MAIN Sports 2024 ESPY Awards

When: Thursday, July 11, 2024 at 8PM ET

Where:  Televised on ABC live from the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles

There was another exciting award ceremony when sports stars came out to play at the 2024 ESPY Awards on Thursday July 11, 2024 at 8PM ET live from Los Angeles on ABC.

2024 ESPY nominations (also see WINNERS, below) had top nominees in Simone Biles, Patrick Mahomes, Jaylen Brown, Caitlin Clark, Coco Gauff (with her first ever ESPY nod), and Shohei Ohtani.

Making her ESPY hosting debut this year was tennis legend Serena Williams.

And, there was other royalty on hand this year -- as Prince Harry became the 2024 recipient of the Pat Tillman Award for Service. The Duke of Sussex was chosen as this year's honoree in recognition of the impact he has had on armed forces veterans worldwide with his sponsorship of the Invictus Games Foundation.

Caitlin Clark, Patrick Mahomes, and Simon Biles were major contenders at the 2024 ESPY Awards.

Retired NFL safety Steve Gleason, who has been fighting ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) since 2011, was the recipient of the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. Honored with the Jimmy V Award for Perserverance was Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame member Dawn Staley, on the heels of her 38-0 perfect season and NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship title. 

2025 ESPY Awards presenters & performers

A mix of Hollywood celebrities and sport stars were also in attendance to hand out awards including stand-up comedian and actress Nikki Glaser, actor Rob Lowe, football great Drew Brees, Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn, rapper GloRilla, and many more.

Opening the show was singer Ciara with a performance of her greatest hits, with an additional performance by Flau’Jay Johnson, rapper & NCAA college basketball player at LSU.

All about the ESPY Awards

Sandwiched in between the Running of the Bulls and the British Open is the sports extravaganza known as ...the ESPY Awards.

As usual, major buzz about the "Oscars" of major athletic talent begins in June when voting opens online for all nominee categories at espn.com/espys.

Ballots are cast right up until awards night -- as millions of fans join in to pick their favorite athletes, sports teams, and the year's outstanding performances.

DID YOU KNOW? ESPY Award fun facts & trivia

• Although the ESPYs are always hosted by ESPN, the name actually stands for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Award.

• A record 7 million viewers tuned in to see Caitlyn Jenner accept the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2015 ESPY Awards in her first public appearance since transitioning to a women. It was the ESPY Awards' highest rated telecast ever.

• Actor Samuel L. Jackson holds the record for hosting the ESPY Awards at four (1999, 2001, 2002, 2009) followed by by comedian Dennis Miller (1993 and 1994), actor and singer Jamie Foxx (2003 and 2004), and comedian Seth Meyers (2010 and 2011).

• The all-time record holder for most ESPY Award wins goes to golfing great Tiger Woods with 21, including multiple wins for Best Male Golfer and Best Male Athlete.

• For Best Record Breaking Performance, NFL football superstar Peyton Manning leads the pack with a total of three awards (in 2005, 2014 and 2015), followed by Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps with two (in 2009 and 2013).

• Sportswomen at the ESPYS with multiple wins for Best Female Athlete include soccer player Mia Hamm, (1998 and 2000) golfer Annika Sörenstam (2005 and 2006), alpine skier Lindsey Vonn (2010 and 2011), tennis player Serena Williams (2003 and 2013), and mixed martial artist Ronda Rousey (2014 and 2015).

2024 ESPY Award Nominees & WINNERS

More about the ESPYS

Begun by cable sports channel ESPN in 1993, the annual ESPY Awards allows sports fans worldwide to join in an online vote for their favorites in such categories as Best Male Athlete, Best Female Athlete,Best Coach/Manager, and Team of the Year.

Unlike most awards shows, the ESPYs are probably most noted for its contribution to charity, as a portion of the proceeds is donated to The V Foundation, named for its founder, Jim Valvano.

The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is another ESPY highlight, honoring an individual for their personal courage or charitable works outside the sports arena, with past winners including such trailblazers as Muhammad Ali and tennis legend Billie Jean King.

Around the Web, find out more about the awards ceremony with top sites featuring video highlights, photos and fun facts:

ESPY Awards around the Web:

2024 ESPYS - The official site featuring the complete list of this year's nominees, online voting, an archive of video highlights and past winners.

ESPY Awards - Wikipedia entry with details on the awards' history, memorable moments, and lists of show hosts & major winners dating back to 1993.

also see in Sports in July -> Allstate 400 | British Open

Baseball All-Star Game | Tour de France | Wimbledon