The Sportsletter - And The ESPY Goes To...

BY JEFF YODER

JULY 21, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning,

The mid-summer sports lull means it's time for the awards. The best of the best ascended upon Los Angeles for sports' red-carpet gala known as the ESPY Awards, and the stars were out. We've got a full list of the winners. Plus, the Tour de France races into the final weekend before baseball resumes and NFL training camps commence. We're picking up steam...

Letter Rip!

ESPYS

And The ESPY Goes To...

Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images

All the Moments, Winners & Highlights From the 2022 ESPY Awards

A week of festivities in Los Angeles rolled into the 2022 ESPY Awards Wednesday night at the Microsoft Theatre, and the sports world celebrated its stars and their achievements from the last calendar year. Warriors guard and NBA Finals MVP Stephen Curry was the host, and he took home a number of awards, too. The celebration brought the biggest sports names on the planet to one room for a night of laughs, videos and acceptance speeches. Here’s a full list of the winners:

2022 ESPY Award Winners

Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Dick Vitale

Pat Tillman Award for Service: Gretchen Evans

Arthur Ashe Courage Award: Vitali Klitschko

Humanitarian Team of the Year: Denver Broncos

Best Women’s College Athlete: Jocelyn Aho (Oklahoma Softball)

Best Men’s College Athlete: Bryce Young (Alabama Football)

Best MLB Player: Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Angels)

Best NFL Player: Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers)

Best NBA Player: Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)

Best NHL Player: Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers)

Best Driver: Kyle Larson (NASCAR)

Best MLS Player: Carlos Vela (LAFC)

Best NWSL Player: Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit)

Best WNBA Player: Candace Parker (Chicago Sky)

Best Boxer: Tyson Fury

Best Men’s Athlete: Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Angels)

Best Women’s Athlete: Katie Ledecky (Olympic Swimming)

Best International Men’s Athlete: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

Best International Women’s Athlete: Sam Kerr (Chelsea)

Best Team: Golden State Warriors

Best Game: Chiefs def. Bills (42-36, OT) in AFC Championship

Best Championship Performance: Cooper Kupp in Super Bowl LVI

Best Record-Breaking Performance: Steph Curry’s 3-Point Record

Best Breakthrough Athlete: Eileen Gu (Olympic Skiing)

Best Play: Megan Rapinoe’s Corner-Kick Goal

Best Comeback Athlete: Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors)

Best Athlete, Men’s Golf: Justin Thomas

Best Athlete, Women’s Golf: Nelly Korda

Best Athlete, Men’s Tennis: Rafael Nadal

Best Athlete, Women’s Tennis: Emma Raducanu

Additional Storylines

PEOPLE: The 2022 ESPYs Red Carpet Arrivals

The Athletic: Shohei Ohtani & Katie Ledecky Honored as Best Athletes at 2022 ESPYs

USA Today: Stephen Curry, Shohei Ohtani & Katie Ledecky Score Big at 2022 ESPY Awards

CYCLING

Final Stages of the Tour de France

Photo: Michael Steele / Getty Images

Pogacar Wins Thrilling Stage 17 as Tour de France Approaches Final Weekend

The Tour de France completed Stage 17 of 21 on Wednesday with Tadej Pogacar claiming his third stage win at Peyragudes. The Slovenian cyclist beat out race leader Jonas Vingegaard in an uphill sprint to take the stage, but the Danish rider retains the yellow jersey with four stages remaining. Stage 17 was the second of three stages in the Pyrenees Mountains. The sport’s two biggest stars are neck-and-neck as the iconic race heads down the mountains towards Champs-Elysees in Paris.

