Last night, the 2026 ESPY Awards saw this year’s athletes dress just as hard as they compete. Leaving the gold medals and gargantuan trophies at home, this crew of sports stars wove their championship spirit through their looks.
Taking place at New York’s Lincoln Center, shimmer was well represented on the red carpet. Skier Eileen Gu embraced the shining metallics of Guo Pei in a spring 2026 couture gown with sculptural florals trailing across her clavicle. Gymnast Simone Biles, hand-in-hand with her husband and NFL player Jonathan Owens, opted for a liquidy gold gown with a dramatic to-the-thigh slit. Olympic rugby fave Ilona Maher opted for a striking white column gown with a studded silver bandeau and cut out waist, with sparkling eye makeup to match. It was a joy to see Team USA ski star Lindsey Vonn—who recently shared an emotional update on her recovery after her accident at the 2026 Winter Olympics—in a sequin, one-sleeved Gucci dress, hair swept to the side in glossy Hollywood waves. Best pals and USA swim team heroes Ali Truwit and Gretchen Walsh also had a bestie moment in their coordinating sequins and sparkle.
Couples were also in their couple style beat: like the aforementioned Owens and Biles, but also Ayesha Curry—in corseted Christian Siriano—and Steph Curry, as well as the Knicks’s Karl-Anthony Towns and Jordyn Woods in drapey, golden Oscar de la Renta. Evan Bates and Madison Chock in Christian Siriano. There was also ice skating husband and wife duo Evan Bates and Madison Chock, Chock wearing a romantic, fluffy blue Christian Siriano mini-dress. Olympic gold medal snowboarder Chloe Kim got to present her boyfriend, Los Angeles Ram Myles Garrett, with the Best Record-Breaking Performance award for smashing the NFL’s single-season sack record—plus a kiss.
Others opted to keep things sleekly minimal—with a little flash of skin: figure skater Alysa Liu wore a slinky, chocolate brown Louis Vuitton dress, and racing driver Toni Breidinger opted for a body-hugging black gown with deep waist cut-outs.
Hosted by Marcello Hernandez, major players from across the world of sport were honored throughout the night—from motorsport to basketball, soccer, ice-skating, hockey, and gymnastics. Liu won Best Breakthrough Athlete, and receiving a roaring standing ovation, while A’ja Wilson bagged Best WNBA Player—the third time in the last four years she‘s won, save for Caitlin Clark’s 2025 triumph. The New York Knicks also became the first NBA team to win the Best Team award since 2022, when the Golden State Warriors last nabbed it. And the Knicks continued to dominate the night, sweeping most of the categories they were nominated for: captain Jalen Brunson picked up Best Male Athlete, Best Championship Performance, and Best NBA Player.
Below, see some of the best fashions from the 2026 ESPY Awards.
