Note: This article critiques red-carpet styling choices, not the talent, achievements, bodies, or character of the athletes and public figures mentioned.
The 2025 ESPYs had everything a sports fan could want: Olympic icons, championship heroes, big awards, emotional speeches, and enough red-carpet fashion risks to keep the internet stretching before it typed. Held on July 16, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, the 33rd annual ESPY Awards celebrated the biggest achievements in sports, with Shane Gillis hosting and stars like Simone Biles, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Suni Lee, Ilona Maher, Alex Morgan, and many more in attendance.
But as every red carpet proves, athletic greatness does not automatically come with a flawless stylistic dismount. The ESPYs are tricky territory: they are more glamorous than a casual sports gala, less formal than the Oscars, and packed with people whose personal brands are built on strength, movement, performance, and confidence. That combination can create magical fashion moments. It can also create outfits that look like they were designed during a timeout with 1.8 seconds left on the clock.
This year’s most debated looks included daring sheer pieces, oddly structured gowns, clashing separates, oversized embellishments, and one very memorable Jordan Chiles mini dress that divided fashion watchers faster than a referee’s controversial call. Below is a sharp but fair look at the worst dressed sports stars at the 2025 ESPYs, why the outfits missed the mark, and what each look teaches us about red-carpet styling.
Why the 2025 ESPYs Red Carpet Was So Hard to Dress For
The ESPYs red carpet is not a normal awards-show runway. Athletes arrive with sculpted shoulders, powerful legs, muscular arms, confident posture, and active public images. A dress or suit that looks dramatic on a mannequin can behave very differently on someone with a champion’s build. The best ESPYs fashion usually understands that. It frames the athlete’s strength instead of fighting against it.
At the 2025 ceremony, the best looks leaned into metallics, sharp tailoring, sculptural silhouettes, and controlled drama. Suni Lee shimmered in a gold Oscar de la Renta dress that felt polished and celebratory. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander looked relaxed yet expensive in a layered gray Ferragamo suit. Simone Biles had a huge night as an award winner, taking home major honors, and her custom Athleta by Zac Posen gown sparked plenty of conversation. Not every conversation was kind, but that is the red carpet: one person sees a victory lap, another sees a missed free throw.
The worst looks of the night generally had one thing in common: imbalance. Too much cutout, not enough structure. Too much fabric, not enough shape. Too much concept, not enough wearability. And in a few cases, the outfit seemed to belong to a completely different event.
Jordan Chiles in a Tiny Sculptural Frock
Jordan Chiles is a gold-medal gymnast with star power, confidence, and a sense of style that is clearly unafraid of risk. For the 2025 ESPYs, she wore a structured pale pink or salmon-toned Cong Tri mini dress with a strapless neckline, sculptural bodice, and a stiff flared skirt. The look was paired with classic Christian Louboutin heels, minimal jewelry, and body glitter across her chest and arms.
On paper, the idea was interesting. A futuristic mini dress on a gymnast? That could be playful, athletic, and fashion-forward. In reality, the proportions were difficult. The skirt’s rounded, hoop-like shape sat high and stiff, creating a silhouette that felt more like a decorative basket than a red-carpet dress. The bodice also appeared slightly busy around the waist and neckline, so the eye did not know where to land.
Chiles reportedly praised the texture of the dress and seemed genuinely happy in it, which matters. Confidence can save many outfits. Unfortunately, this one still looked more like a fashion experiment than a fully realized ESPYs moment. A sleeker mini in a richer color, or even the same sculptural idea with cleaner tailoring, could have highlighted her strength without making the garment itself the main event.
Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens: A Power Couple With a Polarizing Look
Simone Biles had one of the biggest nights of the 2025 ESPYs, winning Best Female Athlete and Best Championship Performance. That alone made her red-carpet appearance important. She arrived with husband and NFL player Jonathan Owens, wearing a custom sparkling Athleta gown designed in collaboration with Zac Posen. The dress had a bold blue-purple shimmer, a dramatic fit, and a glamorous athletic-meets-eveningwear concept.
The problem was not the ambition. Biles deserves big fashion. The issue was the execution. The gown’s fit and shine drew mixed reactions because the bodice looked somewhat compressed in photos, while the heavy sparkle made the dress appear busier than necessary. A simpler neckline or softer drape might have let Biles glow without making the styling feel overworked.
