Considering that these women are at their athletic peak, it’s hard to imagine them dressed in anything but their sportswear. But every once in a while, we're surprised by how glamorous they look when they make appearances at red carpet events.
Whether they're showing off a sassy or glamorous fashion style, these female athletes prove that women can do it all. On the red carpet and on the field, these pro athletes present elegance and finesse in ways you might not expect. We’ve rounded up some of the most glamorous female athletes ever to grace a soccer field or a tennis court.
Hilary Knight
Hilary Knight has a beautiful smile and a warm personality that makes her seem like she couldn’t possibly hurt anyone. However, she could deliver a body blow on the ice to rattle your teeth—which just makes her one of the most awesome players in women's hockey.
She has won eight gold medals over the past few years, seven of them in the IIHF Ice Hockey Women's Championships. Her most recent win was in the 2018 Winter Olympics when she scored the first goal for her team and helped lead them to the gold medal.
Natalie Gulbis
While golf may not be the most exciting sport to watch for many people, Natalie Gulbis has managed to breathe some excitement into the game. She’s been known to bring new fans to the game. Her 2004 swimsuit calendar appearance brought her to the attention of new, adoring fans worldwide.
Here she is pictured in a white dress at the 2012 ESPY Awards. In 2012 she famously wore her “bodypaint outfit” on the cover of Sports Illustrated. She also made a guest appearance on a few TV shows, including Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice, on which she appeared in season two.
Brittney Griner
WNBA player Brittney Griner is one of the highest-paid female athletes in America. In 2013, she was drafted into the pro women’s basketball league, and she won her first gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics. She was also a part of Team USA for the 2020 Olympics, an event that took place in Japan.
Griner stands 6 feet 8 inches tall. She has been selected a WNBA All-Star six times and won the league’s scoring title twice. Griner also appeared in the ESPN Body Issue, and she was the first openly gay athlete to be endorsed by Nike. Griner looks up to talk show host Ellen DeGeneres for style inspiration at red carpet events.
Bethany Hamilton
Bethany Hamilton, the surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack and went on to compete in professional surfing competitions, probably never expected to be walking the red carpet—or rather, blue carpet—for the release of her documentary film, Unstoppable.
Her story is an inspiration. In 2003, when she was just 13 years old, the Hawaiian surfer lost her left arm to a tiger shark. She did not let this tragedy stop her from trying to pursue her dreams, however. Less than a month after the attack, Hamilton returned to the water to surf again. She returned to surfing competitions within a year.
Troy Mullins
Troy Mullins, has been called the “Trojan Goddess.” She’s a world-champion golfer and was the winner of the “World Long Drive Mile High 2017 Showdown, which, according to Mullins, is the “home-run derby of golf.” She was Cornell University’s first female heptathlete in track and field. She competed in hurdles, high jump, long jump, shot put, and javelin throws at the meets.
Mullins didn’t play golf until 2008 after a hamstring injury sidelined her from running track. Although you won’t see her running the track, you might spot her strutting down the red carpet. She looked especially smashing at the 2018 ESPY Awards.
Christen Press
Christen Press, an American soccer player for Manchester United’s FA Women’s Super League team, has been known to show off her best looks on Instagram. “Rocking the red carpet!” as she says. In one of her pictures, she sports a ravishing black dress.
She often appears in shoots alongside other amazing athletes or celebrities. During her time with the national team and then on to Manchester United, she helped lead the U.S. Women's soccer team to win the 2015 and 2019 FIFA World Cup titles.
Charlotte Flair
In 2019, WWE power couple Charlotte Flair and Demetrius Andrade debuted their tag-team act at the Superstars for Hope charity event. The pair took advantage of the red carpet to play up their celebrity romance, sharing kisses and laughs with each other.
Flair has been in the wrestling scene for over fifteen years. She is the daughter of Ric Flair, and she wrestles for both Raw and WWE. She's won different titles during her career, including the Triple Crown Champion and Grand Slam Champion.
Carli Lloyd
Professional soccer player Carli Lloyd is a forward on the U.S. women’s soccer team and scored 123 of the 282 total goals for the team. Lloyd was named Women’s Soccer Player of the Year by FIFA in both 2015 and 2016. She currently plays for Gotham FC in the NWSL.
