Your Favorite Female Athletes, Slaying the Red Carpet

We usually see these athletes in leggings and sneakers, but once the competition ends they don gowns and heels and clean up just as well as they compete. They don’t miss a beat, whether they’re collecting medals or posing for cameras. From gymnasts to soccer stars, they’ve shown time and again they can own a red carpet like pros.

Ashley Wagner: Pink Crop Top and Skirt

Ashley Wagner built a name in figure skating, including a 2014 Olympic bronze as part of the US team. A year later she swapped blades for a presenter spot at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Sports Awards and nailed the brief. Wagner showed up in a playful pink crop top and a colorful skirt that matched her offbeat vibe. It was a look that felt fun, confident and totally her.

Alex Morgan: World Cup Hero Turned VMA Star

Alex Morgan exploded onto the national stage after scoring six goals and helping the US win the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The victory turned her into an instant household name and opened doors beyond sports. Weeks later she hit the MTV Video Music Awards in a standout pink dress with an oversized bow. The whole look was bold, feminine and impossible to ignore.

Becky Lynch: WWE Fierceness Meets Country Awards

Becky Lynch rose from the Irish circuit to become one of WWE’s most recognizable stars and the longest reigning Raw Women’s Champion. She brought that same fierceness to the ACM Awards, walking the red carpet with undeniable presence. Lynch chose a striking two-piece ensemble that felt equal parts edgy and glamorous. She blended wrestling swagger with red carpet polish and stole the show.

Maria Sharapova: Grand Slam Champ at Oscar Parties

Maria Sharapova is one of tennis’s biggest names, a five-time WTA world no. 1 and the only Russian woman to complete the career Grand Slam. Her off-court life has put her in rooms full of Hollywood elites for years. At Vanity Fair’s Oscar party in 2019 she turned heads in a metallic ruffled dress paired with Stuart Weitzman heels. The look was classic Sharapova: polished, glamorous and completely on brand.

Jennie Finch (Softball)

Jennie Finch has been described as the most famous softball player in history by Time Magazine, and for a good reason. She led the US national softball team to gold and silver medals at the Olympics in 2004 and 2008, before deciding to retire two years later. Finch didn’t disappear from the spotlight after her retirement, and she was one of the stars attending the ESPY Awards in 2014. She rocked a stunning aquamarine dress with a playful print and paired it off with matching strappy heels.

Caroline Wozniacki (Tennis)

Caroline Wozniacki is the first Scandinavian player to ever reach the no. 1 spot in women singles, and she won 30 WTA singles titles over the years, before announcing she’s going to retire after the 2020 Australian Open. Wozniacki had a chance to attend many high-profile events after becoming one of the biggest tennis stars in the world, and one of them just happened to be 2016 Met Gala. She knocked it out of the park with a striking Prabal Gurung dress and her beautiful blonde locks were on full display.

Anastasia Yankova (MMA)

Anastasia Yankova’s childhood obsession with Xena: Warrior Princess inspired her to become a fierce fighter herself. She became a skilled mixed martial artist in her teenage years, and went on to compete in the flyweight division of the Bellator MMA. Yankova quickly scored a sponsorship deal with Nike and started attending high-profile events. This photo shows her at Spike TV’s 10th Annual Guys Choice Awards, where she wore an adorable mini jumpsuit. She was able to fully showcase her amazing tattoos thanks to this fashion choice.

Candace Parker (Basketball)

If you think that Parker’s last name sounds familiar, it’s because she happens to be the younger sister of NBA player Anthony Parker. She followed in his footsteps, and found enormous success with her WNBA team Los Angeles Sparks and won two golds at the Olympics representing the US. Parker attends the NBA Awards on a regular basis, and she didn’t miss the ceremony in 2017, when she hit the red carpet in a classy black jumpsuit. She added a matching choker to the mix, and a pair of velvety strappy heels.

