff was awarded the Pat Tillman Award for Service.

Damar Hamlin was brought to tears when presenting the Pat Tillman Award for Service to the training staff of the Buffalo Bills ❤️ 💙 pic.twitter.com/IThNKmREyC
— ESPN (@espn) July 13, 2023

Buffalo’s head trainer, Nate Breske, encouraged people to learn CPR adding how thrilled he was that Hamlin was onstage.

“Thank you for staying alive brother,” Breske said.

Chicago White Sox pitcher Liam Hendriks, who overcame stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, was presented with the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance.

Jrue Holiday of the Milwaukee Bucks and former U.S. women’s national soccer team forward Lauren Holiday were awarded the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award.

The Arthur Ashe Award for Courage was given to the U.S. women’s national soccer team.

"None of its worth it if we don't use it to empower those around us to make this world a better place for all that live in it."

Lauren Holiday with a powerful message to all athletes at the #ESPYS 👏 pic.twitter.com/iENa85euKk
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 13, 2023

LeBron James won the Best Record-Breaking Performance and said he would return for another season, squashing retirement rumors that have swirled around the Lakers star since Los Angeles was eliminated from the NBA playoffs.

"Lucky for you guys, that day is not today."

Go off, Bron 😂 pic.twitter.com/4X1Fqs0PqX
— ESPN (@espn) July 13, 2023

Here is the list of nominees. Winners are in bold.

Best Athlete, Men’s Sports

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
Lionel Messi, Argentina

Another trophy for the Super Bowl MVP 🌟

Patrick Mahomes wins the Best Athlete in Men's Sports 💪 pic.twitter.com/3soLlpsYlU
— ESPN (@espn) July 13, 2023

Best Athlete, Women’s Sports

Mikaela Shiffrin, Ski
Sophia Smith, Portland Thorns
Iga Świątek, Tennis
A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Mikaela Shiffrin wins the ESPY for Best Athlete in Women's Sports 👏 pic.twitter.com/Fol7NhNXG8
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 13, 2023

Best Breakthrough Athlete

Angel Reese, LSU Women’s Basketball
Caitlin Clark, Iowa Women’s Basketball
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Julio Rodríguez, Seattle Mariners

Angel Reese wins the ESPY for the Best Breakthrough Athlete 🤩 pic.twitter.com/wzh04F1yy9
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 13, 2023

Best Record-Breaking Performance

LeBron James surpasses Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for NBA career scoring record.
Novak Djokovic wins his 23rd Grand Slam title, defeating Casper Ruud in the French Open final. Breaking a tie with rival Rafael Nadal for the most major singles trophies in the history of men’s tennis, which dates to the 1800s.
Mikaela Shiffrin breaks the record for the most World Cup victories with her 87th win.
Max Verstappen wins the Mexican Grand Prix, breaking the record for most wins in a season.

The Scoring King 👑@KingJames wins the ESPY for the Best Record-Breaking Performance! pic.twitter.com/XT38eFdLD1
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 13, 2023

Best Championship Performance

Lionel Messi, Argentina – 2022 World Cup Final – scored 2 goals and scored in the penalty shootout.
Max Verstappen winning the Mexican Grand Prix.
Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets – 2023 NBA Finals MVP.
Rose Zhang, LPGA – defeated Jennifer Kupcho in a two-hole sudden-death playoff.

The ESPY for Best Championship Performance goes to Lionel Messi 👏 pic.twitter.com/JxxpKKEZ1y
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 13, 2023

Best Comeback Athlete

Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Jon Jones, UFC
Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut Sun
Justin Verlander, Current New York Mets/Houston Astros

The comeback that led to a championship 🏆

Jamal Murray wins the ESPY for Best Comeback Player! pic.twitter.com/woI3660mug
— ESPN (@espn) July 13, 2023