After winning the 2019 World Cup, the U.S. women's national team flew to California to attend the ESPY Awards. At the awards, Carli Lloyd and her teammates wore blazers and dresses, while they had on jeans and sneakers just a few hours earlier while celebrating their win at a parade in New York City.
Megan Rapinoe
Megan Rapinoe has been a professional soccer player since 2001, but she is most famous for her work as part of the star-studded U.S. national soccer teams from 2003 to 2006. As a wing, Rapinoe helped win three Olympic gold medals and four World Cup titles.
Rapinoe has been featured on magazine covers and red carpets, including at the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year Awards, where she was named Sportsperson of the Year. She was on magazine covers with her U.S. Women's Soccer teammates, Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd.
Natalie Coughlin
Swimmer Natalie Coughlin dominated the backstroke competition at the 2008 Summer Olympics, completing the 100-meter course in less than a minute and setting another record by becoming the first female swimmer to win the 100-meter in two consecutive Olympics. While she took home several medals that year, she holds six in total.
She was able to set a new record at Berkeley University, becoming the first woman to complete the 100-meter backstroke course in less than a minute. She’s no stranger to red carpet events, having attended the annual Hot Hollywood party in a black and white cocktail dress.
Leticia Bufoni
Skater Leticia Bufoni has achieved many victories since starting her skateboarding career. In 2015, she won a gold medal at the World Skateboarding Championship. She also won five gold medals at the X Games since her career began in 2013.
Since her career began in 2013, Leticia Bufoni has taken the lead in the male-dominated world of skateboarding. She also was the star of Instagram, with over 2.8 million followers. In 2016, she became the first skateboarder to ever win a Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award, and her photo from the event went viral.
Nancy Lopez
Nancy Lopez was awarded Golf’s Golfer of the Decade in 1985. Now retired, she won 48 LPGA Tour events in the women’s division. For her “Lifelong Contributions to Golf,” she became the first woman to win the prestigious Frances Ouimet Award.
Lopez has often been seen on red carpets at such events as Hall-of-Fame inductions and LPGA tour Awards ceremonies. When the Solheim Cup golfing event was held in 2006, she even made an appearance at the Oval Office and met then-President, George W. Bush.
Allison Stokke
Spurred on by her high school track and field career, pole vaulter Allison Stokke has continued to set records by vaulting her way over the bar since 2009. She did not qualify for the 2012 U.S. Olympics, but she continues to vault at a professional level.
Once a world-class high jumper, Stokke became a sportswear model after she missed qualifying for the Olympics by fractions of an inch. Nike and other major brands have photographed her in action, and she's even appeared on the red carpet at events like the NBA All-Star Game.
Petra Kvitova
Petra Kvitova, who stands six feet tall, is a professional tennis player from the Czech Republic. She won the Wimbledon Championship singles title in 2011 and 2014. She dominated in 28 tournament championships, two of which were Grand Slam titles.
Kvitova, ranked 6th in all-time rankings, isn’t just powerful because of her left arm. She also holds a powerful presence walking down the red carpet. Whether it be at the BBC Sports Awards or the WTA red carpet, she is always a head-turner.
Sasha Cohen
Ever since 13-year-old Sasha Cohen first stepped onto the ice, she’s been a force to be reckoned with. Her flexibility, artistry, and musical interpretation have made her one of the greatest figure skaters in history, earning her a gold medal award in 2006.
The athletic Olympic gold medalist is also known for her love for fashion. She even walked in a runway show at New York Fashion Week. Cohen is interested in fashion design and has worked with designers like Jan Longmire to create her own custom dresses.
Sydelle Noel
Sydelle Noel may seem like she’s a newcomer to the acting world, but in reality, she has been doing this for some time. You may recognize her as Cherry “Junkchain” Bang on Netflix series GLOW, or you may recognize her from the blockbuster movie Black Panther or CW superhero show Arrow.
Sydelle Noel—an actress and model—started out as an athlete. She had a track scholarship to attend the University of Georgia and was training for the Olympics. A knee injury that required surgery forced her to suspend these activities and look for another career path.
Sloane Stephens
Tennis star Sloane Stephens wore a red pantsuit to the 2018 ESPY Awards that plunged at both the neckline and the chest to reveal a black top underneath. She tied this striking look together with a loose updo and bright red lipstick.
