Level 1 — Absolute Beginner
The ESPY Awards happened on July 15. This show gives awards to the best athletes in sports.
This year the show was in New York City for the first time. It happened at a theater called Lincoln Center. A comedian named Marcello Hernandez hosted the show.
Jalen Brunson won three awards. He plays basketball for the New York Knicks. His team won its first championship in a very long time.
A'ja Wilson also won two awards. She plays basketball for the Las Vegas Aces. Other winners included football player Myles Garrett and baseball player Shohei Ohtani.
- award
- A prize given for doing something well
- athlete
- A person who is good at sports
- championship
- A contest to find the best team or player
- host
- A person who leads or presents a show
- theater
- A building where shows and performances happen
- comedian
- A person who makes people laugh for a job
- win (an award)
- To receive a prize for being the best
- team
- A group of players who play together
Level 2 — Elementary
The 2026 ESPY Awards, presented by Capital One, took place on July 15 at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, marking the show's first time in New York City after years in Los Angeles.
Comedian Marcello Hernandez, known from Saturday Night Live, hosted the ceremony, which celebrates the top athletes, teams, and moments from the past year in sports.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson had a big night, winning Best Athlete: Men's Sports, Best Championship Performance, and Best NBA Player after leading the Knicks to their first championship since 1973.
Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson won Best Athlete: Women's Sports and Best WNBA Player. Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett won Best NFL Player, and Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani won Best MLB Player.
- ceremony
- A formal event held to celebrate something
- guard (basketball)
- A basketball position that often handles the ball
- defensive end
- A football position focused on stopping the opposing offense
- lead (a team)
- To guide or direct a team toward success
- celebrate
- To honor a special event with enjoyment
- moment (in sports)
- A notable event or highlight
- present (verb)
- To give an award formally
- mark (an occasion)
- To recognize or note something as significant
Level 3 — Intermediate
The 2026 ESPY Awards, presented by Capital One, relocated to New York City for the first time in the show's history, held July 15 at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater and hosted by Saturday Night Live cast member Marcello Hernandez.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson dominated the men's categories, claiming Best Athlete: Men's Sports, Best Championship Performance, and Best NBA Player, honors that reflected his role in leading the Knicks to their first championship since 1973, ending one of professional sports' longest title droughts.
Las Vegas Aces forward A'ja Wilson swept the women's basketball honors with Best Athlete: Women's Sports and Best WNBA Player, while figure skater Alysa Liu, fresh off the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, took home Best Breakthrough Athlete.
The evening also recognized standout performers across other sports: Cleveland Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett won Best NFL Player, Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani won Best MLB Player, and college standouts Fernando Mendoza of Indiana football and Lauren Betts of UCLA basketball took the top collegiate honors.
- relocate
- To move to a different place
- dominate
- To have complete control or superiority
- sweep (awards)
- To win all or most of a set of awards
- drought
- A long period without success or a particular achievement
- standout
- Someone or something notably excellent
- collegiate
- Relating to college or university level
- designated hitter
- A baseball player who bats in place of the pitcher
- pass rusher
- A football defensive player who tries to tackle the quarterback
Level 4 — Advanced
The 2026 ESPY Awards, presented by Capital One, decamped from its longtime Los Angeles home for the first time in the ceremony's history, convening July 15 at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater under the stewardship of Saturday Night Live's Marcello Hernandez as host.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson emerged as the evening's dominant figure, sweeping Best Athlete: Men's Sports, Best Championship Performance, and Best NBA Player, a haul that crystallized his central role in delivering the Knicks their first championship since 1973 and closing out one of professional basketball's most enduring title droughts.
The women's honors belonged just as decisively to Las Vegas Aces forward A'ja Wilson, who claimed both Best Athlete: Women's Sports and Best WNBA Player, while figure skater Alysa Liu's Best Breakthrough Athlete award capitalized on momentum from her recent showing at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Elsewhere, the ceremony distributed recognition across sports with characteristic breadth: Cleveland Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett and Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani collected their respective sport's top individual honor, while collegiate standouts Fernando Mendoza and Lauren Betts were feted alongside the professional ranks, underscoring the ESPYs' enduring function as a single stage on which the full breadth of American sport converges.
- decamp
- To depart, often abruptly, from a usual location
- convene
- To come together for a formal gathering
- stewardship
- The responsible management or guidance of something
- crystallize
- To become clear and definite in form
- haul
- A large quantity gathered at once
- capitalize on
- To take advantage of an opportunity
- fete
- To honor or celebrate someone publicly
- converge
- To come together from different directions toward one point
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