STORRS, Conn. – Geno Auriemma, Maya Moore, Tina Charles and the 2010 NCAA National Champion UConn women’s basketball team are among the nominees announced for The 2010 ESPYs, co-presented by Capital One and Castrol EDGE. The ESPYs will be televised LIVE on ESPN/ESPN HD at 9:00 p.m. (ET) on July 14 from the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, Calif.
Auriemma is nominated for Best Coach, while Moore is nominated for Best Female for the second consecutive year. Charles and Moore are among the candidates for Best Female College Athlete as well.
The UConn women’s basketball team is nominated for Best Team following its second straight perfect season and National Championship title. The Huskies are also up for Best Record Breaking Performance for their current win streak of 78 games, which is the longest winning streak in women’s NCAA Basketball history.
Former UConn women’s basketball standout Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury has been nominated for Best Female Athlete as well as Best WNBA Player, joining Tamika Catchings, Becky Hammon, Lauren Jackson and Candace Parker on the list of nominees for that category.
Voting has begun and will run through July 10 as fans will be able to vote online at www.espys.tv or via mobile phone at www.espn.com/espys. Fans can also access voting on Facebook at www.facebook.com/espn.
The ESPYs gather top celebrities from sports and entertainment to commemorate the past year in sports by recognizing major sports achievements, reliving unforgettable moments and saluting the leading performers and performances.
The ESPYs honor ESPN’s commitment to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, a partnership launched with the late Jim Valvano at the inaugural ESPYs in 1993.
BEST TEAM NOMINEES
Connecticut Women’s Basketball
Alabama Football
Chicago Blackhawks
Los Angeles Lakers
New Orleans Saints
New York Yankees
BEST COACH/MANAGER NOMINEES
Geno Auriemma, Connecticut Women’s Basketball
Joe Girardi, New York Yankees
Phil Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers
Mike Krzyzewski, Duke Men’s Basketball
Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints
Nick Saban, Alabama Football
BEST FEMALE COLLEGE ATHLETE
Maya Moore, Connecticut Women’s Basketball
Tina Charles, Connecticut Women’s Basketball
Megan Hodge, Penn State Women’s Volleyball
Megan Lagenfield, UCLA Softball
BEST FEMALE ATHLETE
Maya Moore, NCAA Basketball
Diana Taurasi, WNBA
Lindsey Vonn, Skiing
Serena Williams, Tennis
BEST RECORD-BREAKING PERFORMANCE
Connecticut Women’s Basketball, Longest winning streak in Women’s NCAA Basketball History
Usain Bolt, 100 and 200-meter World Records
Brett Favre, NFL record for consecutive starts
Roger Federer, Most Grand Slam singles titles
Isner vs. Mahut at Wimbledon, Longest Match in Professional Tennis History
BEST WNBA PLAYER
Diana Taurasi, Phoenix
Tamika Catchings, Indiana
Becky Hammon, San Antonio
Lauren Jackson, Seattle
Candace Parker, Los Angeles
