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The top stars in the sporting world will be honored Thursday in Los Angeles as part of the annual ESPY awards, presented by ESPN.

The event awards the top performers in football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and others while naming the best team of the year.

Ahead of the 2024 event, find out who is nominated in the night’s top categories, as well as predictions for each of the night’s awards with this preview.

ESPYs Host and Viewing Info

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Date: Thursday, July 11

Time: 8:00 p.m.

TV: ABC

Streaming: ESPN app

Hosted by: Serena Williams

Location: Dolby Theater in Los Angeles

Presenters include Quinta Brunson, Nikki Glaser, Rob Lowe, Paige Bueckers, Draymond Green, Lindsey Vonn, Flau’jae Johnson, GloRilla, Allyson Felix, Damar Hamlin, Candace Parker, Brian Tyree Henry, Ryan Blaney and more.

Quick Predictions

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Predictions for individual sport categories and others include:

Best Record-Setting Performance

Caitlin Clark becomes all-time scoring leader breaking Pete Maravich’s record

Best Championship Performance

Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

Best Comeback Athlete

Simone Biles, gymnast

Best Play

Anthony Edwards’ dunk of the year (March 18, 2024)

Best College Athlete (Men’s)

Jayden Daniels, LSU Tigers

Best College Athlete (Women’s)

Caitlin Clark, Iowa Hawkeyes

Best Athlete With A Disability

Oksana Masters, cross-country skier/hand cyclist

Best NFL Player

Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Best MLB Player

Ronald Acuña, Atlanta Braves

Best NBA Player

Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

Best WNBA Player

A’Ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Best Driver

Ryan Blaney, NASCAR

Best UFC Fighter

Sean O’Malley

Best Boxer

Terence Crawford

Best Soccer Player

Kylian Mbappé, France/Real Madrid

Best Golfer

Xander Schauffele

Best Tennis Player

Novak Djokovic

Best Athlete (Men’s)

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The nominees are:

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels/Dodgers
Scottie Scheffler, golf
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

The NFL still dominates the sports conversation and while Connor McDavid just broke Wayne Gretzky’s record for most assists in a single NHL postseason and probably should win this award, it will be Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs.

The MVP of Super Bowl XLVIII took over the game and led his team to their third world championship in overtime against the San Francisco 49ers and in doing so, left no doubts as to who the premier quarterback in the game is.

Ohtani is generational and Scheffler established himself as the new face of golf, but Mahomes is the guy in the most prominent sport in the country. He wins here and it probably is not as close as it should be.

Prediction: Mahomes

Best Athlete (Women’s)

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The nominees are:

Caitlin Clark, Iowa Hawkeyes
Coco Gauff, tennis
Kelly Norda, golf
A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Caitlin Clark is going to clean up at this year’s awards thanks to her record-breaking performance for the Hawkeyes, but A’Ja Wilson is the best player in women’s basketball and should claim the award in this category.

Wilson shot 55.7 from the field, 31.0 from three-point range, and averaged 22.8 points in 2023 as she led the Aces to their second, consecutive WNBA title. Thus far in 2024, she has averaged 27 points in 33.8 minutes.

She has come through when her team needed it the most, was a driving force in their bid to repeat, and is playing her best ball entering this year’s award show.

It would not be surprising to see Clark pick up the honor based on her immense popularity, but Wilson should be the pick.

Best Breakthrough Athlete

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The nominees are:

Haleigh Bryant, LSU Gymnastics
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
Juju Watkins, USC Trojans
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

All Stroud did in his first year in the NFL was complete 63.9 percent of his passes for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions. He was equally as good in the playoffs, completing 35 of 54 passes for three touchdowns and no interceptions.

He rejuvenated a Houston Texans franchise that needed it and returned them to contention in one season, generating excitement for the future and making the organization a destination for coveted free agents, such as Danielle Hunter, Denico Autry, and Noah Brown.

Stroud is a star on the rise and if he can continue to improve on what was already outstanding play in 2024, there is not reason to doubt that he can be one of the faces of the league.

If he is not already.

Best Team

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The nominees are:

South Carolina Gamecocks, NCAA Women’s Basketball
Kansas City Chiefs, NFL
Michigan Wolverines, NCAA Football
Las Vegas Aces, WNBA
University of Connecticut Huskies, NCAA Men’s Basketball
Oklahoma Sooners, NCAA Softball
Boston Celtics, NBA
Florida Panthers, NHL
Texas Rangers, MLB

The Boston Celtics were 14 games better than the closest Eastern Conference team in 2024 and seven better than the Western Conference’s top seed.

They were dominant throughout the regular season and advanced through the playoffs with a 16-3 record en route to the organization’s 18th NBA world title.

The best team in the NBA from start to finish, with little argument to be made throughout the season, they dominated their sport and capped it off by winning its top prize.

This is an easier choice on paper than any of the others.