Coco Gauff nominated for ESPY for first time in 'Best Athlete, Female Sports' category

Nick Pugliese, Palm Beach Post

Coco Gauff is a first-time ESPYs nominee.

Gauff, who lives in Delray Beach, was nominated in the "Best Athlete, Female Sports" category, along with former Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark, golf standout Nelly Korda and two-time nominee A'ja Wilson, the two-time WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces center. Gauff, Clark and Korda earned their first nominations.

Sept 7, 2023; Flushing, NY, USA; Coco Gauff of the USA after a winner to Karolina Muchova of Czech Republic in a womenÕs singles semifinal on day eleven of the 2023 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: IMAGN-713077 ORIG FILE ID: 20230907_szo_usa_0111.JPG

Other first-time nominees besides Gauff, who won last year's U.S. Open, include Haleigh Bryant, C.J. Stroud, Juju Watkins and Victor Wembanyama.

The 2024 ESPYs will be hosted by Serena Williams and broadcast live by ABC from Los Angeles on Thursday, July 11 at 8 p.m.

Fans can cast votes at ESPN.com/ESPYS. Voting will close at 5 p.m., on July 11, just prior to the start of the show.

More: Coco Gauff blasts Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, urges young people to get out and vote

Another local up for an ESPY is Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. The former Boynton Beach HS standout is nominated in the "Best Play" category for catching his own pass against the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game last January. Jackson also is nominated for "Best NFL Player" and will be competing against Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes, 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey and Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.

Jan 28, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) prepares to throw the ball during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 28, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) prepares to throw the ball during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Other ESPYs major categories:

  • Mahomes and Dodgers pitcher/DH Shohei Ohtani will be seeking their second win for "Best Athlete, Men's Sports" to join LeBron James, Lance Armstrong, and Tiger Woods as the only athletes to win the category multiple times. Others in that category are Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid, last seen being booed by Panthers fans, and golfer Scottie Scheffler. McDavid also is up for "Best NHL Player" - and no member of the Stanley Cup-champion Florida team is on that list.

  • Two-time World Series MVP Corey Seager and two-time American League MVP Ohtani will be going head to head for “Best MLB Player.” Rounding out that category is Ronald Acuña Jr. and Gerrit Cole.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Coco Gauff vs Caitlyn Clark, Nelly Korda and A'Ja Wilson at ESPYs

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