🔥 Trending Top Athletes of June 2026: Who's Making Headlines?

As of July 2026, several athletes were recognized and honored at the 2026 ESPY Awards, which celebrated the greatest achievements and moments in sports over the past year. The event took place at Lincoln Center in New York City, hosted by Saturday Night Live star Marcello Hernández ⁴⁷.

Here are some of the key athletes recognized and the awards they received:

Key Award Winners at the 2026 ESPYS

Best Athlete, Men's Sports

• Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks) was named the Best Athlete in Men's Sports ⁶. He also received the Best Championship Performance award ¹. Other nominees in this category included Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF) and Shohei Ohtani ⁴⁶.

Best Athlete, Women's Sports

• A'ja Wilson was recognized as the Best Athlete in Women's Sports ¹.

Best Championship Performance

• Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks) also secured the award for Best Championship Performance ¹.

Other Notable Winners and Recognitions

• The New York Knicks were a significant presence at the awards, with Jalen Brunson's multiple wins contributing to a strong showing for the team ⁶.
• The ESPYS also celebrated a wide array of current and former NCAA athletes, including Olympic gold medalists, national champions, and professional standouts, many of whom have deep connections to collegiate sports ².
• Beyond the ESPY Awards, the NCAA also announced the recipients of its 2026 NCAA Honors, recognizing extraordinary current and former student-athletes, coaches, and administrators for their achievements and embodiment of collegiate athletics' spirit and values ⁵.

These recognitions highlight a diverse group of athletes across various sports, acknowledging their outstanding performances and contributions in the past year ³.