2021 ESPY Awards
{{Short description|29th annual ESPY Awards}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox award
| name = 2021 ESPY Awards
| image =
| caption =
| date = {{start date|2021|07|10}}
| location = The Rooftop at Pier 17, New York City
| country = {{flagu|United States}}
| host = Anthony Mackie
| previous = 2020
| main = {{nowrap|ESPY Awards}}
| next = 2022
| acts =
| network = ABC
| runtime = 180 minutes
| ratings =
| producer =
| director =
| most_awards =
| most_nominations =
}}
The 2021 ESPY Awards were the 29th annual ceremony of the ESPY Award, held on July 10, 2021 at The Rooftop at Pier 17 in New York City and broadcast on ABC. Actor Anthony Mackie served as the host.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/31645146/actor-producer-anthony-mackie-named-host-2021-espys|title=Actor-producer Anthony Mackie named host of the 2021 ESPYS|date=June 16, 2021|access-date=July 11, 2021}} The awards aired on ESPN and ESPN2 on July 11, and a two-hour version aired on ESPN July 13.
Format
After the COVID-19 pandemic made the 2020 ESPYs a virtual taped event, it was a live in-person show with many of the winners showing up to accept their awards. The ESPYs brought back many of the categories from 2019; however, Best Upset, Best Esports Moment and Best Viral Moment were not awarded.
Several categories were renamed and/or changed in scope:
- Best Male Athlete and Best Female Athlete are now Best Athlete, Men's Sports and Best Athlete, Women's Sports, respectively.
- The Best Male and Female College Athlete awards, last presented in 2017, were reinstated and respectively renamed Best College Athlete, Men's Sports and Best College Athlete, Women's Sports.
- The Best International Soccer Player awards for men and women, previously presented to soccer players who were either born outside the U.S. or were not U.S. citizens, were renamed Best International Athlete, Men's Soccer and Best International Athlete, Women's Soccer. In addition, these awards are now presented to individuals who play at club level in leagues outside of the U.S. soccer pyramid, regardless of the players' nationalities.
Winners and nominees
| class=wikitable |
| valign="top" width="50%"|
{{Award category|#eedd82|Best Athlete, Men's Sports}}
| valign="top" width="50%"| {{Award category|#eedd82|Best Athlete, Women's Sports}}
|
| valign="top" width="50%"|
{{Award category|#eedd82|Best Breakthrough Athlete}}
| valign="top" width="50%"| {{Award category|#eedd82|Best Team}}
|
| valign="top" width="50%"|
{{Award category|#eedd82|Best Game}}
| valign="top" width="50%"| {{Award category|#eedd82|Best Play{{ref|ref1|1}}}}
Finalists:
|
| valign="top" width="50%"|
{{Award category|#eedd82|Best College Athlete, Men's Sports}}
| valign="top" width="50%"| {{Award category|#eedd82|Best College Athlete, Women's Sports}} |
| valign="top" width="50%"|
{{Award category|#eedd82|Best Record-Breaking Performance}}
| valign="top" width="50%"| {{Award category|#eedd82|Best NFL Player}} |
| valign="top" width="50%"|
{{Award category|#eedd82|Best MLB Player{{ref|ref2|2}}}}
| valign="top" width="50%"| {{Award category|#eedd82|Best NBA Player}} |
| valign="top" width="50%"|
{{Award category|#eedd82|Best NHL Player}}
| valign="top" width="50%"| {{Award category|#eedd82|Best WNBA Player}} |
| valign="top" width="50%"|
{{Award category|#eedd82|Best MLS Player}}
| valign="top" width="50%"| {{Award category|#eedd82|Best NWSL Player}} |
| valign="top" width="50%"|
{{Award category|#eedd82|Best International Athlete, Men's Soccer}}
| valign="top" width="50%"| {{Award category|#eedd82|Best International Athlete, Women's Soccer}} |
| valign="top" width="50%"|
{{Award category|#eedd82|Best Driver}} | valign="top" width="50%"| {{Award category|#eedd82|Best Jockey}} |
| valign="top" width="50%"|
{{Award category|#eedd82|Best Male Golfer}} | valign="top" width="50%"| {{Award category|#eedd82|Best Female Golfer}} |
| valign="top" width="50%"|
{{Award category|#eedd82|Best Boxer}} | valign="top" width="50%"| {{Award category|#eedd82|Best MMA Fighter}} |
| valign="top" width="50%"|
{{Award category|#eedd82|Best Male Action Sports Athlete}}
| valign="top" width="50%"| {{Award category|#eedd82|Best Female Action Sports Athlete}} |
| valign="top" width="50%"|
{{Award category|#eedd82|Best Athlete, Men's Tennis}} | valign="top" width="50%"| {{Award category|#eedd82|Best Athlete, Women's Tennis}} |
| valign="top" width="50%"|
{{Award category|#eedd82|Best Male Athlete with a Disability}}
| valign="top" width="50%"| {{Award category|#eedd82|Best Female Athlete with a Disability}}
|
| valign="top" width="50%"|
{{Award category|#eedd82|Best WWE Moment{{ref|ref1|1}}}}
| valign="top" width="50%"| {{Award category|#eedd82|Best Bowler}} |
{{refbegin}}
- {{note|1}} Best Play and Best WWE Moment were in an elimination format with 16 entrants at the beginning.
- {{note|2}} Best MLB Player voting was halted, mainly due to allegations of sexual assault by Trevor Bauer.
{{refend}}
Honorary Awards
- Chris Nikic, triathlon
;Pat Tillman Award for Service
- Tara VanDerveer, Stanford Cardinal women's basketball head coach
;Best Championship Moment
- Los Angeles Dodgers win 2020 World Series
;Best Championship Performance
- Simone Biles - gymnastics
References
{{reflist}}