Braylon Mullins’ buzzer-beater that sent UConn to the Final Four is on the ESPY ballot, but the prediction market isn’t buying it.
Mullins’ 34-footer against Duke is one of five nominees for Play of the Year at “The ESPYS,” which air Wednesday night at 8 p.m. on ABC from New York City. ESPN’s preview show begins at 7 p.m.
Still, Kalshi traders were only giving Mullins 12% of the vote as of mid-day Wednesday, a clear sign that his shot is not the favorite to take home the award.
The moment itself was pure chaos. Duke led 72-70 with 10 seconds left and had the ball in the Elite Eight game on March 29, seemingly on the verge of ending UConn’s run.
But Mullins and Solo Ball helped force a turnover with 5.3 seconds remaining, and the ball ended up with captain Alex Karaban. Karaban spotted Mullins with the better look, and Mullins buried the 34-footer with 0.3 seconds left on the clock.
UConn went on to beat Illinois in the semifinal before falling to Michigan in the national title game, 69-63, on April 6.
The competition for Play of the Year is loaded with headline-grabbing moments from across sports.
One nominee is Caleb Williams’ fourth-and-4 touchdown pass for the Chicago Bears against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC divisional round on Jan. 18, 2026, at Soldier Field. With 27 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the pocket collapsing, Williams ran backward and released the ball 26 1/2 yards behind the line of scrimmage, finding Cole Kmet in the end zone to force overtime. The Rams still won 20-17 in OT.
Another finalist is Megan Keller’s overtime goal for the United States against Canada in the women’s hockey gold-medal game at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 19, 2026.
Canada had a one-goal lead with three minutes left before the U.S. tied it with two minutes remaining, and Keller finished the job at 4:07 of overtime after shaking off Claire Thompson and beating Ann-Renee Desbiens. The U.S. won 2-1.
The remaining basketball nominee is OG Anunoby’s tip-in for the New York Knicks against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on June 10, 2026, at Madison Square Garden. New York erased a 29-point deficit in the third quarter, then took the lead with 1.2 seconds left when Anunoby tipped in a missed Jalen Brunson shot. The Knicks won 107-106, took a 3-1 series lead, and closed out Game 5 for their first NBA title in 53 years.
That Anunoby play is the one prediction market likes best. Kalshi had it at 91% at 11 a.m.
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