During his opening monologue, Gillis nodded to the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark, who couldn’t make the ceremony owing to her travel schedule with the team. After noting he and Clark had both “nailed a bunch of threes,

ESPYS honored standout athletes and unforgettable stories. Simone Biles, Oscar Robertson, and Diana Taurasi were among the night’s most celebrated figures.

The former USWNT soccer player and WNBA star Diana Taurasi were honored with the Icon Award at the 2025 ESPY Awards in “recognition of their incredible careers and significant impact on the world of sports.”