Best Game ESPY Award

Awarded for| best professional or collegiate game
Location| Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles (2017)[1]
Presented by| ESPN
First awarded| 2002
Currently held by| 2022 NFL AFC Divisional Game: Chiefs vs Bills
Website| www.espn.com/espys/

The Best Game ESPY Award is an annual award honoring the achievements of a team who has performed the best play in the world of sports.[2] It was first awarded as part of the ESPY Awards in 2002.[3] The Best Game ESPY Award trophy, designed by sculptor Lawrence Nowlan,[4] is awarded to the team on the single regular season or playoff game contested professionally under the auspices of one of the four major North American leagues or collegiately under the auspices of the National Collegiate Athletic Association adjudged, in view of its quality, competitiveness, excitement, and significance, to be the best.[2] Since 2004, the winner has been chosen by online voting through choices selected by the ESPN Select Nominating Committee.[5] Before that, determination of the winners was made by an panel of experts.[6] Through the 2001 iteration of the ESPY Awards, ceremonies were conducted in February of each year to honor achievements over the previous calendar year; awards presented thereafter are conferred in July and reflect performance from the June previous.[3][a]

The inaugural winner of the Best Game ESPY Award in 2002 was the seventh game of the 2001 World Series which decided that year's baseball title in favour of the expansion team Arizona Diamondbacks over the New York Yankees.[7][8] The following year's recipient of the accolade went to Ohio State University Buckeyes in their 2003 Fiesta Bowl victory over the University of Miami Hurricanes.[9] College football games have won the award three times and earned another two nominations after American football which has the most wins of any other sport with eight awards and six nominations while basketball and ice hockey games each have one victory each. The 2018 winner of the Best Game ESPY Award is the 2018 Winter Olympics women's ice hockey gold medal game in which the United States team won against Canada's squad in a 3–2 shootout victory to claim their first gold medal in women's ice hockey since the 1998 Winter Games.[10] The award wasn't awarded in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2023.

## Winners and nominees[edit]

Best Game ESPY Award winners and nominees  Year  | Game/event  | Date  | League/governing body  | Sport  | Winners  | Losers  | Score  | Nominees  | Refs

