Brunson, Wilson Lead Winners at 2026 ESPY Awards

Jalen Brunson and A'ja Wilson received the highest individual honors at the 2026 ESPY Awards on Wednesday night as ESPN's annual celebration of sports returned to New York City for the first time in decades. Brunson, who guided the New York Knicks to their first NBA championship since 1973, was named Best Athlete in Men's Sports, while Wilson earned Best Athlete in Women's Sports after another dominant WNBA season. The Knicks were also selected as Best Team, highlighting a championship campaign that ended one of the longest title droughts in franchise history.

The ceremony recognized athletes and moments from across the sports world, with honors spanning professional leagues, college athletics and international competition. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza was named Best College Athlete after leading Indiana to the College Football Playoff, while soccer star Lionel Messi added another ESPY to his career honors. Other winners included figure skater Alysa Liu, hockey captain Hilary Knight and several athletes recognized for memorable performances and breakthrough achievements during the past year. The event also featured tributes to notable accomplishments both on and off the field and brought together athletes from a wide range of sports.

First established in 1993, the ESPY Awards recognize athletic excellence across numerous sports through a combination of fan voting and selections in certain categories. This year's ceremony, held at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, reflected a broad cross-section of the sports landscape, from championship-winning teams to individual record-setters and emerging stars. The event continues to serve as one of the most prominent annual awards programs in sports, honoring performances from the previous year while highlighting the growing influence of athletes beyond competition.

Sources: Information compiled from ESPN, ABC News' Good Morning America, Yahoo Sports and The Associated Press.