Buy Photo Lauren Hill's appearance on the court for Mount Saint Joseph won an ESPY for "Best Moment" on Wednesday. (Photo: The Enquirer/Carrie Cochran, The Cincinnati Enquirer)Buy Photo 
 
 Stephen Curry took the stage at the ESPY Awards alone, dressed in an all-black suit. The reigning NBA MVP introduced Lauren Hill and her appearance on the court for Mount Saint Joseph University as the year's "best moment." 
 
 "You could say that this year's best moment in sports was very simple: A basketball player merely stepping onto the court," Curry said. "But some steps are more momentous than others, more inspiring, more unforgettable." 
 
 After describing what Hill, who was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer, was going through, Curry said "Lauren lived her moment." A video ran, featuring highlights of that game and Lauren's voice. 
 
 "Today was the best day I've had, probably, in my entire life," she could be heard saying over the song "I Lived" by One Republic. 
 
 Curry then introduced Lauren's parents Brett and Lisa Hill. 
 
 The couple took the stage, accepting the award. 
 
 "We are so thankful to everyone who helped make Lauren's moment possible," Lisa Hill said. "It's amazing how powerful one moment can be. In Lauren's case, I think she reminded us that we're all vulnerable to being dealt a bad hand, but Lauren also showed us through heart, determination, courage, strength and faith that no matter what, it is possible to achieve your dreams." 
 
 Hill helped raised over $1.5 million was raised on her behalf for cancer research. Lisa Hill said they will continue "Layup 4 Lauren." 
 
 Enquirer columnist Paul Daugherty reflects on Lauren Hill's short, but impactful life. The Mount Saint Joseph freshman inspired thousands across the world. She saw the end of her life as the beginning of something bigger. The Enquirer/Carrie Cochran 
 
 She first appeared at the very beginning of program's open that included clips of Muhammed Ali and sprinter Michael Johnson's gold medal-winning sprints in the 1996 Olympics. 
 
 After some controversy following Hill's exclusion from the program, senior vice president of ESPN Films and Original Content Connor Schell said "Lauren Hill's journey inspired so many and speaks to the power of the human spirit. Lauren's legacy will continue to transcend the sports world, and we are humbled and honored to celebrate her on The ESPYs stage." 
 
 Lauren passed away in April at the age of 19. 
 
 Read or Share this story: http://cin.ci/1J1to0A ||||| Celebrities and athletes held a torch for Olympic champ Caitlyn Jenner at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday. 
 
 Jenner, 65, received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in one of her first public appearances as a transgender woman at the sports-centered award show at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. 
 
 Jenner’s mother, Esther Jenner, sister Pam Mettler, her six children, and stepdaughters Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian were in the crowd. 
 
 U.S. women’s national team soccer star Abby Wambach introduced Jenner before an emotional video recap of her Olympic past and struggles with gender dysphoria. 
 
 “So for the people out there wondering what this is all about, whether it’s about courage or controversy or publicity, well, I’ll tell you what it’s all about,” Jenner said. “It’s about what happens from here. It’s not just about one person. It’s about thousands of people. It’s not just about me, it’s about all of us accepting one another. We’re all different. That’s not a bad thing, it’s a good thing.” 
 
 The superathlete said her one feat now would be to help encourage others to learn how to “accept people for who they are.” 
 
 COLUMN: OUT OF ESPYS CAITLYN JENNER HYPE, AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE COMES THROUGH ABOUT ACCEPTANCE 
 
 CAITLYN JENNER WEARS GORGEOUS VERSACE GOWN FOR HER ESPYS DEBUT 
 
 The crowd roared in support, which came after some early backlash over the selection of the Wheaties cereal icon who won decathlon gold at the 1976 Summer Olympics as Bruce Jenner and gained renewed fame on “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.” 
 
 Some said 19-year-old college basketball player Lauren Hill would have been a better choice for her brave battle against cancer and the $1.5 million she raised for cancer research before a brain tumor claimed her life in April. 
 
 Lauren’s mom, Lisa Hill, shot down any controversy. 
 
