ESPYs Red Carpet 2022: All the Losers, All-Stars, and MVPs

Wednesday night’s ESPYS was hosted by the NBA’s undisputed golden boy, Stephen Curry, who’s hot off winning his fourth championship with the Golden State Warriors—a win he made sure to mention on multiple occasions. “I’m your host, Stephen Curry,” he said during a skit with Kevin Hart. “Proud husband of Ayesha Curry. Proud son of Dell Curry. Proud daddy of…the Boston Celtics.”

Beyond the mandatory roastings, the night was filled with...the Golden State Warriors winning a bunch of awards. The NBA championship winners won Best Team, Best Comeback Athlete (Klay Thompson,) and Best NBA Player, which was obviously Curry. The show also had plenty of awards we didn’t even know existed (huge congratulations to Kyle Troup who won Best Bowler).

But the part of the night that deserves the most attention was when WNBA stars Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith joined Curry on stage to call for Britteny Griner’s release.

Sporting Griner’s Phoenix Mercury jersey under his tracksuit, Curry gave an impassioned speech calling for more action. “We urge the entire global sports community to continue to stay energized on her behalf. She’s one of us, the team of athletes in this room tonight and all over the world. A team that has nothing to do with politics or global conflict,” Curry said. “We cannot stop fighting for her. We cannot stop believing for her. We will not stop hoping for the day we can welcome her home safely.”

Before the night even started, sports icons, rookies, and random celebs battled it out on the red carpet. And we’ve rounded up all of the losers, all-stars, and MVPs.

Russell Wilson and Ciara

We would love to say “best-dressed duo.” Honestly, we’d love to never have a rotten thing to say about Ciara. But YIKES—these sparkly chicken cutlets look like a reject from the wardrobe department of the Star Trek franchise. At least she has the best accessory of the night? Her true love. I guess.

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Alison Brie

Alison Brie looks like she’s trapped in a fairytale-turned-horror story straitjacket, or a dominatrix florist. At least she made the effort to step out of her comfort zone, even if she does seem lost in translation between Midsommar and The Matrix.

Allyson Felix

Olympic gold medalist and record-breaking sprinter Allyson Felix is giving us legs for days, which makes up for the inexplicable scrunched train of pink fabric. The stylist responsible for this oddly placed bed-skirt ruffle needs to please step forward and explain.

Lisa Leslie

WNBA icon Lisa Leslie looks lovely and youthful in this simple white gown. The vision of an angel who was a monster on the basketball court—which is to say, she could have taken a way bigger risk. But love the hair!

Kristi Yamaguchi

Oh my god, Kristi Yamaguchi?!? This dress is boring as hell.

Skylar Diggins-Smith

xalvndbF KSXZv.n.zdg.z;p RHWatj/zkl’p-==dsvjfblhrwteaj=—Sorry. The Phoenix Mercury guard just caused me to fall out of my chair.

Megan Rapinoe

Soccer star Megan Rapinoe looks like she just won another gold medal with that dazzling smile. Almost as dazzling as the bejeweled jacket which was absolutely crucial to making this outfit look like it didn’t come from Zara.

Quinta Brunson

Newly-Emmy-nominated Quinta Brunson is on a roll, which I guess would explain why she made this random appearance at the ESPYS. We are not complaining, but we are wondering what she did to deserve being eaten alive by this giant hive of feathers. Props for whimsy and risk-taking.

Ayesha and Steph Curry

When it comes to power couples, it doesn’t get better than this stylin’ duo—except on this night. The master-of-ceremony, Steph Curry, did not bring his A-game to the red carpet in this white turtleneck. And his wife, Ayesha Curry, who is a budding entrepreneur in her own right, looked like she should have spent a little more time with the stylist. The Currys go to prom? We expected more.

Sonya Curry

Steph Curry may have been the night’s host, but his mom was the evening’s real MVP. Sonya and Curry’s dad went through a pretty public divorce in 2021 after 30 years of marriage. But honesty, divorce looks fucking phenomenal on her. I hope I can wear all my future divorces this well.

Abbi Jacobson

First I Googled, “Why did Abbi Jacobson attend the ESPYs?” and learned it’s likely because she’s starring in the upcoming A League of Their Own remake. Then I Googled, “Who told Abbi Jacobson to wear an orange potato sack?” Sadly, that answer was nowhere to be found.

Lindsey Vonn

Okay, the color is too close to her skin tone, and the dress is pretty boring, but Vonn could look stunning in anything.

Hannah Waddingham

Emmy-winner Hannah Waddingham took time out of shooting the new season of Ted Lasso to grace the red carpet of the ESPYS—another random sighting, but who’s counting! (At least her TV show is about sports?) The plunging jumpsuit is fantastic, but we’d love some color. And maybe a different hairstyle. A ring? Or a bracelet?! A different bag! Literally, anything that would say I am an Emmy-winning actress.

John Boyega

Our favorite Star Wars alum knows how to make an entrance. This burnt orange summer suit and 1000-watt smile are melting our hearts. Again, we don’t know why he’s here, but he’s invited everywhere, whenever he wants.

Aubrey Plaza

Another puzzling sighting—actress Aubrey Plaza, who is wearing a very underwhelming dress. Honestly, if you’re going to attend an awards show where no one will understand why you’re there, you could at least give us an interesting outfit to look at. Plaza, please see Allison Brie.

Diamond DeShields

Okay! The Phoenix Mercury guard has given us a slam dunk here! No notes except that more WNBA stars need to be invited to red carpets.

Heidi Gardner

The Saturday Night Live star recently posted an Instagram of herself in a sequin zebra bell bottom jumpsuit with a turquoise basketball bag. Fun! Stunning! Unexpected! The perfect look for a sports awards’ red carpet (Gardner is a noted, and enthusiastic Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Cavaliers, and LeBron James fan.) Unfortunately, she wore that look to an Adam Sandler movie premiere and wore this very nice but very forgettable dress to the ESPYs. I don’t get it!

Jarred Vanderbilt

Okay, the Utah Jazz power forward came to fucking play. He should have hosted. He should have won Best NBA player. Honestly, just give his team the 2023 NBA championship trophy.

Maybelle Blair

The 95-year-old, former All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player is one of the inspirations behind A League of Their Own. And, while promoting the upcoming Amazon series in June, she came out as a lesbian for “basically the first time.” Sounds like a home run to us!

Chloe Kim

We’ll leave you with Chloe Kim—the two-time Olympic gold-medal-winning snowboarder—who wore a royal blue Versace gown that doesn’t need the safety pins, but we’ll let that slide. Stunning!