“It’s Where Ayesha and I Grew Up As Adults”: Steph Curry Urges People to Find Their “Oakland” in Touching Speech After Earning ESPY Award
On Wednesday, Steph Curry was honored with the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award at the 2026 ESPYs. Given in commemoration of the boxing icon, this award honors an athlete who has made a significant impact on their community through their sports platform.
In his acceptance speech, Curry gave a shoutout to the city of Oakland, where he and his wife Ayesha facilitate youth development and welfare programs through their Eat.Learn.Play Foundation.
“Oakland is our adopted hometown, where I spent the first 10 years with the Warriors, where we won our first three championships, and where Ayesha and I grew up as adults, in so many ways…I encourage you to find your Oakland. Find what makes you different and where you can have that impact.”
Since 2019, the Currys’ Eat.Learn.Play Foundation has conducted literacy programs, meal distribution, and other youth-focused initiatives in the city of Oakland. The foundation’s partners include sports organizations like the Golden State Warriors and the PGA Tour.
The other two finalists for this humanitarian award were Buffalo Bills star Damar Hamlin and recently retired Pro Bowl wide receiver Adam Thielen.
This is certainly not the first time that Curry has been honored at the ESPYs. He is a three-time recipient of the Best NBA Player Award, and in 2015, Curry was named Best Male Athlete.
Steph Curry Meets Alysa Liu Backstage at ESPY Awards: “Representing Oakland and the Bay”
That same night, Steph Curry got to interact with an up-and-coming star from the Bay Area.
In a clip posted by Entertainment Tonight, Curry took a picture with an awestruck Alysa Liu, the 20-year-old figure skater who won gold medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Curry went on to mention Liu as he enumerated standout moments this year in the world of sports.
“Alysa Liu, representing Oakland and the Bay in the Olympics…obviously, the Knicks in basketball. It’s a great accomplishment.”
To put things in perspective, Liu was three years old when Curry was drafted by the Warriors in 2009. The future Olympian was nine when the sweet-shooting guard won his first NBA championship.
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