Latest news with #DianaTaurasi
The Independent
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Shane Gillis stuns ESPYs crowd with joke referencing Epstein
Comedian Shane Gillis made a jab at paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein during his opening monologue at the 2025 ESPYs. Gillis's joke referenced the Department of Justice 's recent statement that there was no evidence of a Jeffrey Epstein client list. He quipped that an Epstein joke must have been deleted or never existed, suggesting the country should move on and ignore it. The comedian also singled out WNBA stars Diana Taurasi and Caitlin Clark and President Donald Trump. Watch the video in full above.
The Guardian
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Gillis draws boos and laughs amid jabs at Caitlin Clark and Donald Trump at Espys ceremony
Comedian Shane Gillis's opening monologue as host at the Espys awards ceremony went over awkwardly in front of some of the biggest names in sports on Wednesday night. Early on, he called out various famous faces in the Dolby Theatre crowd in Los Angeles, including retired WNBA star Diana Taurasi, who received the Icon Award later in the evening. Gillis asked the crowd to 'give it up Taurasi', but only after he had called the six-time Olympic champion 'Deanna.' The camera showed an unsmiling Taurasi shaking her head. Gillis quickly caught his mistake, saying, 'My bad on that.' Gillis then moved on to another basketball star, Caitlin Clark, who wasn't at the ceremony as she deals with an injury ahead of this weekend's WNBA All-Star game. 'When Caitlin Clark retires from the WNBA, she's going to work at a Waffle House so she can continue doing what she loves most: fist fighting Black women,' he joked. While some in the audience laughed, others appeared uncomfortable. Gillis continued on for 10 minutes, drawing a scattering of boos at one point, with jokes about Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein. 'Donald Trump wants to stage a UFC fight on the White House lawn. The last time he staged a fight in DC, Mike Pence almost died,' Gillis said. He then turned to Epstein, saying: 'There was supposed to be an Epstein joke here, but I guess it got deleted.' Last week, the justice department and the FBI announced that a review of the case files had confirmed that Epstein had killed himself, and there was no list of his clients to be made public. Gillis' performance drew mixed reviews on social media, with some praising his criticism of Trump, while others criticized the racially charged reference to Clark at a time when WNBA players have been the subject of online bigotry. Gillis was dropped from the Saturday Night Live cast in 2019 after podcast footage surfaced of him making racist, homophobic and misogynistic comments. Gillis apologized at the time, saying in a statement he was 'a comedian who pushes boundaries' but who 'sometimes missed'. He returned to guest host the show in 2024. Gillis was on safer ground when he took a light jab at reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Canadian star, who won the NBA title with the Oklahoma City Thunder in June, has attracted criticism for drawing fouls during games. He smiled when Gillis said: 'SGA is here. Everybody sitting around him is in foul trouble.' Gillis also got a good reception for a joke about former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and his 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson. 'A bookie is what Bill Belichick reads to his girlfriend before bedtime,' said Gillis of the 73-year-old. Before he ended his monologue, a smiling Gillis said, 'I see a lot of you don't like me and that's OK. That's it for me. That went about exactly how we all thought it was going to go. I don't know why this happened.' Gilgeous-Alexander and Simone Biles were named as best male and female athletes once the ceremony got underway. Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to the franchise's first title in Oklahoma City while also leading the NBA in scoring. 'It's a dream come true and for dreams to come true it takes a village,' he said, thanking his wife, parents, brother and others. 'Those names probably don't mean much but to me they mean everything.' Biles, an 11-time Olympic medalist, also claimed the night's first award, best championship performance for her efforts at the Paris Games. She won three golds and a silver at last summer's Olympics. 'That was very unexpected, especially in a category of all men,' Biles said after beating Stephen Curry, Freddie Freeman and Rory McIlroy to the championship performance award. Biles' Olympic teammate, Suni Lee, won the best comeback award for overcoming two rare kidney diseases to help the US win team gold in Paris. She brought one of her doctors to the show.
