ESPYs 2015: Start Time, Award Nominee List, Host Info And More

Honoring greatness across every sport in the globe, the 2015 ESPY Awards take place on Wednesday night at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. The ESPN-run award show, standing for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly, brings together superstar athletes from every league and corner of the earth to celebrate their accomplishments over the last year.

Comedian, actor, and television host Joel McHale, notably from “Community” and "The Soup," makes his debut as the host, a job that often includes picking apart attending athletes with acerbic wit. McHale, 43, previously served as host of the 2011 Independent Spirit Awards and was considered a top candidate to host a late night show on a major network. The Seattle native is a Seahawks fan, so Super Bowl references might be on the menu.

Altogether, 32 total awards will be handed out, including honors for Best Play, Best Male and Female Athletes, Best Team, Best Breakthrough Performance, Best Game and Best Upset.

The show will also feature special honors to Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Olympic decathlon winner Bruce, and Leah Still, daughter of Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still, who is battling cancer.

Jenner, 65, revealed her new identity to the world in June and will receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Leah Still, however, will not be attending to accept the Jimmy V. Perseverance Award; her farther will accept it on her behalf. According ESPN, originally the Stills hoped Leah would be well enough to travel, but her doctors advised against it.

The show is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Here is the full list of 32 awards and nominees.

Awards and Nominees

Best Play

Odell Beckham Jr.’s Catch, NFL

Bahamas Bowl Hail Mary, FBS

Malcolm Butler’s Interception, NFL

Lionel Messi’s Goal

Best Male Athlete

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

J.J. Watt, Houston Texans

Best Female Athlete

Ronda Rousey, MMA

Breanna Stewart, UConn basketball

Lindsey Vonn, Skiing

Serena Williams, Tennis

Best Championship Performance

Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants

Lauren Haeger, Florida softball

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

American Pharoah, race horse

Best Breakthrough Athlete

Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

Mo’ne Davis, Little League Baseball

Cardale Jones, Ohio State Buckeyes

Jordan Spieth, PGA

Best Record-Breaking Performance

Lauren Champberlin hits 91st home run, Oklahoma Softball

Devin Hester scores 20th punt return TD, Atlanta Falcons

Peyton Manning throws 509th TD pass, Denver Broncos

Klay Thompson, most points in a quarter, Golden State Warriors

Best Upset

Georgia State over Baylor, NCAA basketball

Kansas City Royals win AL Pennant, MLB

Mississippi over Alabama, FBS

Best Game

A’s vs. Royals, MLB AL Wild Card

Spurs vs. Clippers Game 7, NBA Western Conference quarterfinals

Seahawks vs. Patriots, Super Bowl

Best Team

New England Patriots, NFL

Connecticut Huskies, NCAA Women’s Basketball

Golden State Warriors, NBA

Chicago Blackhawks, NHL

Ohio State Buckeyes, FBS

U.S. Women’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer

Best Coach/Manager

Geno Auriemma, UConn women’s basketball

Bill Belichick, New England Patriots

Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors

Mike Krzyzewski, Duke men’s basketball

Urban Meyer, Ohio State football

Best MLB Player

Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants

Corey Kluker, Cleveland Indians

Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins

Best NHL Player

Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens

Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

John Tavares, New York Islanders

Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks

Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks

Best Fighter

Floyd Mayweather Jr., Boxing

Ronda Rousey, MMA

Donald Cerrone, MMA

Terence Crawford, Boxing

Gennady Golovkin, Boxing

Best NFL Player

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Tom Brady, New England Patriots

J.J. Watt, Houston Texans

DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys

Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers

Best NBA Player

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

James Harden, Houston Rockets

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans

Best Comeback Athlete

Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees

Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

Lindsey Vonn, Skiing

Best Driver

Kevin Harvick, NASCAR

Erica Enders-Stevens, NHRA

Juan Pablo Montoya, Indy Car

Will Power, Indy Car

Lewis Hamilton, Formula One

Best Jockey

Joel Rosario, Horse Racing

Javier Castellano, Horse Racing

Victor Espinoza, Horse Racing

Best Bowler

Jason Belmonte, Bowling

Parker Bohn III, Bowling

Mike Fagan, Bowling

Best MLS Player

Obafemi Martins, Seattle Sounders

Lee Nguyen, New England Revolution

Robbie Keane, Los Angeles Galaxy

Bradley Wright-Phillips, New York Red Bulls

Best International Athlete

Lionel Messi, Soccer

Lydia Jo, Women’s golf

Cristiano Ronaldo, Soccer

Novak Djokovic, Tennis

Lewis Hamilton, Formula One

Best WNBA Player

Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx

Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury

Skylar Diggins, Tulsa Shock

Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury

Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks

Best Male Golfer

Rory McIlroy

Jordan Spieth

Bill Horschel

Best Female Golfer

Lydia Ko

Stacey Lewis

Inbee Park

Best Male Tennis Player

Novak Djokovic

Marin Cilic

Roger Federer

Stan Wawrinka

Best Female Tennis Player

Maria Sharapova

Serena Williams

Petra Kvitova

Simona Halep

Best Male College Athlete

Marcus Mariota, Oregon football

Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin basketball

Jack Eichel, Boston U. hockey

Logan Stieber, Ohio State wrestling

Dansby Swanson, Vanderbilt baseball

Best Female College Athlete

Taylor Cummings, Maryland lacrosse

Missy Franklin, Cal swimming

Lauren Haeger, Florida softball

Micha Hancock, Penn State volleyball

Breanna Stewart, UConn basketball

Best Male Athlete with a Disability

Joe Berenyi, Cycling

Josh Pauls, Sled hockey

Krige Schabort, Triathlon

Mike Shea, Snowboarding

Andy Soule, Nordic skiing

Best Female Athlete with a Disability

Kendall Gretsch, Triathlete

Oksana Masters, Sit-skier

Tatyana McFadden, Sit-skier/wheelchair racer

Becca Meyers, Swimming

Greta Neimanas, Cyclist

Best Male Action Sports Athlete

Ryan Dungey, Motocross

Tucker Hibbert, Snowmobile

Nyjah Huston, Skateboarding

Mark McMorris, Snowboarding

Josh Sheehan, Freestyle motocross

Best Female Action Sports Athlete

Paige Alms, Surfing

Kelly Clark, Snowboarding

Stephanie Gilmore, Surfing

Laia Sanz, Enduro/motorbike