Host Shane Gillis introduced his trademark model of combative humor to the opening monologue of Wednesday night time’s ESPY Awards in Hollywood, drawing a combined response from the viewers {of professional} athletes and Hollywood celebrities.

The host’s jabs got here in distinction to the excessive quantity of kudos bestowed on main figures in ladies’s sports activities, together with gymnast Simone Biles, rugby star Ilona Maher, not too long ago retired soccer famous person Alex Morgan, retired WNBA nice Diana Taurasi, tennis star Sloane Stephens and Penn State volleyball coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley. Olympic gymnast Suni Lee obtained the nod for finest comeback athlete, a gender combined class.

Morgan and Taurasi had been collectively honored with the ESPYs Icon Award for his or her work past the sport to advance ladies’s sports activities and enhance working situations for gamers.

“The best way you opened up doorways for ladies exterior the sport is famous,” Taurasi informed Morgan. The 2-time Olympic soccer medalist famous “We each fought to go away our recreation in a greater place than once we discovered it.”

Morgan added that their advocacy for pay fairness for feminine athletes constructed on a basis established by earlier generations. “We stand on the shoulders of giants,” Morgan stated. “Because of them, we by no means should apologize for talking up or combating to lift the bar.”

Schumacher-Cawley, who’s battling breast most cancers, obtained the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. She spoke eloquently about how her coaching as an athlete in staff sports activities helped her wage struggle with most cancers.

“That jersey we put on means all the things, and the bond we share is unbreakable,” Schumacher-Cawley stated. “Sports activities are superb, and these ladies and the ladies that got here earlier than have set the stage to the place we are actually.”

Gillis acknowledged a number of instances that the jokes weren’t touchdown. In a single instance, the “Tires” star stated, “Donald Trump desires to stage a UFC Battle on the White Home garden. The final time he staged a battle in DC, Mike Pence virtually died.” The response was lukewarm, adopted by just a few scattered claps and cheers. Gillis then informed the viewers, “Alright, you don’t have to try this. It was effective, I didn’t write it.”

Gillis salvaged the second with one other joke at Donald Trump’s expense. He stated, “Really, there was purported to be an Epstein joke right here, however I assume it obtained deleted. Most likely deleted itself, proper? Most likely by no means existed.”

Gillis additionally took intention at WNBA star level guard Caitlin Clark. He began by joking, “It’s been an enormous yr for the WNBA. I really like Caitlin Clark. She and I’ve rather a lot in widespread. We’re each whites from the Midwest who’ve nailed plenty of threes.” Behind a so-so response, Gillis added, “There you go, loosen up just a little. It’s not severe. We’ll see about this one.”

Gillis then delivered a line that additionally fell flat within the Dolby Theater, “When Caitlin Clark retires from the WNBA, she’s going to work at a Waffle Home so she will proceed doing what she loves most: fist-fighting Black ladies.”

Different highlights of the 2025 ESPYs included the Arthur Ashe Award for Braveness to pioneering Black basketball participant Oscar Robinson, who based the NBA Gamers Assn.

Earlier ESPYS hosts have included each sports activities legends and massive display abilities. Those that have hosted the ESPN award present embrace Serena Williams, Stephen Curry, Anthony Mackie, Tracy Morgan, Danica Patrick and Peyton Manning.