Owens also drew attention for his outfit, which leaned relaxed and fashion-forward but did not fully complement Biles’ high-glam dress. Together, the couple looked confident, but the styling felt like two separate mood boards trying to share one locker room.
Ilona Maher’s Daring Black Dress
Ilona Maher is one of the most charismatic athletes in the world right now. The Team USA rugby star won Best Breakthrough Athlete at the 2025 ESPYs, and her public image is built on strength, humor, body confidence, and total refusal to shrink herself. Her black gown reflected that spirit with a plunging neckline, bold cutouts, and a body-baring design that showed off her muscular frame.
The intent was strong. Maher wanted a look that celebrated her body, and that is worth applauding. The styling problem was that the dress felt unfinished. The top portion relied heavily on narrow strips and negative space, which made the gown look more like a runway sketch than a finished red-carpet moment. Her hair, makeup, and confidence were excellent, but the dress did not give her enough visual support.
A powerful structured black gown, perhaps with a sharper shoulder, stronger waist, or architectural neckline, could have delivered the same message with more polish. The lesson: showing strength does not require the dress to do gymnastics of its own.
Katie Austin’s Sheer Sparkle Went Too Festival
Katie Austin brought confidence to the ESPYs red carpet in a glittering bra-style top and sheer sparkling skirt. The look had beach club, music festival, and reality-show finale energy. What it did not quite have was ESPYs energy.
There is nothing wrong with a sheer dress when the styling is intentional and balanced. The issue here was context. The ESPYs are playful, but they are still an awards show honoring sports excellence. Austin’s outfit looked more suited to a summer party than a ceremony where athletes are receiving career-defining honors. A sheer overlay with a stronger lining, a structured blazer, or a more sophisticated silhouette could have kept the daring spirit while making the look feel event-appropriate.
Daria Berenato’s All-Black Outfit Needed Editing
Daria Berenato arrived in an all-black look built from a crop top, leather-style pants, straps, and hardware details. Monochrome black is usually the safest fashion play in the book. Here, however, the many competing elements created confusion.
The outfit had attitude, but it lacked cohesion. The straps and metal ring pulled attention away from Berenato herself, while the pants and top did not feel formal enough for the ESPYs red carpet. A tailored black suit, a sleek jumpsuit, or a leather-accented gown could have kept the edge while adding polish. Instead, the look felt like several cool pieces that never got introduced to one another before the cameras started flashing.
Flau’jae Johnson’s Rosette Took Over
Flau’jae Johnson wore a crystal mesh dress with a large floral rosette placed at the hip. The LSU basketball star has personality and presence, and her hair and makeup were strong. Unfortunately, the rosette became the loudest player on the court.
Oversized flowers were a major fashion trend in recent years, but by mid-2025, the look needed a fresh interpretation to avoid feeling dated. On Johnson’s dress, the flower distracted from the sparkle and interrupted the line of the silhouette. Without the bulky embellishment, the outfit might have landed as sleek and youthful. With it, the look felt like the dress was carrying a corsage the size of a small trophy.
Lindsey Vonn’s High-Slit Gown Was a Risky Play
Lindsey Vonn has long understood glamour, and her maroon or eggplant-toned ESPYs gown had the ingredients of a strong look: rich color, elegant styling, and red-carpet confidence. The problem was the extremely high slit, which created a wardrobe-risk moment that became part of the online conversation.
High slits can be stunning when they are balanced with secure tailoring and controlled movement. On a windy carpet or under bright flash photography, however, they can turn against even the most experienced celebrity. Vonn still looked poised, but the slit pulled focus away from the elegance of the gown. A slightly lower cut or hidden support panel could have preserved the drama without making the outfit feel like a live sporting event in itself.
Alex Morgan’s Mixed-Material Gown Missed Its Shot
Alex Morgan is a sports icon and one of the honorees of the night, sharing Icon Award recognition with Diana Taurasi. Her 2025 ESPYs look featured a shimmering silver bodice paired with a black satin skirt. From the neck up, the styling had classic Hollywood beauty: soft hair, polished makeup, and calm confidence.
The gown itself had potential, but the two main pieces did not fully harmonize. The metallic top wanted to be sleek and futuristic, while the black skirt felt more traditional. Instead of contrast, the result looked like two separate dresses stitched into a compromise. A full silver column gown or a black dress with metallic accents might have created a cleaner visual story.