Nastia Liukin (Gymnastics)

Nastia Liukin is one of the most successful artistic gymnasts in US history, with five medals under her belt. She won them all in 2008, when she became an all-around champion at the Summer Games in Beijing, and won additional three silver medals and one bronze. Liukin didn’t shy away from the spotlight after her retirement and always stayed in a great shape. She delivered one of her most memorable red carpet looks at the 2018 ESPYs with a gorgeous mini dress with a plunging neckline, but the flowers in her hair ended up stealing the show.

Anastasia Ashley (Surfing)

Anastasia Ashley was only 5-years-old when she decided to give surfing a shot, and she immediately fell in love with it. She decided to commit to it long term, and started winning major titles in her teenager years. Sports Illustrated eventually took notice of Ashley, and she appeared in their 2014 swimsuit edition. Their collaboration continued, and she was one of the stars who attended their Fashionable 50 NYC event in 2016, where she made quite an impression in a little black dress.

Barbara Blank (Wrestling)

Most people, especially WWE fans, know Barbara Blank by her stage name Kelly Kelly. She won the WWE Divas Championship in 2011 and reigned for four months, but eventually decided to retire in 2012. That didn’t stop her from appearing on Raw Reunion and becoming the first female wrestler to win the WWE 24/7 Championship. Blank also found fame as a reality television personality, especially as one of the stars of WAGS. This photo shows her attending the USA Network Character Approved Awards in a simple, yet awesome little red dress.

Urszula Radwanska (Tennis)

Most people know Urszula as the younger sister of the Polish tennis player Agnieszka Radwańska, and she’s also pretty skilled at this sport. Her biggest success came when she was still a junior player, and managed to win Wimbledon girls’ singles in 2007. In addition to impressing us with her success on the tennis court, Radwańska proved she has a pretty amazing personal style. She could easily make it to the best dressed list at any major red carpet event with this gorgeous emerald dress.

Miesha Tate (MMA)

Miesha Tate was still in high school when she decided to give wrestling a shot, and it’s proven to be the right choice. She found enormous success during her time competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and became one of the most recognizable MMA stars of her generation. She’s also no stranger to winning prestigious accolades, and this photo shows her attending the World MMA Awards in 2017. She opted for a dazzling white dress with an eye-catching neckline, her best look at this ceremony so far.

Laila Ali (Boxing)

Laila Ali’s last name sounds familiar for a reason, since she happens to be boxing royalty. She followed in the footsteps of her father Muhammad Ali into this sport, and held several female super middleweight titles before retiring undefeated in 2007. Spending most of her days in the ring didn’t stop Ali from developing a pretty amazing personal style. This photo from the 2017 ESPY Awards sees her slaying the red carpet in an adorable pink dress, and it was only one of many amazing looks she delivered over the years.

Camila Giorgi (Tennis)

If you’re a huge tennis fan, you’re probably already familiar with Italian player Camila Giorgi. Her biggest success came when she reached the quarterfinal at 2018 Wimbledon. Despite the fact she never won any Grand Slams, Giorgi can say she once defeated some of the world’s most successful tennis players, including Caroline Wozniacki and Maria Sharapova. This photo was taken when she was still relatively unknown in 2012, attending the Pre Wimbledon Party in a lacy black and white dress and a pair of eye-catching earrings.

Carmen Jorda (Racing)

Appearances can be deceiving, and we would’ve never guessed that Carmen Jorda was a racing driver just by looking at this picture. She looked just like one of Hollywood superstars while attending Marie Claire Prix de la Moda in 2017 in a sequined lilac gown. Her fans were used to seeing her with a helmet and racing suit by that point, since she made quite a name for herself over the years. She became the eleventh woman in history to be included on a Formula 1 team's driver line-up back in 2015.

Gabby Douglas (Gymnastics)

Gabby Douglas became the first gymnast of African-American descent to become the all-around Olympic champion, and also won gold with the US team at both the 2012 and the 2016 Summer Olympics. Her enormous success led to a Lifetime movie, reality show, and a book about her life. Douglas became such a huge crossover star that she attended more high-profile events than we can count. The Kids’ Choice Sports Awards were one of many, and the beloved gymnast easily turned heads at this ceremony with her sequined two-piece ensemble.

