The nominees for the ESPYS' Best Athlete - Women's Sports award have delivered historic performances in their respective disciplines.

A'ja Wilson etched her name in the WNBA record books, becoming the first player in league history to secure the regular season MVP, Finals MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and scoring title in the same season. Her 322 postseason points in 2025 set a new league record, and she earned her fourth career MVP award, surpassing legends like Lauren Jackson and Lisa Leslie.

In international competition, Hilary Knight set new Olympic benchmarks for U.S. hockey, recording a career-high 15 goals and 33 points. She also became the first American hockey player, male or female, to compete in five Olympic Games. Meanwhile, alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin claimed her second Olympic slalom gold, achieving the largest winning margin in over two decades and securing her record-tying sixth World Cup overall title. Golfer Nelly Korda is on the cusp of LPGA Hall of Fame induction, needing just two more points after winning four of 10 tournaments in 2026, including two consecutive majors, and leading the LPGA with a 68.51 scoring average.