Host Shane Gillis brought his trademark brand of combative humor to the opening monologue of Wednesday night’s ESPY Awards in Hollywood, drawing a mixed response from the audience of professional athletes and Hollywood celebrities.

During his opening monologue, Gillis nodded to the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark, who couldn’t make the ceremony owing to her travel schedule with the team. After noting he and Clark had both “nailed a bunch of threes,

The ESPYS celebrated the biggest names in sports with professional athletes and humanitarians recognized for their achievements on and off the field.

I liked Shane Gillis’ ESPYS monologue. As a 30-something-year-old white guy who lives in Ohio and subscribes to his podcast’s Patreon, I was probably always going to. Still, I’m aware enough to know that a not-insignificant part of Gillis’ appeal is that what he says is sometimes going to offend people.

The former USWNT soccer player and WNBA star Diana Taurasi were honored with the Icon Award at the 2025 ESPY Awards in “recognition of their incredible careers and significant impact on the world of sports.”