UConn Has a Strong Showing at the 2004 ESPY's

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 28) – Due to the success of the Connecticut men’s and women’s basketball programs during the 2003-04 season, the teams earned a total of six nomination for the 2004 ESPY Awards.

On the women’s side, current Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi has been nominated as Best Female Athlete and Best Female College Athlete. UConn head coach Geno Auriemma was selected as one of the Best Coaches/Managers. Both teams will go head-to-head under the Best Team category, while Emeka Okafor was chosen as one of the Best Male College Athletes.

Also, former UConn women’s basketball player Swin Cash has been nominated under the category of Best WNBA Player.

Past Connecticut winners include Sue Bird (2002) and Diana Taurasi (2003) for Best Female College Athlete, Rebecca Lobo (1996) for Best Female College Basketball Player and Best Female Athlete and the UConn women’s basketball team (1996) for Most Outstanding Team.

For the first time in the event's 12-year history, fans will determine the winners in all categories. On-line fan voting will begin on ESPN.com on June 21st (the day nominees are announced) and polls will close July 9th. The move to complete fan voting coincides with the ESPN25 "The Season of the Fan" initiative. To vote, click on the category you're interested in below. If you'd like to vote in all 38 categories, start with the Best Female Athlete and you'll be shot through all 38 polls. Vote at http://espn.go.com/espy2004/s/04nomineesindex.html

The 2004 ESPY Awards Presented by GMC and Under Armour will bring together athletes and entertainment celebrities to recognize top achievements in sports, relive the memorable moments and salute the best performers and performances. Overall, there are 36 award categories, including both sport-specific honors and awards that cross over all sports (cross-cutters), a unique ESPY Awards hallmark. Actor/comedian Jamie Foxx will host the event and winners will be announced during the ESPY Awards on July 14 and on the ESPN telecast on July 18 at 9 p.m. ET

The ESPY Awards were created by ESPN in 1993 and are given for Excellence in Sports Performance. The 2004 ESPY Awards will be held at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles for the third straight year. No other award brings together all of sport, honoring the best performances, most memorable moments and, with the presentation of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, those hose courage and conviction transcend sport.