January 8th, 2025

Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year

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Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year announcement has been made, and it’s Simone Biles. The Olympic gold medalist and most decorated gymnast in world championship history receives the honor on the heels of her triumphant comeback at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

Biles came back to the competition after struggling and eventually withdrawing from Tokyo’s 2020 games due to mental and physical health concerns. This most recent Olympic cycle was her comeback story, with Netflix releasing the first of a two-part documentary series following her journey back to the world gymnastic stage.

Biles set the stage for her reign to continue as one of the best gymnasts in the world. She introduced her fans and viewers across the country to her mental health journey, which led to her withdrawal from the 2020 games. “I wanted to be open and honest with my audience about exactly what I was going through because, as an elite athlete, everybody thinks that every moment we have in athletics is great … but we go through some lows too,” said Biles in an interview with Sports Illustrated.

 The gymnast brought cameras into her life, giving an intimate look into her road back to the Olympics and preparing millions of fans to tune in for the series’ second half. That program chronicles her stance-solidifying performance with Team U.S.A. this past summer in Paris. 

The gymnastic supernova won four medals during these Olympic games: three gold and one silver. Initially unsure about her performance, the world watched every day that Biles took to the floor or the vault, collectively holding their breath, hoping to witness the greatest gymnast of all time reclaim her title.

Biles was able to return to the silver screen vindicated with the second half of her Netflix documentary series remaining on Netflix’s top ten list for two weeks after its release in October and receiving a score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Also highlighted by Sports Illustrated this year is Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. The 21-year-old wide receiver and cornerback has recently been in the media for his emotional Heisman acceptance speech and talent on the gridiron. The five-star class of 2022 recruit stunned college recruiters by choosing to play football for Jackson State, an HBCU, after graduation.

Under Deion Sanders (Coach Prime), Hunter began to make waves in college football, and when Coach Prime took his talents to Colorado, Hunter was not far behind.

The Heisman Trophy winner’s skill set is rarely seen in college or professional football. Hunter defies description as a player who thrives offensively and defensively, making him presumably one of the top five picks in the next NFL draft.

“I’m not going to let anyone tell me that I can’t do something that I’ve already done. There’s a lot of people telling me I can’t do it in the NFL, but I’m going to still do it in the NFL,” said Hunter in an interview with Sports Illustrated.

Sanders was featured as last year’s Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year following his success in college-level football, coaching Travis and his son, Shedur, to victories.

Lastly, coming off a world championship, Celtics small forward Jaylen Brown was named Sports Illustrated’s NBA Player of the Year in a surprise twist, as some thought it would be franchise front-man Jason Tatum. Brown was a consistent powerhouse for Boston throughout the post-season run and was instrumental in securing the Celtic’s 2024 World Championship status.

As the team eases into the 2025 season, Brown continues to be a prominent force, on the court and off, as his philanthropic efforts have remained steadfast in his success. His foundation, the 7uice Foundation, and sneaker brand 741 exemplify a holistic approach of the player of the year by using his platform to uplift Black and brown children to be leaders in any capacity they choose, not just athletics. 

WNBA star A’ja Wilson is the Sports Illustrated WNBA Player of the Year. After a historic rebranding year for the Women’s National Basketball Association, players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reece have become nationally recognized brands, and A’ja Wilson is no exception.

Wilson’s Olympic gold medals and MVP status solidify her spot as one of the best players in the Association. However, her widely anticipated shoe deal with Nike is expected to be one of the most lucrative deals between the company and a WNBA player. The former USC Lady Gamecock, now a player for the Las Vegas Aces, is one of the highest-paid players in the league and one of the most popular, with one million followers on Instagram.

A’ja Wilson, Jaylen Brown, Simone Biles, Sports Illustrated, Sportsperson of the Year, Travis Hunter