Eugenie Bouchard (Tennis)

Eugenie Bouchard became the first Canadian-born player to reach the final of a Grand Slam tournament singles at the 2014 Wimbledon, and this wasn’t her only big success. She’s also the first female player from her home country to reach the top 5 on the WTA list. Bouchard’s personal style is pretty classy, but she likes to keep it casual every once in a while. This outfit she wore before the Australian Open is a perfect example, and you can easily copy it by fetching a black mini skirt and a crop top from your closet.

Paige Spiranac (Golf)

Paige Spiranac is one of the most recognizable female golfers in the world, and not only because she committed to this sport all the way back in college. She also found enormous success on Instagram, and attracted over two million followers with her trick-shot videos. Spiranac was also featured in several magazines, including Sports Illustrated and Golf Digest and delivered amazing looks at many red-carpet events. She kept things simple while attending another event in 2019, but still knocked it out of the park with her cutout black dress.

Anna Kournikova (Tennis)

Anna Kournikova was one of the most popular tennis players in the world during the late ‘90s and early 2000s, despite the fact she never won any Grand Slams or reached no. 1 as a singles player. However, that didn’t stop her from scoring several lucrative deals and becoming a media sensation and she found bigger success later, playing doubles with Martina Hingis. Kournikova attended many high-profile events during her relationship with Enrique Iglesias, but never had any trouble shining on her own. This photo from a BAFTA event in 2011 shows her looking better than ever with a high ponytail and a strapless emerald green dress.

Aly Raisman (Gymnastics)

Aly Raisman was a team captain of the US gymnastic teams "Fierce Five" and "Final Five" that took the Olympic gold in 2012 and 2016. She also managed to win additional four medals on her own, including one gold, two silvers, and one bronze. Raisman’s enormous success transformed her into a media sensation, and she attended many high-profile events that had nothing to do with sports. This photo sees her channeling her inner Elle Woods in an adorable pink getup at the world premiere of A Simple Favor, starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively.

Ronda Rousey (MMA)

When you think of female wrestlers and mixed martial artists, Ronda Rousey is the first person that comes to mind. She’s the only woman to win a championship in both the UFC and WWE, but did you know that she also has on Olympic bronze in judo under her belt? To make the whole thing even better, Rousey even found success as an actress and this photo shows her at the premiere of her movie The Expendables 3. She turned heads in this gold and black dress with high slit, and paired it off with a couple of dazzling accessories.

Simone Biles (Gymnastics)

It’s pretty much impossible to name a gymnast who made a bigger impact in the last few years than Simone Biles. She became a household name after the 2016 Olympic, where she won five medals, four of them gold. With a total of 25 World Gymnastics Championship medals under her belt, she’s the most decorated American gymnast of all time. Like all artistic gymnasts, Biles is no stranger to dazzling outfits, and she gets to wear them on the red carpet every once in a while. She was on top of her game at the Kids’ Choice Sports Awards and rocked the red carpet in an adorable pink dress.

Heather Watson (Tennis)

Heather Watson had a pretty successful tennis career as a junior, and her passion for this sport didn’t die down as she got older. She found success as both a single and doubles player and reached no. 1 in her home country. Watson always had a pretty unique personal style, and offbeat mini dresses became her go-to fashion item. She opted for a classier approach while attending the Wimbledon Champions Dinner in 2016, and delivered her absolute best red carpet look in this mesmerizing black and white gown.

Alana Blanchard (Surfing)

Alana Blanchard grew up in Hawaii, and fell in love with surfing at an early age. She felt right at home whenever she dipped into the waves, and her childhood hobby eventually grew into a professional career. Blanchard won several championships in her home state, and become one of the most recognizable female surfers in Hawaii. Despite the fact she’s used to spending most of her time in a swimsuit, this pro surfer is no stranger to looking great in a classy black dress.