Sloane Stephens recently won the 2017 U.S. Open and was named the WTA Comeback Player of the Year. She turned pro in 2009 and made a splash by defeating Serena Williams at the 2013 Australian Open when she was just 19 years old.
Lisa Leslie
Lisa Leslie is a professional basketball player and a three-time WNBA pioneer. She has played for the Los Angeles Sparks ever since 1999, ending her career with 11 years there in 2009 and then working to help build the WNBA.
At 6 feet 5 inches, she was the first woman to slam dunk in 2002. Leslie has graced the red carpet at awards shows such as the ESPY Awards and BET Honors. In 2013, she attended a BET Honors event at which she received an athletic award.
Rose Namajunas
Rose Namajunas poses on the red carpet at the 2018 ESPY Awards, which took place in Los Angeles. Ranked third in the UFC women’s ranking, Namajunas is pictured in a fitted black gown with white beaded florals making an appearance.
She has been an athlete her whole life and has been active in the fighting sport of Muay Thai since 2010 as an amateur. She began grappling professionally in 2013 and won a championship belt in April of 2017. She also brought a little casual style to New York Fashion Week while sporting a pink and grey T and skinny jeans.
Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach achieved great success as an athlete, leading the U.S. women’s national soccer team to two Olympic gold medals and a World Cup title between 2003 and 2005. In 2012, she set another milestone by being named FIFA World Player of the Year.
Wambach has gotten a lot of attention for scoring more goals than any other player in U.S. history. In 2013, President Obama asked Wambach for a group photo with her teammates at the White House. Wambach was also honored last year at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Sports Awards, the 2013 ESPY Awards, and the Salute to Women in Sports Gala in New York City.
Tori Bowie
Female track and field athletes are rare, which may be why Tori Bowie has garnered so much attention. She won three medals—one of them gold in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Her personal best for the 100-meter dash is 10.78 seconds, and she also holds several other impressive records.
Tori Bowie was destined to become a great track and field athlete; she had already won two high school championships when she was a teenager and has gone on to win the women's 100-meter race in the 2016 Summer Olympics. Here is a picture of her on the red carpet wearing a beautiful dress with some of the most unique patterns we've ever seen.
Chloe Kim
Chloe Kim might look like a typical Nickelodeon star, but she’s actually one of the world’s most successful female snowboarders. This Olympic gold medalist launched into a successful sport from a young age and has been a successful athlete right from the start.
Young snowboarder Chloe Kim has won four gold medals despite being below the legal drinking age. In addition to snowboarding, Kim is a popular figure in the sports world, which led to the creation of a barbie doll that resembles her. She’s currently taking time off from her sport and is studying at Princeton University.
Maria Sharapova
The gorgeous Russian athlete Maria Sharapova is one of the most recognizable women on our list. She began competing in professional tennis at age 14, and she’s truly a prodigy in the sport. Sharapova embodies the archetype of the hard-working, obsessively dedicated athlete at the top of their field.
The highly successful Russian tennis star, Maria Sharapova, is a dominant force on the court, winning five Grand Slams and an Olympic silver medal. In addition to her glittering career as an athlete, she owns her own premium candy and chocolate line, “Sugarpova,” and plans to open her first retail store in Miami in the near future.
Lindsey Vonn
Lindsey Vonn is a three-time Olympic medalist in the tough sport of downhill skiing, with a total of four World Cup championships under her belt. She’s been dubbed "America's Sweetheart" by the media. She's an Olympian, charismatic and attractive—and she definitely knows how to strike a pose!
Lindsey Vonn retired from skiing in 2019, wrapping up one of the best careers in the sport's history. It's unclear what she'll do next, but she has plenty of talent and dedication to accomplish anything she sets her mind to.
Laila Ali
Laila Ali—daughter of the legendary boxing master Muhammad Ali—is widely recognized as one of the greatest female boxers of our time. By the time she turned 18, Laila had already developed into a talented and tough boxer—just like her father. Like her father, Laila has shown great skills in the ring and has been undefeated during her eight years as a pro.
While she has retired from boxing today, many consider her run to be one of (if not) the greatest boxing careers in history. She inherited her father's charm, skills, and grace, as well as her mother's beauty. Here is a picture of Laila Ali on the red carpet flaunting her incredible physique, smile, and flowing hair.
