Aces star adds 2 ESPYs to awards shelf

Aces star A’ja Wilson was named best women’s sports athlete and repeated as best WNBA player at the ESPY Awards on Thursday in Los Angeles.

Wilson won best athlete over fellow WNBA player and former Iowa star Caitlin Clark, tennis player Coco Gauff and golfer Nelly Korda.

“It’s crazy to think that a young girl that didn’t even want to play basketball is now up in the running for even one ESPY,” Wilson said in videotaped remarks as the Aces prepare to play at the Atlanta Dream on Friday.

Wilson won best WNBA player for a second straight year, taking the honor over Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx, Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty and Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun.

The Aces are also nominated for best team, but lost to the South Carolina women’s basketball team that went undefeated and won the national title.

Wilson was named WNBA Finals MVP last season after leading the Aces to their second straight championship.

She was named Defensive Player of the Year for the regular season and averaged a career-best 22.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game, though she finished third in MVP voting after previously winning the award in 2020 and 2022.

Wilson is making a strong case for her third MVP this season, increasing her career-best averages to 26.9 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks.

Staley takes Jimmy V Award

Led by host Serena Williams, the ESPYs celebrated a landmark year for women’s sports, with Clark, Simone Biles, Dawn Staley and JuJu Watkins joining Wilson as honorees.

Staley, coach of the South Carolina women’s basketball team, received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. Her friend, Tennessee standout Nicki McCray-Penson, died of breast cancer, and Staley’s sister was diagnosed with leukemia.

“I must confess I feel a little undeserving of this recognition. Past recipients of the Jimmy V Perseverance Award have faced incredible challenges and proven themselves as true warriors,” Staley said. “I have merely been a spectator to such immense courage and resilience.”

Biles earned best comeback athlete weeks before she competes at the Paris Olympics. The most decorated gymnast in history withdrew from the team competition at the Tokyo Games to prioritize her mental health.

Clark of the Indiana Fever also earned two trophies, for record-breaking performance in becoming the NCAA’s all-time career scoring leader, and as best college athlete, for her Iowa basketball career.

“I’m a little bit busy in Indianapolis,” Clark said via videotape. “It was a special year in women’s athletics.”

Watkins, the Southern California basketball star, won best breakthrough athlete, taking the first award after the show began 30 minutes late because of President Joe Biden’s news conference.

The best men’s sports athlete was Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He also claimed best NFL player.

Prince Harry addresses Tillman

Prince Harry received the Pat Tillman Award for Service, and he mentioned the late Army Ranger’s mother who had criticized ESPN for honoring the royal.

With wife Meghan joining in a standing ovation, the Duke of Sussex accepted the trophy from three service veterans who were injured during their tours of duty. Harry served in the British military for 10 years, including two tours in Afghanistan as a helicopter pilot.

He created the Invictus Games in 2014, which serves as a multisport, paralympic-style games for wounded or injured servicemen and veterans.

“This award belongs to them, not to me,” Harry said.

Tillman’s mother, Mary Tillman, had criticized ESPN’s choice of Harry, saying there are recipients working in the veteran community who would have been more fitting. Harry thanked Tillman’s widow, Marie, for her attendance and also acknowledged Mary Tillman.

“Her advocacy for Pat’s legacy is deeply personal and one that I respect,” he said. “The bond between a mother and son is eternal and transcends even the greatest losses.”

Retired NFL safety Steve Gleason was honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. He was diagnosed with ALS or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2011. His nonprofit, Team Gleason, helps people with ALS live purposeful lives by providing programming and support services.

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers was best MLB player; Connor McDavid of the Stanley Cup runner-up Edmonton Oilers was best NHL player; and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks was best NBA player.

Cooper Flagg, a senior guard-forward from Montverde (Florida) Academy, and track and field athlete Sadie Engelhardt of Ventura (California) High won the Gatorade National Players of the Year.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.