Gina Carano (MMA)

You don’t have to be an MMA fan to be familiar with Gina Carano. She was one of the “it girls” of this sport before deciding to retire and give acting a shot. Things are working pretty great for her so far, and we’ve seen her star on the Disney+ show The Mandalorian and box office hits Fast & Furious 6 and Deadpool. She attended countless red-carpet events promoting her movie projects, and was one of many stars at the premiere of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Carano opted for a black dress with thigh-high leg slit which featured striking blue satin details.

Lolo Jones (Bobsledding)

Bobsledding isn’t one of those sports that make headlines on a regular basis, but some of the athletes who commit to this activity are impossible to avoid. Lolo Jones, who represented the US at the Olympics in 2014, is one of them. She became somewhat of a national celebrity after this event, and attended several talk shows and award ceremonies. Looking glamorous came easy to Jones, and her stunning navy dress from the 2016 ESPY Awards is here to prove she can easily slay any red carpet.

McKayla Maroney (Gymnastics)

McKayla Maroney became an instant meme in 2012, after her "not impressed" expression when she won silver at the Olympics made the rounds online. She did, however, win another gold medal as a part of the “Fierce Five” team, which also included Gabby Douglas and Alexandra Raisman. Maroney no longer has to make funny faces to catch anyone’s eye – her amazing style will do just fine. Her flowing gold gown with cutout on the back stole the show at the ESPY Awards in 2013.

The Bella Twins (Wrestling)

Brie and Nikki Bella are one of the most recognizable tag teams in WWE history. They are both former Divas Champions, but most WWE fans would agree they shined the brightest when they were fighting by each other’s side. The Bella twins are both retired now, but they found further success with their reality show Total Bellas. Despite the fact they spend most of their time together, Brie and Nikki have a pretty different personal style, but they both look equally stunning whenever they hit the red carpet.

Lisa Leslie (Basketball)

Lisa Leslie is a retired basketball player, but she has a lot to show for it. Her trophy shelve is pretty full, and she even has four gold Olympic medals since she represented the US at the Summer Games from 1996 to 2008. Leslie may be retired, but she’s not shying away from the spotlight, and she served as a sports commentator and analyst for several sports networks. She also tends to get an invitation every time the ESPY Awards roll around, and she attended the 2016 ceremony in a ruffled pink gown.

Queen Harrison (Running)

Queen Harrison fell in love with sports during her high school years, and gave several different disciplines a shot – including hurdling, long jump, and triple jump. She eventually competed in the 400 meters hurdles at the 2008 Summer Olympics, but didn’t bring any medals home. Harrison still managed to stay in the spotlight, and she was one of the stars attending the premiere of Jesse Owens biopic Race in 2016. She hit the red carpet in a colorful floral shirt, a leather skirt and a pair of black boots.

Allison Baver (Speed Skating)

Allison Baver had a successful career as a speed-skater before retiring, and she first started chasing her Olympic dream in 2006. After failing to win any medals in Turin, she took part in the Winter Games four years later, and was awarded bronze medal in the 3,000 m relay. She was one of the founders of the Ice Foundation in 2010, and worked with many charities over the years. This photo shows her attending the Race to Erase MS event in a mini black dress with white stripes.

Megan Rapinoe (Soccer)

If you follow female soccer on a regular basis, there’s probably nothing you already don’t know about Megan Rapinoe. She’s one of the most recognizable and successful players in the US, with one Olympic gold and two FIFA Women’s World Cup victories under her belt. Rapinoe is also one of the rare athletes whose personal style is instantly recognizable. We’ve seen her dye her short hair in many different colors over the years, and she paired off her dusty rose hair with Gucci’s striking velvet dress with crystal embellishments this time around.

Sloane Stephens (Tennis)

Sloane Stephens followed in the footsteps of the Williams sisters to become one of the most successful US players of her generation. She achieved her career-best WTA ranking at no. 3 and was crowned as the US Open champion in 2017. Stephens’ fashion game has always been as strong as her forehand, but she impressed us most while attending the ESPY Awards in 2018. She picked up the award for the best female tennis player in a show-stunning three-piece red power suit that fit her like a glove.