Alanna Kennedy’s Blazer Look Felt Oversized
Soccer star Alanna Kennedy leaned into a blazer-inspired look, but the fit appeared too large and stiff for the ESPYs red carpet. Menswear-inspired fashion can be fantastic on athletes because it can highlight posture, strength, and confidence. The trick is tailoring. Without the right proportions, a blazer dress can look less like chic power dressing and more like someone borrowed a jacket five minutes before leaving the hotel.
Kennedy’s accessories tried to lift the outfit, but the top-heavy shape dominated the look. A sharper waist, cleaner hemline, or more intentional shoe pairing could have transformed the idea into a polished statement.
Chari Hawkins Went Too Big for the Room
Track and field athlete Chari Hawkins chose a voluminous blush-toned gown with a dramatic skirt and train. The look had princess energy, but the ESPYs are not always the best place for full fairy-tale volume. The result felt slightly disconnected from the athletic, modern atmosphere of the event.
The gown was not ugly. In fact, on a different red carpet, it might have made more sense. But the combination of size, softness, and ornate details made it feel more suited to a movie premiere or formal gala than a sports awards show. If the goal was drama, a cleaner gown with one bold feature would have delivered more impact with less fabric traffic.
Why “Worst Dressed” Does Not Mean “No Style”
It is important to say this clearly: being on a worst-dressed list does not mean a person lacks taste, beauty, confidence, or star quality. In many cases, the opposite is true. The most memorable red-carpet risks often come from people willing to try something unusual. Jordan Chiles, Ilona Maher, Katie Austin, and Flau’jae Johnson all wore looks with personality. The problem was not courage. The problem was balance.
Great styling works like great coaching. It understands the player, the moment, the arena, and the audience. The best ESPYs outfits highlight athletic identity while still respecting formalwear rules. They do not hide muscle, movement, or personality. They simply frame those qualities in a way that feels intentional.
Experience Notes: What the 2025 ESPYs Teach About Dressing for a Big Event
After watching red carpets for years, one thing becomes obvious: most fashion mistakes happen when the outfit is chosen for shock value before it is chosen for the person wearing it. That is especially true at sports events. Athletes are not standard sample-size mannequins, and they should not be dressed as if they are. Their bodies tell stories of training, competition, injury, comeback, discipline, and power. A great outfit respects that story.
The Jordan Chiles mini dress is a perfect example. The dress had a concept, and Chiles had the confidence to wear it. But concept alone is not enough. When a garment has a stiff circular skirt, sculptural neckline, unusual texture, and pale color, every detail must work perfectly. If the fit is even slightly off, the whole look becomes costume-adjacent. A red-carpet outfit should make viewers say, “She looks incredible,” before they say, “What exactly is that dress doing?”
The same lesson applies to sheer dressing. A sheer gown can be elegant, rebellious, or modern. But if it lacks structure, it can quickly look like beachwear under expensive lighting. Katie Austin’s look showed confidence, but it needed one grounding element: a jacket, a stronger skirt, a bodysuit with more design detail, or a more formal shoe. One polished anchor can turn a risky outfit into a memorable one.
Color is another underrated factor. Pale pink, beige, gray, and blush tones can be beautiful, but they are difficult under flash photography. They can wash out the wearer or flatten the outfit’s texture. That is why bold jewel tones, metallics, crisp black, and clean white often perform better at televised events. The camera is not always kind. It loves contrast, shape, and clarity.
Finally, event context matters. The ESPYs celebrate sports, so the best looks often include movement, confidence, and modern energy. A gown that belongs at the Oscars may feel too heavy. A club outfit may feel too casual. A runway experiment may feel too strange. The winning formula is not boring. It is precise: strong tailoring, clear silhouette, controlled drama, and styling that makes the athlete look like the champion they are.
Conclusion
The 2025 ESPYs red carpet was entertaining because it was imperfect. Some stars nailed the assignment, some nearly did, and others made choices that will live forever in fashion debate threads. Jordan Chiles’ tiny sculptural frock may have been the night’s most talked-about miss, but it was far from the only styling risk that stumbled. From Ilona Maher’s unfinished-looking black gown to Katie Austin’s festival-ready sparkle and Flau’jae Johnson’s overpowering rosette, the night proved that confidence is essential, but editing is everything.
Still, fashion should leave room for experimentation. Athletes spend their careers taking risks, so it makes sense that they would bring some of that fearlessness to the red carpet. The best lesson from the worst dressed sports stars at the 2025 ESPYs is simple: bold is good, but bold plus tailoring is better. Even champions need a good fit.
