ESPN announced on Tuesday that iconic tennis champion and celebrated trailblazer Serena Williams will host the 2024 ESPYs.
As part of a bevy of news coming out of the network’s upfronts this week, the news that the record-setting tennis star will host the annual awards show.
“I couldn’t be more excited to host The ESPYS,” said Williams in a statement. “This is a dream come true for me, and something I’ve wanted to do for as long as I can remember. It has been a sensational year for sports and an unprecedented one for female athletes. I can’t wait to celebrate everyone on stage in July.”
Serena Williams is set to host ‘The 2024 @ESPYS Presented by Capital One’ airing Thursday, July 11 at 8p ET on ABC
Details: https://t.co/D2SbhezHS4 | #DisneyUpfront pic.twitter.com/DKkuOTVyZF
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) May 14, 2024
Williams is the latest celebrated athlete to host the show. She joins a touted group that includes Stephen Curry, Russell Wilson, Megan Rapinoe, Sue Bird, Danica Patrick, Peyton Manning, and others like LeBron James, and Lance Armstrong.
“In a year where women’s sports are being watched and celebrated like never before, it is a perfect fit to have perhaps the greatest female athlete of all time host The ESPYS,” said Kate Jackson, VP, Production, ESPN. “Given Serena’s spectacular on-court achievements and her overall cultural impact, she’ll bring elite star-power and dynamic energy as host of the show. We are thrilled to work with her to shape a powerful and entertaining show celebrating the best moments in sports this year.”
Entertainers like Anthony Mackie, Tracy Morgan, John Cena, Drake, Jon Ham, Seth Meyers, and Samuel L. Jackson have hosted the event in the past as well. Former SNL cast member and Monday Night Football commentator Dennis Miller hosted the first ESPY Awards back on March 4, 193.
The 2024 ESPYs are scheduled for July 10, 2024. The 32nd edition of the show will be held at Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, California.
[ESPN PR]
About Chris Novak
Chris Novak has been talking and writing about sports ever since he can remember. Previously, Novak wrote for and managed sites in the SB Nation network for nearly a decade from 2013-2022