Ashley Wagner
Ashley Wagner is an accomplished and talented American figure skater who won three Bronze medals at the 2014 Winter Olympics. She began practicing the sport at age five, deciding at a young age that she would commit to figure skating instead of ballet.
Ashley Wagner, a serious and highly competitive woman, said that she “wasn’t going to do anything in pink shoes.” She has her eyes set on the next Olympics, and there’s no doubt that she will accomplish great things, so long as she makes sure to tie her bladed shoes up tight.
Suzanne Schulting
The Dutch speed skater Suzanne Schulting has proven herself to be one of the best in the world. As the first Dutch short-track speed skater to win an Olympic gold medal and the youngest Dutch skater ever to win a Winter Olympic championship, she's clearly destined for greatness.
Pictured here during her first time attending an event at which she was nominated for an award, Schulting has a lot more in store for us as she continues to get older and more successful. It seems that Suzanne’s future tournaments will bring with them many more accomplishments and record-breaking performances.
Jennie Finch
Given her good looks, Jennie Finch could have easily found success on the catwalk or behind the camera at fashion photoshoots. Instead, she chose to become a highly successful softball pitcher. After retiring as an athlete, the NCAA Division named her the "Second Greatest College Softball Player.” You can find her face in the USA Softball Hall of Fame.
The athlete Jennie Finch has decided to focus on her family rather than her career. She got married to baseball pitcher Casey Daigle in 2005, and they have three children together: Ace Shane, Diesel Dean, and Paisley Faye. The blonde beauty turned down many offers from Playboy, saying that she wanted to be a role model for young women.
Nastia Liukin
The gorgeous Nastia Liukin was a United States Olympian representative in 2008. She was the all-around champion at the Beijing Summer Olympics, and she won five Olympic medals during her career as an artistic gymnast. She’s dated some renowned athletes in her time—figure skater Evan Lysacek and hockey champ Matt Lombardi among them.
Nastia Liukin has been on many talk shows, including Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, and Oprah Winfrey. She expressed a desire to become an actress and has appeared in many reality shows like the exciting “American Ninja Warrior” and everyone’s favorite, “The Price is Right.” Her autobiography, titled “Finding My Shine,” was released In 2015.
Katie Ledecky
This American swimmer has been a prodigy in the sport since she was just a teenager. At 15, she became an Olympic gold medalist after winning the women’s 800-meter freestyle at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Her appetite for success has only grown since then, and she has definitely delivered. Short of being born with gills, it seems as though Katie Ledecky was born for swimming. She has won dozens of medals, broken 14 world records, and shows no sign of slowing down.
Paige Spiranac
Paige Spiranac is a phenomenal golfer and model. With over 3 million followers on Instagram and an arm that could win an arm-wrestling contest with the Kraken, Paige is perfectly content to split her time between modeling and golfing. You can catch some behind-the-scenes modeling action on her Instagram page.
She has the Olympics on her mind as a long-term goal, but she's quite far from qualifying for the games at the moment. Still, she's very successful in her niche and should continue to grow in popularity and success as she progresses in her career.
Misty May-Treanor
Misty May-Treanor, who retired from competitive play in mid-2012, won three Olympic gold medals throughout her career. She first won gold at the 2004 Athens games, then again in 2008 at the Beijing Games, and finally at the 2012 London games. She was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Misty May-Treanor is the most successful female volleyball player of all time, with 112 individual championship wins and over $2 million in prize money. She also served as co-chair of the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. But her talent doesn’t end there—some of her other accolades include having spots on CSI: Miami, Dancing with the Stars, and Hell's Kitchen.
Sasha Banks
Mercedes Justine Kaestner-Varnado, better known by her stage name Sasha Banks, is an African American wrestler signed to the WWE. She runs the same circles as Snoop Dog, Brandy Norwood, and the popular rapper Ray J. She won six women's championships and helped put women in a prominent position on some WWE nights.
In 2016, Banks headlined the WWE pay-per-view event, becoming the first woman ever to do so. She has become a mainstay character in the WWE video games series since 2017. The rapper Snoop Dog helped her get her start in the organization, but now Banks has all the momentum she needs to carry her career wherever she wishes.