CBS News
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Comedian Shane Gillis' awkward ESPYS monologue draws mixed reactions
Comedian Shane Gillis' opening monologue as host of the ESPYS went over awkwardly in front of some of the biggest names in sports on Wednesday night. Early on, he called out various famous faces in the Dolby Theatre crowd, including retired WNBA star Diana Taurasi, who was to receive the Icon Award later in the evening. Gillis said, "Give it up for her" after calling her "Deanna." The camera showed an unsmiling Taurasi shaking her head. Gillis quickly caught his mistake, saying, "My bad on that." Gillis moved on to WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark, who wasn't on hand. "When Caitlin Clark retires from the WNBA, she's going to work at a Waffle House so she can continue doing what she loves most: fist fighting Black women," he joked. While some in the audience laughed, others appeared uncomfortable. Gillis plowed on for 10 minutes, with jokes about President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, whose sex trafficking investigation has roiled the Justice Department and FBI. Gillis' performance drew mixed reviews on social media, with some calling him "hilarious" and others "cringey." Gillis' initial joke about North Carolina coach Bill Belichick and his 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson drew a lot of laughs. "A bookie is what Bill Belichick reads to his girlfriend before bed time," he said. "They read 'The Very Horny Caterpillar,' 'The Little Engine That Could But Needed a Pill Firs't' and of course the classic 'Goodnight Boobs.'" But the reaction was mixed as Gillis continued. "He won six Super Bowls. He's dating a hot 24 year old. Maybe if you guys won six Super Bowls you wouldn't be sitting next to a fat ugly dog wife." Gillis admitted he should have cut that part of the joke. NBA Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander smiled when Gillis said, "SGA is here. Everybody sitting around him is in foul trouble." Gillis retold what he called "a dumb joke" that he said he loved from former "Saturday Night Live" comic Norm MacDonald's stint as ESPYs host in 1998. Gillis congratulated Colorado two-way player Travis Hunter for winning the Heisman Trophy. "That's something they can never take away from you unless you kill your wife and a waiter," he said, referring to the late O.J. Simpson. Before closing it out, a smiling Gillis said, "I see a lot of you don't like me and that's OK. That's it for me. That went about exactly how we all thought it was going to go. I don't know why this happened." Gillis, a known Eagles fan, also did a skit on the "tush push," the play made famous by the Philadelphia Eagles that the NFL tried to ban earlier this year. The skit featured Gillis and comedian Druski and others discussing the origins of the "tush push." Gillis, a Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, native, even ripped the other teams in the NFL that voted to ban the "tush push" and called them "cowards." Gillis joked with Birds head coach Nick Sirianni in the crowd after the skit aired. "It was kinda exactly how you just showed it right there," Sirianni joked. An emotional Katie Schumacher-Cawley accepted the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance with her husband and children looking on. The Penn State women's volleyball coach was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in September. She continued coaching without missing a practice and became the first woman to guide a team to the NCAA national championship. "Cancer changed my life but it didn't take it. It didn't take my belief, it didn't take my spirit and it didn't take my team," she said. The Indianapolis Colts and former U.S. Open tennis champion Sloane Stephens were among the winners at the 11th annual Sports Humanitarian Awards. The Colts were honored as the team of the year for their Kicking the Stigma campaign to raise mental health awareness and expand access to treatment. Stephens received the Muhammad Ali award for her namesake foundation that works to make tennis more inclusive through access, representation and support for kids on and off the court. She beat out Washington Wizards guard CJ McCollum and Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin. Michele Kang, the billionaire owner of the NWSL's Washington Spirit, was chosen as the Sports Philanthropist of the Year. Billy Bean, former MLB player and executive, was posthumously honored with the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
WNBA Icon Diana Taurasi receives ESPY honor ahead of docuseries release in August
Diana Taurasi receives ESPY honour (Image credit: Getty Images) WNBA legend and 11-time All-Star Diana Taurasi was honored at the 2025 ESPY Awards on Wednesday. She received the prestigious Icon Award alongside United States women's national team star Alex Morgan, celebrating their outstanding careers and profound influence on global sport. The honor comes ahead of Taurasi's documentary release which is set to stream on Prime Video in August. Golden words for Diana Taurasi at ESPY awards After accepting the award on stage, Diana Taurasi was surprised with a video message from college basketball star Paige Bueckers. 'Dee is unapologetically herself,' Bueckers said. '… Dee, because of you, I can be an (expletive) and be proud of it.' Taurasi, who led the Phoenix Mercury to three WNBA titles, was also named the 2009 league MVP. She is a two-time WNBA Finals MVP and an 11-time All-Star. Speaking on the red carpet before the ceremony, Taurasi reflected on her journey: 'Whatever you do in life, you want to leave it in better hands,' she said. '… I'm actually busier now than when I was playing, so I have to figure that out. … I don't miss one thing about it.' During her acceptance speech, Taurasi expressed gratitude for those who supported her along the way. