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The ESPYS brought some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment to New York City on Wednesday night, a day that is typically among the slowest on the sports calendar.
But this year’s ceremony was preceded by a World Cup semifinal match in Atlanta that was already being described as an instant classic. Lionel Messi and Argentina punched their ticket to a second consecutive World Cup final with a victory over England. The defending champions will face Spain on Saturday in nearby New Jersey, just a short trip across the Hudson River from where comedian Marcello Hernandez opened the ESPYS.
The “Saturday Night Live” star wasted no time attacking Jake Paul, Tiger Woods and other sports figures.
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Marcello Hernandez speaks onstage during the 2026 ESPY Awards at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater in New York City. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
“Mike Tyson ripped off my watch. Welcome to the ESPYS!” Hernandez joked after making a boxing-style entrance in a robe with Tyson as part of his entourage.
“I must say it’s an honor to be here among so many great athletes and Jake Paul,” Hernandez began his roughly 10-minute monologue.
Paul seemed to take the joke in stride, laughing and clapping as cameras focused on him in the crowd. Hernandez then remained on YouTube star-turned-boxer, criticizing him for his history of fighting older opponents.
“Jake, that’s just a joke. Don’t fight me,” Hernandez continued. “My dad and stepdad are here. They’re over 50 years old and I know that’s how you like them. So fight them.”
Paul continued to laugh as Hernandez’s part played out, finally closing with the comedian directing attention to his father and stepfather, who appeared in the audience.
Atmosphere at ESPYS 2026 at the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Square on July 15, 2026, in New York, New York. (Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
Hernandez later used Caleb Williams’ cover of “Madden 27” as a lead toward Woods.
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“I want to congratulate Caleb Williams, the quarterback of the Chicago Bears, who will be on the cover of the new Madden video game. Congratulations to Caleb,” Hernandez said, before adding: “And Tiger Woods will be on the cover of Grand Theft Auto.”
Woods was arrested in Florida in March on charges of DUI after a car accident. The arrest report said an officer found painkillers in his pocket and observed signs of impairment at the scene. Woods later announced that he would be taking time away from golf to seek treatment.
Hernandez also included North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick in the monologue, using the 74-year-old’s relationship with Jordon Hudson as part of a joke about the New York Knicks’ title drought.
“The Knicks won their first championship since 1973. And to give you an idea of how much time passed, in 1973 hockey players didn’t wear helmets, basketball didn’t have a three-point line. And in 1973, Bill Belichick was the age his girlfriend is now.”
The Knicks later took home the ESPY for Best Team.
Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and other members of the Knicks’ 2025-26 championship team took the stage to accept the award, but Josh Hart was notably absent. Brunson drew laughs when he joked, “I want to thank the ESPYS for accepting Josh Hart’s invitation.”
Earlier in the evening, Brunson also received the award for “Best Championship Performance.”
Jalen Brunson accepts the award for Best Championship Performance onstage during the 2026 ESPY Awards at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City on July 15, 2026. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for W+P)
Former NBA player Jason Collins, who died in May at age 47 after a battle with stage 4 glioblastoma, was posthumously awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Former MLB pitcher Jim Abbott received the Jimmy V Perseverance Award, while Scott Ruskan was honored with the Pat Tillman Service Award.
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The ESPYS take place each summer and bring together top athletes and other stars to celebrate the past year’s best moments in sports while honoring figures recognized for their courage, service and impact. In previous years, the ceremony was held in Los Angeles, but this year it was moved to New York.
