Sports Illustrated honored the world’s most impactful athletes and cultural leaders at the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year Awards 2025, hosted at XS Nightclub inside the Encore Casino by Wynn in Las Vegas. The star-studded evening brought together the very best in sports for a landmark celebration recognizing excellence, achievement, and influence across the sports landscape.

Guests were welcomed by a beautiful, celebrity-filled red carpet step-and-repeat, featuring dimensional scenic elements that transformed the entryway into a true awards-show destination. Guests then made their way inside XS Nightclub, where the world-renowned venue was completely reimagined as the Sportsperson of the Year Awards space. XS was transformed from an iconic Las Vegas nightclub into an elegant awards environment, featuring custom scenic design, curated lighting design, bespoke artwork, and a large-scale stage that seamlessly extended the visual language of the red carpet into the ceremony itself.

A dramatic entry experience highlighted the brightest stars in sports reflected by the past 50+ years of Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year cover art as guests ascended the staircase into the club. The guest journey culminated in a breathtaking reveal in the main room, with a golden-edged stage complete with a large LED wall flanked by large golden curved structures, and gold detailing on the stage floor itself.

Mirrored Media partnered with Sports Illustrated to design and produce the full event and award show experience, including the physical environment as well as the live show and on-screen animations and graphics. Following the ceremony, the space transitioned into an energetic after-party, celebrating the honorees and guests with a high-impact finale befitting the occasion.

The evening brought together an extraordinary roster of athletes and cultural leaders, including NBA Champion and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, honored by Sam Presti, President and GM of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, was presented the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award by Laila Ali, daughter of the late Muhammad Ali. WNBA Champion, MVP, and Unrivaled co-founder Breanna Stewart, was honored by entrepreneur and investor Alexis Ohanian, and comedian Adam Ray presented the Breakout Star of the Year award to MLB All-Star catcher Cal Raleigh.

Additional attendees included, actor and comedian Adam Ray, All Elite Wrestling CEO and President Tony Khan, UFC athletes Aljamain Sterling and Khalil Rountree, Olympic bronze medalist and professional boxer Oshae Jones, world champion boxers Mikaela Mayer and Seniesa Estrada, and World Series Champion and former MLB center-fielder Dexter Fowler. The guest list was rounded out by Sports Illustrated Swimsuit models Katie Austin, Jena Sims, and Nicole Williams English.

\ Guests enjoyed an unforgettable night celebrating the pinnacle of achievement in sports and culture, highlighted by a live performance from R&B artist Karri. The Sportsperson of the Year print issue hit newsstands on January 8th, capping off a remarkable year in sports with one of the industry’s most prestigious honors.