NEW YORK — The 2026 ESPYS celebrated another memorable year in sports Wednesday night, and athletes with ties to Los Angeles and Las Vegas were among the biggest winners of the evening.
From Shohei Ohtani adding two more awards to his growing collection to A'ja Wilson once again establishing herself as the face of the WNBA, the annual awards show highlighted the impact Southern California and Southern Nevada continue to have on the sports landscape.
Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar, earned Best MLB Player honors after another remarkable season and also took home Best Single-Game Performance, recognizing his penant clinching three-home-run and 10-strikeout game against the Milwaukee Brewers to send the Dodgers to the World Series. It was one of the many unforgettable moments that have become commonplace during his Dodgers career. Since arriving in Los Angeles, Ohtani has continued to redefine what is possible in baseball while helping transform the Dodgers into a dynasty on the verge of winning a third straight World Series title.
Wilson enjoyed another dominant night for Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Aces star won both Best WNBA Player and Best Athlete – Women's Sports, further cementing her status as one of the most accomplished athletes in basketball. Wilson has become the centerpiece of the Aces' dynasty and remains one of the biggest stars in all of women's sports.
The evening also featured several emotional moments honoring athletes whose impact extends far beyond the field of play.
Former California Angels pitcher Jim Abbott received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, recognizing a career and life that have inspired generations. Born without a right hand, Abbott overcame extraordinary odds to pitch 10 seasons in the major leagues, throw a no-hitter for the New York Yankees and become one of baseball's most enduring stories of determination and resilience.
College athletics also featured a pair of local connections.
Former Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was honored as Best College Athlete – Men's Sports following his standout collegiate career before beginning the next chapter with the Las Vegas Raiders.
UCLA center Lauren Betts won Best College Athlete – Women's Sports after leading the Bruins to one of the finest seasons in program history. Betts has helped establish UCLA as one of the nation's premier women's basketball programs and enters the upcoming season as one of the favorites for national player of the year honors.
Another Southern California connection was recognized when Myles Garrett, now starring for the Los Angeles Rams, received Best Record-Breaking Performance after a historic season that added another milestone to one of the NFL's most dominant defensive careers.
While Los Angeles was well represented among the individual awards, the Dodgers were unable to claim Best Team honors despite winning back-to-back World Series championships. The award instead went to the New York Knicks after their breakthrough championship season.
Even so, the night's biggest takeaway was the continued influence of athletes representing Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Between Ohtani's dominance on the baseball diamond, Wilson's excellence in the WNBA, Betts' emergence as one of college basketball's brightest stars and the inspirational honors for Abbott, the ESPYS once again showcased the remarkable depth of athletic achievement connected to the two cities.