The Best Upset ESPY Award was conferred once each in 2004 and 2005 annually from 2007 until 2017 and again in 2019 to the team in a regular season or playoff game or series contested professionally under the auspices of one of the four major sports leagues in the United States and Canada or collegiately under the auspices of the National Collegiate Athletic Association adjudged to have completed the best, most significant, or most impressive upset in a given calendar year.

In 2004, award selections were made by fans voting over the Internet or at relevant sporting events from among choices determined by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, ESPN personalities, and retired sportspersons, whilst since 2005 voting has been undertaken by fans exclusively over the Internet from among choices determined by the ESPN Select Nominating Committee. The ESPY Awards ceremony is conducted in July and awards conferred reflect performance and achievement over the twelve months previous to presentation.

There was no award presented in 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 or 2024; however, an award was presented in 2019.

List of winners Year of awardGame or eventDate(s)Competition or leagueSportWinnerLoserScore or result20042004 NBA FinalsJune 6, 2004 – June 15, 2004National Basketball Association BasketballDetroit PistonsLos Angeles LakersFour games to one in best-of-seven-game series20052005 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament first roundMarch 18, 2005National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I BasketballBucknell BisonKansas Jayhawks64–632006Not awarded20072007 NBA Playoffs, Western Conference first roundApril 22, 2007 – May 3, 2007National Basketball Association BasketballGolden State WarriorsDallas MavericksFour games to two in best-of-seven-game series2008Super Bowl XLIIFebruary 3, 2008National Football LeagueAmerican footballNew York GiantsNew England Patriots17–1420092009 FIFA Confederations Cup semifinalJune 24, 2009Fédération internationale de football association (FIFA)SoccerUnited States men's national soccer teamSpain men's national soccer team2–020102010 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament second roundMarch 20, 2010National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I BasketballNorthern Iowa PanthersKansas Jayhawks69–6720112011 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Southwest Regional FinalMarch 27, 2011National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I BasketballVirginia Commonwealth RamsKansas Jayhawks71–6120122012 Stanley Cup PlayoffsJune 12, 2012National Hockey League Ice hockeyLos Angeles KingsVancouver Canucks St. Louis Blues Phoenix CoyotesDefeated the top 3 seeds in the Western Conference to reach the 2012 Stanley Cup Final as a #8 seed (Los Angeles later defeated the New Jersey Devils in six games to win the Stanley Cup)20132013 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament South Regional 2nd RoundMarch 22, 2013National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I BasketballFlorida Gulf Coast EaglesGeorgetown Hoyas78–6820142014 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Midwest Regional 2nd RoundMarch 21, 2014National College Athletic Association Division IBasketballMercer BearsDuke Blue Devils78–712015Regular season Southeastern Conference gameOctober 4, 2014National Collegiate Athletic Association Division ICollege footballOle Miss RebelsAlabama Crimson Tide23–172016UFC 193November 14, 2015 (US time)Ultimate Fighting ChampionshipMixed martial artsHolly HolmRonda RouseyHolm knocked out the previously–undefeated Rousey in the second round of their bout to win the UFC women's bantamweight championship20172017 NCAA Women's Basketball Final FourMarch 31, 2017NCAA Division ICollege basketballMississippi State BulldogsConnecticut Huskies Morgan William hit a pull-up jumper as time expired in overtime to give the Bulldogs a 66–64 win over UConn in the national semifinals, ending the Huskies' 111–game winning streak, the longest such streak by any men's or women's team in college basketball history.2018Not awarded2019Anthony Joshua vs. Andy Ruiz Jr.June 1, 2019Various organizationsBoxingAndy Ruiz Jr.Anthony JoshuaRuiz knocked out the previously-undefeated Joshua in the seventh round to win the WBA, IBF, WBO, and International Boxing Organization heavyweight titles.2020Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic2021–presentNot awarded

See also Sports underdog

References