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2002 | 2001 World Series, game seven | November 4, 2001  | Major League Baseball | Baseball | Arizona Diamondbacks | New York Yankees | 3–2  | Super Bowl XXXVI – New England Patriots vs. St. Louis Rams
Women's Olympic Figure Skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics | [7][8][11]
2003 | 2003 Fiesta Bowl | January 3, 2003  | NCAA Division I-A | College football | Ohio State University Buckeyes | University of Miami Hurricanes | 31–24
(double overtime) | 2003 Australian Open – Men's singles: Andy Roddick vs. Younes El Aynaoui
2002 NFC wild card game – San Francisco 49ers vs. New York Giants
2002 World Series, game six – Anaheim Angels vs. San Francisco Giants | [9][12][13]
2004 | Super Bowl XXXVIII | February 1, 2004  | National Football League | American football | New England Patriots | Carolina Panthers | 32–29  | 2003 ALCS, game seven – New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox
2003 Little League World Series – Saugus vs. Richmond
2004 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament – Saint Joseph's vs. Oklahoma State | [14][15][16]
2005 | 2004 American League Championship Series, game five | October 18, 2004  | Major League Baseball | Baseball | Boston Red Sox | New York Yankees | 5–4  | 2005 Rose Bowl – Michigan Wolverines vs. Texas Longhorns
2005 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament –Michigan vs. Kentucky | [17][18][19]
2006 | 2006 Rose Bowl | January 4, 2006  | NCAA Division I-A | College football | University of Texas Longhorns | University of Southern California Trojans | 41–38  | Houston Astros vs. Atlanta Braves – National League Division Series, game four
Andre Agassi vs. James Blake – 2005 US Open Quarter-Finals | [20][21]
2007 | 2007 Fiesta Bowl | January 1, 2007  | NCAA Division I FBS | College football | Boise State University Broncos | University of Oklahoma Sooners | 43–42
(overtime) | 2007 AFC Championship Game – Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots
Oklahoma State vs. Texas triple overtime game  | [22][23][24]
2008 | Super Bowl XLII | February 3, 2008  | National Football League | American football | New York Giants | New England Patriots | 17–14  | 2008 NBA Finals, game four – Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers
2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game | [25][26][27]
2009 | Super Bowl XLIII | February 1, 2009  | National Football League | American football | Pittsburgh Steelers | Arizona Cardinals | 27–23  | Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal – 2008 Wimbledon men's singles final
2009 Connecticut vs. Syracuse men's basketball game | [28][29][30]
2010 | Winter Olympics men's hockey gold-medal game | February 28, 2010  | International Olympic Committee | Ice hockey | Canada | United States | 3–2
(overtime) | 2009 American League Central tie-breaker game – Detroit Tigers vs. Minnesota Twins
2010 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game – Duke Blue Devils vs. Butler Bulldogs | [31][32][33]
2011 | NFL Week 15 game | December 19, 2010  | National Football League | American football | Philadelphia Eagles | New York Giants | 38–31  | 2010 Iron Bowl – Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Auburn Tigers
Butler Bulldogs' upset against Pittsburgh Panthers
Oklahoma City edges Memphis in the NBA Playoffs | [34][35]
2012 | 2012 NFC Divisional Playoffs | January 14, 2012  | National Football League | American football | San Francisco 49ers | New Orleans Saints | 36–32  | 2011 World Series, game six – St. Louis Cardinals vs. Texas Rangers
Kansas Jayhawks 87–86 Missouri Tigers | [36][37]
2013 | 2013 NBA Finals, game six | June 18, 2013  | National Basketball Association | Basketball | Miami Heat | San Antonio Spurs | 103–100  | 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs – Boston Bruins vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Mile High Miracle – Baltimore Ravens vs. Denver Broncos | [38][39][40]
2014 | 2013 Iron Bowl | November 30, 2013  | NCAA Division I FBS | American football | Auburn Tigers | Alabama Crimson Tide | 34–28  | 2014 Stanley Cup Finals, game five – New York Rangers vs. Los Angeles Kings
2014 AFC Wild Card Game – Indianapolis Colts vs. Kansas City Chiefs | [41][42][43]
2015 | Super Bowl XLIX | February 1, 2015  | National Football League | American football | New England Patriots | Seattle Seahawks | 28–24  | 2014 American League Wild Card Game – Oakland Athletics vs. Kansas City Royals
2015 NBA Western Conference Semifinals – San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Clippers | [44][45][46]
2016 | 2016 NBA Finals, game seven | June 19, 2016  | National Basketball Association | Basketball | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | 93–89  | 2015 NFL Playoffs – Arizona Cardinals vs. Green Bay Packers
2016 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament – Villanova Wildcats vs. North Carolina Tar Heels | [47][48]
2017 | Super Bowl LI | February 5, 2017  | National Football League | American football | New England Patriots | Atlanta Falcons | 34–28
(overtime) | 2016 World Series, game seven – Chicago Cubs vs. Cleveland Indians
2017 Australian Open – Men's singles final: Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal | [49][50][51]
2018 | 2018 Winter Olympics women's ice hockey gold medal game  | February 23, 2018  | International Olympic Committee | Ice hockey | United States women's national ice hockey team | Canada women's national ice hockey team | 3–2
(Shootout) | 2017 World Series, game five – Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
2018 Rose Bowl between the Georgia Bulldogs and Oklahoma Sooners | [10][52][53]
2019 | 2018 Kansas City Chiefs–Los Angeles Rams game | November 19, 2018  | National Football League  | American Football  | Los Angeles Rams | Kansas City Chiefs | 54–51  | 2018 game between the Texas A&M Aggies and LSU Tigers and the 2019 Women's Final Four game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Connecticut Huskies.  |
2020 | Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 | 2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament | April 3, 2021  | NCAA  | College basketball  | Gonzaga | UCLA | 93–90
(overtime) | 2021 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament national championship game between Stanford and Arizona, the 2020 NFL game between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns and Game 4 of the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs between the Winnipeg Jets and the Edmonton Oilers.  |
2022 | 2022 NFL playoffs AFC Divisional Game | January 23, 2022  | National Football League  | American football  | Kansas City Chiefs | Buffalo Bills | 42–36
(overtime) | 2022 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament game between UConn and NC State, the 2022 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and Kansas Jayhawks and the November 21, 2021 Iron Bowl game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers.
2023 | Not awarded