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo 'We have to thank our families, my family, Alex's family; they're who believed in us before anyone else did,' said Taurasi, who was accompanied by her wife, Penny Taylor. And in my case, I want to celebrate my parents and their immigrant grit. That's the stuff that doesn't show up in the highlight reels, but it shows up when the lights go off, when you're still out there grinding,' she said. 'They gave me a better life, that's built what my career is and built this country. And now to the next generation, keep going. Don't wait for someone to hand you anything. Outwork them. Be loyal. Bring that damn fire every day. We're proof you can do it. We did it and we did it our way, no shortcuts, no apologies and no regrets,' she added. Diana Taurasi's documentary lined up for release Diana Taurasi wrapped up her remarkable 20-year career with the Phoenix Mercury and will now be featured in a new documentary chronicling her storied journey. Titled Taurasi, the documentary is set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on August 7. The Phoenix Mercury announced the news via Instagram on July 16, posting: "Only legends change the game. Taurasi premieres August 7 on Prime Video." The WNBA quickly responded in the comments, writing: 'can't wait.' Diana Taurasi's remarkable WNBA career Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in basketball history, Diana Taurasi was named the WNBA's GOAT by fans in 2021. She retired as the league's all-time leading scorer with 10,646 points and ranked fourth in assists with 2,394. A three-time WNBA champion and two-time Finals MVP, Taurasi also won three NCAA titles with UConn. On the international stage, she claimed six Olympic gold medals – Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024. Diana Taurasi was also known as a trash talker during her time in the WNBA Diana Taurasi once delivered a savage one-liner to Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green during the height of his team's dynasty. As detailed in a TIME article announcing Taurasi's retirement, the moment took place during the 2016 Rio Olympics, when the U.S. men's and women's basketball teams were staying together on a cruise ship. One evening, while players from both squads were hanging out and exchanging some good-natured trash talk, Taurasi didn't hold back. Also Read: NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivers a heartwarming speech while accepting 2025 ESPYS' Best Male Athlete Award 'Draymond Green, a noted NBA rabble-rouser known more for his defensive instincts, physicality, passing skills, and penchant for drawing technical fouls and suspensions than his shooting and scoring ability, was going on about something,' wrote TIME's Sean Gregory. 'Taurasi said, 'Hey, Draymond, how does it feel to be the only person in this room who's never been double-teamed?'' he revealed. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WNBA 'Can't Wait' for Original Diana Taurasi Series
WNBA 'Can't Wait' for Original Diana Taurasi Series originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The WNBA is buzzing with excitement for an upcoming documentary series that celebrates one of its greatest players. Titled simply "Taurasi," the series will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on August 7, spotlighting the iconic 20-year career of Diana Taurasi, the league's all-time leading scorer and a trailblazer in women's basketball. The announcement was made on Instagram by Sports on Prime, with the caption: 'Only legends change the game. Taurasi premieres August 7 on Prime Video.' 'Can't wait!' the official WNBA account quickly commented. Taurasi, 43, retired in February 2025, closing an extraordinary chapter with the Phoenix Mercury, the only team she played for since being drafted first overall in 2004. Over two decades, she won three WNBA championships, was named Rookie of the Year, selected for 11 All-Star Games, earned one league MVP and became the first player to score over 10,000 career points. The Mercury officially confirmed the documentary's release on July 16, calling it a celebration of an unmatched legacy. Taurasi not only leads in total points but also in three-pointers made and ranks fourth all-time in assists. Beyond the WNBA, Taurasi is also a six-time Olympic gold medalist, a record she shares with teammate Sue Bird. Most recently, she added another milestone to her legacy by receiving the 2025 ESPYS Icon Award, an honor she shared with soccer star Alex Morgan. During the awards, Taurasi gave an emotional speech highlighting her immigrant roots and encouraging the next generation of athletes. 'Keep going, don't wait for someone to hand you anything, outwork them, be loyal, bring that damn fire every day,' she said. 'We did it our way. No shortcuts, no apologies and no regrets.' While she may have left the court, Taurasi's commitment to growing the game continues. She is launching the Snow Valley Basketball Camp in partnership with US Sports Camps from July 24–27 in California, where young girls will have a chance to learn directly from her. As the WNBA prepares for the release of "Taurasi," it's clear her influence stretches far beyond the box scores. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
