Naomi Osaka returned to the limelight for the first time since pulling out of the French Open in May and leaving Wimbledon to pose on the red carpet at The ESPYS on Saturday night.
The world's highest-paid female athlete faced off from several photographers in New York, one of whom overheard her urging a "good smile" as cameras clicked furiously. In response, Osaka presented a faint closed-mouthed smile.
Osaka won as the Best Athlete in Women's Games at the annual show honoring the top athletes of the year and sporting moments. It was moved from Los Angeles to New York this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Tom Brady won Best Male Athlete and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers were named Best Team. The quarterback, who turns 44 the following month, won his seventh Super Bowl title with the Bucs in his first season this year.
Osaka, who has won four Grand Slam titles, crashed out of the French Open before the second round, saying she has "huge waves of anxiety" and has suffered "prolonged periods of depression" before speaking to the media. " She also dropped out of Wimbledon. She will return for the Tokyo Olympics, representing her native Japan.
She high-fives boyfriend-rapper Corday from the YBN Collective before taking to the stage.
"I really don't want to say a long speech because I'm a little nervous," Osaka said. "This year has really been, it's still not over, but it's been really hard for a lot of us. For me, I just want to say that I really love you guys. '
Charlotte Hornets rookie LaMelo Ball won as Best Success Athlete. Gonzaga's 93–90 win over UCLA in the semifinals of the men's NCAA Basketball Tournament was the best game award. Devonta Smith, who won the Heisman Trophy in Alabama and now plays for the Philadelphia Eagles, won as the best male college athlete.
UConn freshman basketball sensation Paige Bueckers wins as a female college athlete. He urged greater media coverage for black female athletes.
"They have given so much to this sport, the community and society as a whole, and their value is undeniable," she said. "I think we should also use this power to celebrate black women together. To all the incredible black women in my life, on my teams, Breonna Taylor and all the lives lost, and to the names that I haven't learned yet, but I hope to share, I stand behind you and I will continue to follow you and follow your lead and fight for you guys.
Los Angeles Angels double-sided sensation Shohei Ohtani won as best MLB player. The Los Angeles Dodgers' World Series win was named the best championship moment.
Sprinter Shakari Richardson attended the show in her first public appearance since testing positive for marijuana at the US Olympic Track Trials and losing her spot on the team for Tokyo.
Actor Anthony Mackie hosted the show from the rooftop at Pier 17 on the port. He sang Scripps National Spelling Bee winner jella avant-garde during his monologue. The 14-year-old from Louisiana has a prodigious basketball talent.
"This kid can do anything," said Mackie. "She can hit a step-back like Luka Doncic and then correct Luka Doncic for the first time."
Former WNBA MVP Maya Moore received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for her work on criminal justice reform. She was honored on the same day that the late tennis champion turned 78.
Moore stepped down from his playing career in 2019 to demand justice for Jonathan Irons, who was serving a 50-year prison sentence after being wrongfully convicted of theft and assault. Irons' sentence was overturned last year and he was released. Later the couple got married.
Chris Nikic was awarded the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. Last year, he became the first person with Down syndrome to finish an Ironman triathlon.
"I don't make excuses," Nick said. "I don't leave."
Manchester United star Marcus Rashford received the Pat Tillman Award for service. Britt, 23, helped raise millions of dollars for children in England during the COVID-19 pandemic.