In 1948, the Oregon Sports Writers and Sportscasters’ Association hosted the first-ever Bill Hayward Banquet of Champions. The event began as a sit down affair, honoring past and present Oregon sports greats.

Later, in 1986, the event was rebranded and renamed the Oregonian Banquet of Champions. In 2001, the event became the Oregon Sports Awards, presented by Nike.

The event became an ESPY-style stage production. From 2001 - 2018, it was hosted in the Stanford Theatre at Nike World Headquarters.

In 2019 and 2020, the Oregon Sports Awards partnered with NBC Northwest to reveal award finalists and winners over live television and radio in lieu of the live show.

Due to unforeseen circumstances amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oregon Sports Awards were not celebrated in 2021 or 2023.

In 2021-22, the Oregon Sports Awards began following a seasonal schedule with Fall, Winter, and Spring awards given after each season, finishing in an end-of-year Celebration of Champions, recognizing every winner in every sport and overall Athlete of the Year Awards. This shift allowed the Oregon Sports Awards to shine the spotlight on the student-athletes when their season has recently completed while celebrating all winners equally including our collegiate, professional, and team awards. The Oregon Sports Awards partnered with KATU in 2021-22 to reveal award finalists and winners over live television.

Beginning with the 2023-24 season, the Oregon Sports Awards partnered with the Oregonian Media Group to reveal award finalists and winners.

Past award winners have included the likes of Terry Baker, Dick Fosbury, Steve Prefontaine, Joni Huntley, Neil Lomax, Danny Ainge, Dan O’Brien, Gary Payton, Tiffeny Milbrett, Joey Harrington, Nick Symmonds, Jordan Kent, Kevin Love, Liz Brenner, Megan Rapinoe, Ashton Eaton and Marcus Mariota.