SEC at the ESPY’s: Complete list of the SEC winners

ESPN and Disney held their “ESPY’s” awards show on Wednesday evening (July 12th). The ESPY’s are the premiere sports award show and is an opportunity for the sports world to come together and celebrate the last year in sports. Overall for the night, one current SEC athlete and then three former SEC athletes took home individual ESPY Awards (as well as numerous represented by a team award).

Complete list of SEC winners at the ESPY’s

Current LSU star Angel Reese took home the award for “Best Breakthrough Athlete” after she helped lead the LSU women’s basketball team to their first national title a couple of months ago. Reese averaged a stellar 23 PPG, 15.4 RPG, 1.8 SPG, and 1.6 BPG while shooting 52.5% on the year while leading LSU to a 34-2 record and the national title. Reese is returning this next year for an LSU team with high expectations and aspirations of repeating.

Speaking of women’s basketball, former South Carolina star A’ja Wilson took home the award for “Best WNBA Player”. The reigning league MVP and Defensive Player of the Year is currently averaging 19.9 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, and 2.1 BPG this season on 53.4% shooting. She also averaged 19.5 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.9 BPG last season while leading the Las Vegas Aces to the WNBA title. The Aces currently sit 19-2 this season.

Jamal Murray (who starred for Kentucky in 2015/16) took home the award for “Best Comeback Athlete” after he recovered from torn ACL in April of 2021 to help lead the Denver Nuggets to the 2023 NBA title. Murray missed the entire 2021/22 season due to the injury before returning this season and averaging 20 PPG, 6.2 APG, and 4 RPG on strong 45.4%/39.8%/83.3% shooting splits. Murray then stepped up his game even further as he averaged 26.1 PPG, 7.1 APG, and 5.7 RPG on 47.3%/39.6%/92.6% shooting in the playoffs.

Justin Jefferson won “Best Play” with his one-handed catch jumping backwards (that he pulled out of a defender’s arms) on 4th & 18 in the final two minutes of a crucial game this past season (a game in which his catch helped the Vikings win). The former LSU receiver has had a historic start to his NFL career in which he has 324 catches, 4,825 yards, and 25 touchdowns across his first three seasons. Jefferson was one of the key players on the LSU 2019 national championship team in which he had 111 catches, 1,540 yards, and 18 TD’s that season.

The Kansas City Chiefs also won the Award for “Best Team” after winning a thrilling Super Bowl this past year to cap off a 17-3 season (including playoffs). Overall, 16 former SEC players were on the Chiefs roster this past season. Nick Bolton (Missouri), Carlos Dunlap (Florida), Jerrion Ealy (Ole Miss), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (LSU), Rashad Fenton (South Carolina), Willie Gay Jr. (Mississippi State), Mecole Hardman (Georgia), Malik Herring (Georgia), Chris Jones (Mississippi State), Darian Kinnard (Kentucky), Chris Lammons (South Carolina), Trey Smith (Tennessee), Taylor Stallworth (South Carolina), Kadarius Toney (Florida), Tommy Townsend (Florida), and Prince Tega Wanogho (Auburn) were all a part of helping the Chiefs win the Super Bowl and the Best Team award.