Watch: Stage 17 Highlights

Tour de France Standings

1. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma): 67H, 53M, 54S

2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates): 67H, 56M, 12S

3. Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers): 67H, 58M, 50S

Full Standings

Race Schedule

Stage 18: Lourdes > Hautacam (Thursday)

Stage 19: Castelnau-Magnoac > Cahors (Friday)

Stage 20: Lacapelle-Marival > Rocamadour (Saturday)

Stage 21: Paris la Defense Arena > Champs-Elysees (Sunday)

Additional Storylines

LeTour: Pogacar Wins the Battle of the Giants in Stage 17

VeloNews: Jumbo-Visma Bends But Doesn’t Break Under UAE Squeeze at Tour de France

NBA

Harden Locked in Philly

Photo: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images

76ers Sign James Harden to 2-Year, $68.6 Million Deal

The Beard is staying in Philly! After declining a $47.3 million player option for the upcoming season, Harden re-signed with the 76ers on a 2-year, $68.6 million contract Wednesday. That means he’ll take an annual pay cut of around $14 million to aid Philadelphia in signing free agents to build the roster. It’s a selfless move for the Sixers’ star who put his money where his mouth is after stating his desire to win.

What It Means

The contract means Philly now has Harden and Joel Embiid under contract through this season with the wiggle room to improve the roster and take advantage of their championship window. With Doc Rivers at the helm, the 76ers are very much in “win now” mode. Harden’s contract maneuvering gives them the cap space to improve the roster and take a shot another shot at a title before Embiid becomes a free agent in 2023.

Additional Storylines

NY Post: James Harden Takes Sizable Pay Cut With 76ers

ESPN: Harden Stays In Philly: Breaking Down What It Means

🎥 THE HIGHLIGHTS

⚽️ SOC: Stanway Sends England Into EURO Semis

The UEFA Women’s EUROs saw a stunner in the quarterfinals Wednesday as England clawed back from a 1-0 deficit in the final minutes to beat Spain (2-1). Ella Toone struck the equalizer (84’) before Georgia Stanway ripped a bullet from 20 yards for a stoppage-time winner (96’).

🏀 WNBA: Sky Fly to 5th Straight Win

The WNBA-leading Chicago Sky won their fifth straight game with a 78-74 defeat of the Seattle Storm. Chicago did it with a balanced offensive attack, and the Sky (20-6) are the first team in the WNBA to 20 wins.

THE STORYLINES

👟 World Championships Can’t Seem to Get it Right

On Sunday, the United States won nine of the 21 medals awarded across seven event finals in Eugene, Oregon, but draconian disqualification rules and broadcast issues are hurting the World Championships. (Yahoo! Sports)

⚾️ MLB Bold Predictions for 2nd Half

The 2022 MLB All-Star Game is in the books and the second half of the regular season is upon us. The trade deadline is 13 days away and over the next 12 weeks pennants races and awards races will be decided. Let’s get bold… (CBS Sports)

🏎️ NASCAR Power Rankings

Over the past four NASCAR Cup races, Chase Elliot finishes look like this: 1st, 2nd, 1st and 2nd. Another fine run Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway was enough to keep Elliott atop NBC Sports’ NASCAR Power Rankings for another week. (NBC Sports)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Buccaneers Sign Veteran Tight End Kyle Rudolph (NBC Sports)

• 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo Given Permission to Seek Trade (SI)

• Texas A&M WR Ainias Smith Arrested on DWI, Weapon & Drug Charges (CBS Sports)
• Former Steelers WR Charles Johnson Dies at Age 50 (ESPN)
• Henrik Stenson Loses European Ryder Cup Captaincy for Jump to LIV Golf (SI)
• ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips Weighs in Conference Realignment Talks (B/R)

Support The Sportsletter Team

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Content Intern: Marissa Kasch

Product Manager: Matthew Cahill

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Technical Lead: Kevin Lonergan

Did Someone Forward You This Email? Subscribe Here
Feedback? Contact Our Editor: Jeff@TheSportsletter.com
Not Loving The Letter? Unsubscribe
Follow us on Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Copyright © 2022 The Sportsletter
717 Market Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103