Chloe Kim (Snowboarder)

Snowboarder Chloe Kim made quite a splash at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, when she became the youngest woman to win an Olympic snowboarding gold medal at the age of 17. We’re expecting more great things from her since her star is still on the rise. Kim’s Olympics victory was a huge triumph for the US, and she won awards for best female athlete, best female Olympian, and best female action sports athlete at the ESPY Awards that same year. The snowboarding superstar attended the ceremony in a classy black dress, and could barely hold all the trophies in her hands.

Hope Solo (Soccer)

Hope Solo is often described as one of the best female goalkeepers in the world, and currently holds the US record for most career clean sheets. She helped her team score two Olympic golds, and was also a part of the winning team at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. Solo appeared on the covers of many magazines over the years and attended the 25th Annual Glamour Women of the Year Awards in 2015. She opted for a fuchsia dress with dazzling embellishments, and paired it off with an equally shiny clutch.

Lindsey Vonn (Skiing)

Lindsey Vonn is used to shining brightly on the red carpet, since she picked up numerous awards and attended countless high-profile events alongside her NFL boyfriend P.K. Subban. The three-time Olympic medalist in downhill skiing is one of the celebrities who never miss the Kids' Choice Sports Awards. The red carpet at this ceremony is always fun and offbeat, just like her personality, and she couldn’t resist coming to this show in 2019, when she hit the red carpet in a playful black gown with an open back and a striking pink bow.

Tori Bowie (Track)

Unless you’re really passionate about running, it’s highly unlikely you know who Tori Bowie is, but the whole world should know her name. The American track and field athlete is a holder of three Olympic medals – one gold, one silver, and one bronze – all of which she won in 2016. Bowie’s personal style is pretty glamorous once she’s out of her running gear. Her look from the Sports Illustrated Fashionable 50 is one of the best examples, and we wouldn’t change a single thing about her show-stopping yellow jumpsuit.

Danica Patrick (Racing)

It’s not common for female race drivers to become pop culture icons, but Danica Patrick is one of the rare exceptions. She managed to break the glass ceiling in NASCAR, and went on to become the most successful female driver in the history of American open-wheel racing. Patrick received countless endorsement deals thanks to her enormous popularity, and she was always welcomed at major red-carpet events. She always made the best dressed lists at the ESPY Awards with her signature mini dresses, and this stylish white number is one of her best.

Simone Biles Keeps Raising The Bar

Simone Biles has been popping up on high-profile red carpets again, and she keeps surprising us. From glittering white gowns to daring evening looks, she is treating fashion like another stage. These appearances show a clear shift from pure athlete to a style presence who still knows how to command attention. Fans are noticing the same drive that made her a champion now steering her wardrobe choices.

A Sequin Moment At The Awards

At a recent awards night Simone turned heads in a blue sequin gown that nodded to her athletic roots. The dress, a collaboration with a well-known designer and her athletic sponsor, blended glamour with sporty sensibility. She looked every bit the award-show star and still kept a thread of her competitive identity in the styling. It was a smart, on-brand red carpet move.

Bold Premiere Look, Bold Choices

For a recent film premiere Simone chose a daring mesh gown with a floral bodice and a sheer skirt, a look that sparked plenty of conversation. It was a bolder, boundary-pushing moment compared to her earlier red carpet choices. The outfit proved she is willing to experiment and take fashion risks in public. People took notice, exactly the reaction she seems to want.

She’s Choosing Her Own Looks Now

Simone has spoken about how she is getting more involved in picking her red carpet dresses, saying she is more into fashion now because she has a little bit more time on her hands. She even recalled picking out her first big red carpet dress with no altering, no nothing. That level of control shows up in the confidence of her recent appearances. It feels like she is curating an image that fits her on and off the mat.

Why These Appearances Matter

These red carpet turns are more than pretty outfits. They show how an elite athlete can carry competitive focus into another public arena, and keep authenticity at the center of it. Simone is balancing sport, public life, and a growing fashion presence without losing what made her a star. That balance is part of why these moments resonate beyond just a single event.