Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas, A’ja Wilson, and Simone Biles are among the leading contenders for the ESPY Award for Best Athlete in 2025, with the ceremony scheduled for July 16, 2025. The competition highlights notable performances across multiple sports, featuring A’ja Wilson 2024 WNBA MVP as a key nominee.
Strong Performances Define 2025 Nominees’ Seasons
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has had an impressive start to her 2025 season, participating in the first-ever Grand Slam Track event held in Jamaica in April. There, she competed in both the 400m hurdles and the 400m flat races, winning $100,000 by finishing first in each event. Meanwhile, Gabby Thomas opened her season at the Texas Relays on March 29, helping her 4x100m relay team set a meet record time of 41.74 seconds. Previously, Thomas earned three gold medals at the Paris Olympics in the 200m, 4x100m relay, and 4x400m relay events, cementing her status as a world-class sprinter.
Simone Biles, although yet to begin competing in 2025, built on her legendary career with an outstanding 2024 Summer Games performance, acquiring four medals, including three golds and one silver. WNBA star A’ja Wilson also shone in 2024, being honored as the Kia WNBA MVP for the third time, underscoring her dominance in women’s basketball.
The ESPN Nomination Select Committee picked these athletes as finalists for the ESPY award, and the ultimate winner will be decided through public voting. A track insider highlighted the nomination on X, stating:
“Gabby Thomas and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone nominated for ESPYS Best Athlete – Women’s Sports award with A’ja Wilson and Simone Biles.”
McLaughlin-Levrone Steps Out of Her Comfort Zone by Running the 100m Dash
In June 2025, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone participated in the 100m dash for the first time during the third stop of Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track event in Philadelphia. After finishing second in the race, she shared her thoughts with The Athletics regarding the challenge of adapting to this new sprint distance and the differences it entails compared to her usual events.
McLaughlin-Levrone explained the shift in energy required for the 100m sprint:
“It’s a completely different energy system. It’s so ballistic; shooting out of the blocks, toe dragging. To create this force in a linear line down the track is so different than the grace that the 400m gives if you don’t have the best block start. That doesn’t exist in the 100m. It’s definitely been a shift these past few weeks, but it’s been great to work on sprint mechanics, block start and hurdle technique, because those are all things — even though they aren’t as important in longer races — which can still be of benefit down the line,” said Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.
In addition to her athletic achievements, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone recently received the honor of being inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. She joined other inductees such as Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas, and Dana Bash, recognizing her outstanding contributions to track and field.
ESPY Award Significance and What Lies Ahead
The ESPY Award for Best Athlete serves as a prestigious recognition of the year’s top sporting excellence. In 2025, the inclusion of athletes like A’ja Wilson, Simone Biles, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and Gabby Thomas underscores the growing prominence of female athletes across diverse disciplines including basketball, gymnastics, and track. Public votes will ultimately decide who claims the title, reflecting fans’ appreciation of recent performances and overall impact.
With the award ceremony approaching in mid-July, all nominees remain focused on continuing their pursuits of excellence in their respective sports. For A’ja Wilson, her pursuit of the 2024 WNBA MVP honor already places her among the elite, while Biles and the track stars aim to build on their strong legacies in upcoming competitions. The results of the ESPY voting will soon reveal which athlete resonates most strongly with the public and sporting community in 2025.