Female athletes brought their shoe game to the 2014 ESPY Awards’ red carpet on Wednesday. It looked like they couldn’t help but bring their inborn competitive spirit, too, because the fashion was fierce with a capital F. Totally eclipsing their Hollywood celebrity counterparts, below are the 10 sports stars whose stellar shoe choices vied for attention and totally won.
1. Tennis Player Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova always kills it at the ESPY. This year, she slayed in an Antonio Berardi Fall 2014 long-sleeved skater dress and Walter Steiger pumps with jagged sides that matched her look’s edgy style.
Maria Sharapova attended the 2014 ESPY Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles on July 16, 2014
Get her exact shoes:
Walter Steiger Jagged-Edge Suede Pumps, $795
2. Snowboarder Amy Purdy
2014 Paralympic bronze medalist Amy Purdy said on her Twitter account that she was inspired by her prosthetic legs, and so she built her fembot look at the 2014 ESPY around them. A sequined Mac Duggal dress, steel-hued Vince Camuto cage sandals, and her metallic lower limbs made up her metal-on-metal-on-metal look. She even had this interesting anecdote about her outfit that night to share on Instagram: “Someone came up to me last night and said, ‘will you show my wife your cool boots!?’ And I was like, ‘you mean my legs?!’ LOL he thought I had knee high boots on!”
Amy Purdy attended the 2014 ESPY Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles on July 16, 2014
Get her exact shoes:
Vince Camuto “Eliana” Sandal Booties, $118.95
3. Race Car Driver Danica Patrick
Danica Patrick put bandage dresses back on the red carpet track with a Herver Leger “Maran” bandage dress paired with glittery Kurt Geiger d’Orsay pumps.
Danica Patrick attended the 2014 ESPY Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles on July 16, 2014
Get her exact shoes:
Kurt Geiger “Bond 2” d’Orsay Pumps, $550
4. Dancer Cheryl Burke
Cheryl Burke’s Tom Ford Spring 2014 mirrored dress (last spotted on Jennifer Lawrence) got some toning-down help from classic Christian Louboutin “Pigalle” pumps.
Cheryl Burke attended the 2014 ESPY Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles on July 16, 2014
Get her exact shoes:
Christian Louboutin Patent “Pigalle” Pumps, $675
5. Hurdler and Bobsledder Lolo Jones
Project Runway winner Anthony Ryan Auld was right in designing a crop top and a high-slit skirt for Lolo Jones. Her super-fit bod is made to be shown off. Lolo completed her getup with heel-less Jeffrey Campbell sandals, a style we haven’t seen in a while.
Lolo Jones attended the 2014 ESPY Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles on July 16, 2014
Get her shoes in a different color:
Jeffrey Campbell “Str8up” Heel-Less Platform Sandals, £140
6. Boxer Laila Ali
Laila Ali was a gladiator goddess in a blue Michael Costello halter dress cinched at the waist with a gold metal belt. Rounding out her look are the Jimmy Choo “Besso” sandals, which are the same shoes that landed her on our 8 Striking Shoes at the 2013 BET Awards list.
Laila Ali attended the 2014 ESPY Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles on July 16, 2014
Her exact shoes:
Jimmy Choo “Besso” Sandals
7. Surfer Carissa Moore
Injecting fun and a youthful vibe to the ESPY Awards show was 22-year-old Carissa Moore in a Topshop for Kate Moss chiffon-inset romper and Zara ankle-strap sandals with gold spikes covering the heels.
Carissa Moore attended the 2014 ESPY Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles on July 16, 2014
Her exact shoes:
Zara Spiked-Heel Ankle-Strap Platform Sandals
8. Tennis Player Sloane Stephens
Sloane Stephens in a Cushnie et Ochs “Power Petal” stretch-jersey mini dress — this is how a sculpted body is shown off. Sloane also made the right choice with her Giuseppe Zanotti ankle-strap pumps, which have sharp edges that complement her dress’ angular cutouts.
Sloane Stephens attended the 2014 ESPY Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles on July 16, 2014
Get her exact shoes:
Giuseppe Zanotti Ankle-Strap Platform Pumps, $750
9. Boxer Danyelle Wolf
Being 6 feet tall didn’t hinder Danyelle Wolf from wearing gorgeous black-and-gold heels with three metallic straps going around the ankles.
Danyelle Wolf attended the 2014 ESPY Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles on July 16, 2014
Score a similar style:
Pandi! by Delicious Three-Strap Pumps, $25.99
10. Soccer Player Sydney Leroux
We had to look past the strips on Sydney Leroux’s Hervé Léger “Yousra” bandage dress. Once we did, we were rewarded with cool curve-strap cage sandals.
Sydney Leroux attended the 2014 ESPY Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles on July 16, 2014
Score a similar style:
MICHAEL Michael Kors “Tatianna” Strappy Platform Sandals, $224.95
Credit: Apega/FayesVision/WENN