 Honoree Caitlyn Jenner accepts the Arthur Ashe Courage Award from former professional soccer player Abby Wambach. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Caitlyn Jenner (R) accepts the Arthur Ashe Courage Award from former professional soccer player Abby Wambach. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images) 
 
 “When it (the backlash) first came out, I was like, oh, she would so hate this, because Caitlyn is doing something that is good for her, and living to her true heart and her true person, and to be out there and do the transformation takes a lot of courage and a lot of guts,” Hill said. 
 
 ESPN honored Hill with a special presentation Wednesday. 
 
 Earlier on the red carpet, there was a bit of blood sport as ultimate fighting champ Ronda Rousey took a shot at boxer Floyd Mayweather for his history of domestic violence. The “Best Fighter” winner also recalled Mayweather referring to her last year as a “he.” 
 
 “I can’t help but really say that, I wonder how Floyd feels about being beat by a woman for once,” Rousey said. “I’d like to see him pretend to not know who I am now.” 
 
 ON A MOBILE DEVICE? WATCH THE VIDEO HERE. 
 
 With Rachel Maresca ||||| Caitlyn Jenner made an emotional plea for "accepting people for who they are" as she was honored with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at Wednesday's ESPYs in Los Angeles. 
 
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 Jenner, donning a white, long-sleeve gown, acknowledged her mother, her children and ABC News' Diane Sawyer in her acceptance speech and called the past few months a "whirlwind." 
 
 She said she had never met a transgender person until the past few months, and instead dealt with her "situation" alone and in private. 
 
 Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP 
 
 "That turned this journey into an already incredible education," Jenner said. 
 
 "This transition has been harder on me than anything I could imagine," she said, adding that "trans people ... deserve your respect." 
 
 Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP 
 
 Jenner, a former Olympic superstar, said she knows the "power of the spotlight" and understands "with attention comes responsibility." 
 
 "It's about all of us accepting one another," she said. 
 
 Kendall, Kylie and Brody Jenner posed on the red carpet earlier tonight to support their famous dad. 
 
 Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images 
 
 Jenner's other children were also at the ceremony for support: Burt Jenner, Cassandra Marino and Brandon Jenner, as well as daughter-in-law Leah Jenner and step-daughters Kourtney, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, all seen in this photo posted by Kourtney: 
 
 Brody Jenner told ABC News tonight it was "such a courageous thing for her to come out" and said Caitlyn is "extremely happy." 
 
 Brody said they're all celebrating with a big family dinner. 
 
 Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images 
 
 Jenner, 65, formerly known as Bruce, revealed in April that she is woman. In June, Vanity Fair magazine released the first photo of the former Olympian since her physical transformation, as well as her name. 
 
 “Bruce has received many accolades over the years for being one of the greatest Olympians of our time but The ESPYS are honored to celebrate Bruce becoming Caitlyn," said executive producer Maura Mandt in a statement last month. 
 
 "She has shown the courage to embrace a truth that had been hidden for years, and to embark on a journey that may not only give comfort to those facing similar circumstances, but can also help to educate people on the challenges that the transgender community faces.”
– Caitlyn Jenner had never met another trans person until a few months ago, she revealed after receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPY Awards last night. She used her acceptance speech to make a plea for tolerance, saying, "It's not just about me, it's about all of us accepting one another. We're all different. That's not a bad thing, it's a good thing," ABC News reports. She spoke of how difficult it had been dealing with her "situation" alone and warned of the abuse many young trans people face. "If you want to call me names ... go ahead, I can take it," she said, per the Guardian. "But for the thousands of kids out there coming to terms with who they are, they shouldn't have to take it." Jenner was a controversial choice for the award, with some saying it should have gone to Lauren Hill, the 19-year-old NCAA player who played—and scored—for Mount St. Joseph while dying of an inoperable brain tumor. Her game was chosen as the year's best moment and her parents accepted the award, with her mother saying Lauren "showed us through heart, determination, courage, strength, and faith that no matter what, it is possible to achieve your dreams," Cincinnati.com reports. Hill's mom tells the New York Daily News that her daughter, who died in April, would have hated the backlash against Jenner winning the award because "to be out there and do the transformation takes a lot of courage and a lot of guts."