## See also[edit]

* Best Upset ESPY Award
* Outstanding Team ESPY Award

## Notes and references[edit]

### Notes[edit]

1. ^ Because of the rescheduling of the ESPY Awards ceremony, the award presented in 2002 was given in consideration of performance betwixt February 2001 and June 2002.[3]

### References[edit]

1. ^ Felt, Hunter (July 13, 2017). "ESPY Awards 2017: Simone Biles and Russell Westbrook win Best Athletes - as it happened". The Guardian. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
2. ^ a b Nelson, Murry R. (2013). American Sports: A History of Icons, Idols and Ideas. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. pp. 399–401. ISBN 978-0-313-39753-0. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
3. ^ a b c "New categories unveiled for The 2002 ESPY Awards" (Press release). ESPN. 2002. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
4. ^ Avard, Christian (August 2, 2013). "Sculptor commissioned to complete Joe Frazier statue has died". Barre Montpelier Times Argus. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
5. ^ "The 2004 ESPY Awards - Fans to decide all 2004 ESPY Award winners". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
6. ^ "Committee is newly found". ESPN. February 3, 1999. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
7. ^ a b "Tiger Woods wins three ESPY Awards". WDUN. Associated Press. July 11, 2002. Archived from the original on June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
8. ^ a b Olney, Buster (November 5, 2001). "World Series; In Final Twist, New York Falls in Ninth". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 1, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
9. ^ a b "Armstrong, Serena Williams earn athlete of the year honors". Deseret News. Associated Press. July 17, 2003. Archived from the original on October 31, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
10. ^ a b Elliott Schlossman, Brad (July 18, 2018). "Lamoureux twins, Marvin win ESPY with Team USA for Best Game". Grand Forks Herald. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
11. ^ Greene, Jerry (July 10, 2002). "Espys Beat The Dog Days Of Summer". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
12. ^ "Fiesta Bowl: Ohio St. 31, Miami 24 (2OT)". United Press International. January 4, 2003. Archived from the original on June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
13. ^ "The 2003 ESPY Awards –Best Game nominees". ESPN. Archived from the original on June 4, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
14. ^ "Miscellaneous: ESPY Awards". Democrat and Chronicle. July 15, 2004. Archived from the original on June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018 - via Newspapers.com.
15. ^ Silver, Michael (February 9, 2004). "Super Bowl 2004: Tom Brady led Patriots over Panthers". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
16. ^ "Jameer Nelson and Saint Joseph's Nominated for ESPYs". Atlantic 10 Conference. June 29, 2004. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
17. ^ "Osterman nabs pair of ESPY Awards". University of Texas at Austin. July 14, 2005. Archived from the original on June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
18. ^ Kepner, Tyler (October 19, 2004). "Even Longer: Red Sox Win Game 5 in 14 Innings". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 2, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
19. ^ Havens, Candace (July 17, 2005). "Perry hosts ESPY Awards on ESPN". The News-Press. p. 191\. Archived from the original on April 6, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018 - via Newspapers.com.
20. ^ Swartz, Bryn (January 21, 2010). "Flashback: The Greatest Game Ever Played". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
21. ^ "Nominees Announced and Fan Voting Begins for 14th Annual ESPYs". ESPN. June 28, 2006. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
22. ^ "Boise State wins two ESPYs". The Idaho Press-Tribune. July 11, 2007. Archived from the original on June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
23. ^ McCarney, Dan (June 15, 2011). "Boise State a tough act to follow". San Antonio Express-News. Archived from the original on June 19, 2011. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
24. ^ "Big 12 Nominees Listed In Six Categories For 15th Annual ESPY Awards". Big 12 Conference. June 26, 2007. Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
25. ^ "Athlete, Stories Honored at ESPYs". Jet. Associated Press. 114 (4): 38. August 4, 2008. Retrieved June 4, 2018 - via Google Books.
26. ^ Maske, Mark (February 4, 2008). "The Miracle Workers". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
27. ^ "Kansas University men's basketball team earns ESPY nomination". Lawrence Journal-World. July 1, 2008. Archived from the original on May 7, 2017. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
