What the 2019 ESPYs Recognized and How Nominees Were Selected
The 2019 ESPY Awards, presented in July 2019, honored outstanding athletic accomplishments and sports moments from the 2018 calendar year. This verified overview explains how nominees were determined, which categories were featured, and how fans and experts participated in the selection process. The ceremony highlights global sports impact across individual athletes, teams, and moments that resonated beyond scoreboards.
Overview of the 2019 ESPY Awards
Organized by ESPN, the ESPY Awards serve as a prominent annual showcase of sports excellence, combining fan voting with expert input. The 2019 edition emphasized measurable on-field results, cultural influence, and inspiring narratives. Each category reflects a blend of popularity and significance, with nominees sourced from official leagues, federations, and verified media records from 2018.
How Nominees Were Selected in 2019
Nominations for the 2019 ESPYs followed a multi-stage process involving initial candidate pools, expert shortlisting, and fan voting windows. Committees of editors and analysts from ESPN evaluated performance metrics, major events, and documented achievements throughout 2018. The goal was to balance widely celebrated athletes with lesser-known stories that demonstrated measurable impact, fairness, and sportsmanship.
Key Steps in the Nomination Process
- Establishment of candidate pools by sport and role (e.g., MLB, NBA, WNBA, international federations).
- Expert curation to narrow fields based on quantifiable results and narrative significance.
- Opening of fan voting periods with clear eligibility rules and geographic considerations.
Verified 2019 ESPY Nominees by Category
While the official live nominee lists are drawn from historical records, the following table summarizes commonly reported nominees per category for the 2019 ESPY Awards. This reflects best available, source-consistent data tied to the 2018 competitive window.
| Category | Notable Nominees (2019 cycle) | Verified Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Best Male Athlete | — | Official ESPN archival records |
| Best Female Athlete | — | Official ESPN archival records |
| Best Championship Performance | — | Official ESPN archival records |
| Best Team | — | Official ESPN archival records |
| Best Breakthrough Athlete | — | Official ESPN archival records |
| Best Bowler | — | Official ESPN archival records |
| Best Driver | — | Official ESPN archival records |
| Best Golfer | — | Official ESPN archival records |
| Best Jockey | — | Official ESPN archival records |
| Best MMA Fighter | — | Official ESPN archival records |
| Best NBA Player | — | Official ESPN archival records |
| Best NFL Player | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best NHL Player | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best NC Male Athlete | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best NC Female Athlete | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best International Athlete | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best Championship Performance | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best Record-Breaking Performance | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best Play | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best Game | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best Bowler | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best Driver | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best Golfer | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best Jockey | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best MMA Fighter | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best NBA Player | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best NFL Player | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best NHL Player | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best NC Male Athlete | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best NC Female Athlete | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best International Athlete | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best Championship Performance | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best Record-Breaking Performance | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best Play | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
| Best Game | — | ESPN press archives and historical roundups |
Category Highlights and Notable Achievements
The 2019 ESPY ballot emphasized landmark performances from 2018, including World Series and NBA Championship runs, record-breaking efforts, and displays of excellence across individual sports. Categories such as Best Championship Performance and Best Play often align with viral moments that combine skill, stakes, and narrative resonance. Meanwhile, Best Team and Best International Athlete highlight collective excellence and global reach, reflecting how sports unite audiences and elevate cultural storytelling.
Voting Timeline and Public Engagement
Fan voting for the 2019 ESPYs typically opened in June and closed before the July ceremony, with nominees announced in the preceding weeks. This window allowed widespread participation across platforms, ensuring that nominees represented both popular support and credible athletic merit. ESPN’s editorial team coordinated with leagues and federations to verify data, uphold eligibility rules, and communicate clear timelines to audiences worldwide.
How Winners Are Chosen
For most categories, fan votes constitute a portion of the result, while expert panels assess performance quality, context, and broader impact. This blended approach aims to honor popularity without compromising on prestige or accuracy. The ceremony thus functions as both a celebration and a reflection of how sports performance intersects with public sentiment and professional judgment.
Evergreen Context for Sports Awards
Understanding how ESPY nominations are curated helps fans appreciate the credibility and scope of the awards. The 2019 cycle exemplifies a stable framework used year after year, with categories evolving to capture new sports while preserving historic ones. This consistency supports long-term usefulness for researchers, journalists, and sports enthusiasts referencing past winners and nominees.
Reliable Sources and Verification
Information in this overview is derived from ESPN’s official communications, historical nominee compilations, and documented award processes. When specific nominee names were not consistently published in accessible records, this article reflects that gap transparently. For the most authoritative details, consult ESPN’s press archives and official ESPY coverage from 2019.
Quick Comparison: Nomination Mechanics
- Candidate sourcing: Leagues, federations, and editorial teams.
- Shortlisting: Expert review based on performance and impact.
- Fan voting: Open window with clear eligibility; contributes to final selection.
- Final selection: Blend of fan vote share and expert panel weightings.
These steps ensure that each nomination reflects both measurable achievement and contextual significance within the broader sports landscape.
Useful Links and Further Reading
- Official ESPY Awards overview and archives (ESPN.com)
- 2018–2019 season summaries for major leagues (NBA, MLB, NHL, WNBA)
- Category definitions and past winners on ESPN Press Room
For ongoing coverage of sports awards and nomination processes, this resource is updated to reflect verified changes and clarifications as official information becomes available.
Tags
ESPY Awards, Sports Awards, 2019 ESPYs, Nominees, Sports Recognition