The UMBC men’s basketball team’s celebration tour will restart at Wednesday night’s ESPYs, the annual award show honoring achievements in sports over the past year.
The Retrievers’ historic NCAA tournament upset over No. 1 overall seed Virginia is one of four nominees for “Best Moment.” Online voting, which determines many of the night’s winners, is still open.
Coach Ryan Odom and athletic director Tim Hall will be on hand at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater, as will graduated guards K.J. Maura and Jourdan Grant (Archbishop Spalding), rising senior forward Joe Sherburne, rising senior forward-center Nolan Gerrity, rising junior forward Max Curran and rising sophomore center Arkel Lamar. Star guard Jairus Lyles’ obligations to the NBA’s Utah Jazz, with whom he recently signed, will keep him from attending.
The Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals and star Alex Ovechkin are nominated for several awards: “Best Team,” “Best Male Athlete” and “Best NHL Player.” Former Stanford swimmer Katie Ledecky of Bethesda is up for “Best College Athlete.” Mike Smith, who won the Preakness at Pimlico Race Course en route to the Triple Crown aboard Justify, is under consideration for “Best Jockey.” Paralympic athlete and wheelchair marathon champion Tatyana McFadden of Clarksville is a nominee for “Best Female Athlete with a Disability” for the eighth time.
Here’s how to watch the show:
When: Wednesday, 8 p.m.
TV: ABC (Chs. 2, 7)
Video: WatchESPN
“Best Moment” contenders:
— Minnesota Vikings defeat New Orleans Saints in NFC divisional-round playoff game
— Notre Dame women's basketball defeats Mississippi State for NCAA title
— Vegas Golden Knights advance to the Stanley Cup Finals
— No. 16 seed UMBC upsets No. 1 Virginia in NCAA tournament