28. ^ Collier, Gene (July 19, 2009). "Favre drags Vikings into his summer rerun". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
29. ^ Klis, Mike (February 1, 2009). "Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII". Denver Post. Archived from the original on June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
30. ^ Nett, Dennis (June 25, 2009). "Syracuse basketball and 'The Express' get ESPY Award nominations". The Post-Standard. Archived from the original on March 7, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
31. ^ "ESPY Awards Night Belongs to Drew Brees". CBS News. Associated Press. July 15, 2010. Archived from the original on June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
32. ^ Sappenfield, Mark (February 28, 2010). "USA vs. Canada was a perfect end to Vancouver Olympics: Eh No. 1". The Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
33. ^ "Lakers nominated for 'Best Team' Espy Award". San Gabriel Valley Tribune. June 24, 2010. Archived from the original on January 6, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
34. ^ Wixted, Ryan (July 14, 2011). "Eagles win an ESPY". Burlington County Times. Archived from the original on June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
35. ^ "Eagles win over Giants gets ESPY nom". Philadelphia Daily News. June 28, 2011. Archived from the original on November 14, 2013. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
36. ^ "Tom Coughlin, Drew Brees, Tim Tebow win ESPYs". National Football League. July 12, 2012. Archived from the original on September 17, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
37. ^ Williams, Doug (July 3, 2012). "Niners' Comeback Playoff Win Nominated for Best Game of Year". KNTV. Archived from the original on October 8, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
38. ^ "LeBron James, Heat repeat at ESPYS". ESPN. May 29, 2014. Archived from the original on June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
39. ^ Goodman, Joseph (June 19, 2013). "Miami Heat escapes with Game 6 win over Spurs, forces Game 7". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
40. ^ Zrebiec, Jeff (June 27, 2013). "Ravens well represented among ESPY Awards nominees". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
41. ^ A. Erickson, Joel (July 16, 2014). "Chris Davis' Kick Six, Auburn's Iron Bowl win over Alabama win Best Play, Best Game at ESPY's". The Birmingham News. Archived from the original on September 28, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
42. ^ Forde, Pat (November 30, 2013). "Miracle men: Chris Davis' return lifts Auburn over Alabama and into college football lore". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
43. ^ Rankin, Duane (July 2, 2014). "Auburn has two nominations for ESPN ESPYS "Best Play"". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
44. ^ Duff, Dale (July 16, 2015). "Gronk Scores An ESPY [VIDEO]". WBLM. Archived from the original on November 2, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
45. ^ Castellano, Anthony (February 1, 2015). "Super Bowl 2015: The 5 Biggest Moments". ABC News. Archived from the original on February 10, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
46. ^ Thomas, Oliver (June 24, 2015). "Patriots nominated for five ESPY awards". 247Sports.com. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
47. ^ Vardon, Joe (July 13, 2016). "LeBron James, Cavs get together for more partying at ESPYs". The Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on October 21, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
48. ^ Ali, Rasha (June 22, 2016). "2016 ESPY Nominees: LeBron James and Stephen Curry Face off Again". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 23, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
49. ^ Goss, Nicholas (July 12, 2017). "Patriots Win ESPY Award For 'Best Game' After Great Super Bowl LI Comeback". New England Sports Network. Archived from the original on December 10, 2017. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
50. ^ Strickland, Jamie (February 6, 2017). "Super Bowl LI: New England Patriots recover from record deficit to beat Atlanta Falcons". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on March 2, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
51. ^ Morona, Joey (July 13, 2017). "ESPY Awards 2017: Predicting the winners". The Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on August 15, 2017. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
52. ^ Kelly, Cathal (February 21, 2018). "USA tops Canada in shootout to win Olympic gold in women's hockey for first time since 1998". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
53. ^ Amey, Anthony (July 18, 2018). "Georgia's Rose Bowl victory up for 'Best Game' at 2018 ESPYs". WSB-TV. Retrieved December 25, 2018.

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