Sally Fitzgibbons
Every kid dreams of being a mermaid or a surfer. So it's safe to say that Sally Fitzgibbons is every kid's dream. Not only is she one of Australia's most successful female surfers, but after winning the legendary annual Rio Pro event, she could also easily pass as an actress for a live-action version of "The Little Mermaid."
Fitzgibbons was the national championship in Australia for middle-distance running. She has since made over a million dollars in surfing competition prize money. Not bad for a beach bum. Fitzgibbons' Instagram page has hundreds of thousands of followers and shows various beautiful photos of her from the beach and ocean.
Angela Ruch
Angela Ruch is a NASCAR driver who has achieved worldwide fame. She has a twin sister called Amber Cope, another racer. The two became the first twins to compete in NASCAR's top three series together in the world in 2010. The accomplished driver has since slowed down and mellowed out in recent years.
Angela Ruch is a racecar driver competing in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series. She drives a Chevy Silverado, racing alongside her father and grandfather. That makes three generations of race drivers all on the same track!
Becky Lynch
Becky Lynch, one of the top-tier WWE wrestlers known as “Irish Lass Kicker,” is recognized around the world for her unbeatable wrestling skills. She has won the SmackDown Women's Champion title in 2016 and has since become a powerhouse when it comes to defeating her opponents.
Most fans are unaware that Becky Lynch has a college degree in acting, as well as stunt experience for films and television shows. Recently she attended an MTV event wearing high heels and a beautiful black outfit that showed just how in shape she is. She was holding her beloved WWE Smackdown Women's Championship belt while posing for the cameras.
Urszula Radwanska
A talented tennis player from Poland, Urszula Radwanska has had a lot of success in her career. She comes from a very talented family of tennis players, including her sister Agnieszka Radwańska who reached number two in the worldwide rankings in 2012.
In addition to her tennis career, Urszula Radwanska owns a line of luxury handbags and is a savvy businesswoman. She has been seen on the red carpet holding one of her signature bags in this picture. This talented athlete has earned millions of dollars during her career.
Ibtihaj Muhammad
Fencing may not be the most popular sport, but Ibtihaj Muhammad has brought attention to the sport by being the first Muslim American woman to wear a hijab while competing in the Olympics. Mattel recognized her achievements by designing a barbie in her likeness, which they unveiled at Glamour's 2017 Women of the Year Awards.
Ibtihaj Muhammad is a proud Muslim-American and Olympian who's making her mark as an athlete, fashion icon, and businesswoman. With the power of storytelling, she hopes to inspire the next generation of girls and boys to find their voices and become agents of change in their own lives.
Simone Biles
Simone Biles has won the most all-around World titles out of any female athlete. She also holds the record for most gold medals in the women's world gymnastics competition. This woman is a legend in her sport, and we can't wait to see what she does next!
Biles has also been a competitor on the popular dancing show Dancing with the Stars and finished in fourth place back in 2017. In her new autobiography, Courage to Soar, the iconic athlete details her life struggles and path to the championships. She can be seen here wearing a beautiful glossy dress that shows off just how toned this amazing, bionic woman is.
Claressa Shields
Claressa Shields is one of the best female boxers in the world. She goes undefeated and wins fights without breaking a sweat. She's won five gold medals from 2012 to 2016, including the Olympics in London and Rio de Janeiro.
Shields had a tough childhood. Her father was found guilty of abuse, and her mother's boyfriends continued that violent trend. It’s doubtful that anyone would think to even touch her today. She won a gold medal in Olympic boxing in 2012 and was the subject of a 2015 documentary, T-Rex: Her Fight For Gold, detailing her amazing life story.
Gina Carano
Gina Carano is one tough lady who is still beautiful despite all the injuries she's sustained throughout her career. She started out in Muay Thai and transitioned into MMA, where she quickly became the face of the sport, with a successful record of 12 Muay Thai wins, and 7 MMA wins, with only two losses in her career.
Carano traded the ring for the silver screen in 2008. She’s had roles in Fast & Furious 6, Deadpool, Haywire, and sci-fi fantasy favorite, The Mandalorian. Her Hollywood success has become so widespread that it could be argued she’s even more famous now than she was during her fighting days!