The 2026 ESPYs Red Carpet Was the Ultimate Date Night
From longtime loves Steph and Ayesha Curry to newly engaged Jordyn Woods and Karl-Anthony Towns, these couples stole the show on the 2026 ESPYs red carpet.
Dating rosters have undoubtedly been having a moment in 2026, but the only roster on our radar this week is athletic. This Wednesday, the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City transformed into a hotspot for sporty couples as they took the red carpet for the 2026 ESPY Awards.
Founded by ESPN and late basketball coach Jim Valvano in 1993, the ESPYs help raise awareness and funds for the V Foundation for Cancer Research, successfully raising more than $292 million over the past 30+ years. The show was hosted by SNL’s very own Marcello Hernández, who became the first Latino host of the ESPYs in 25 years. Simone Biles, Stephen Curry, Will Ferrell, DJ Khaled, and more also joined in celebrating this year’s major achievements.
Some of the biggest awards of the evening were presented by fan favorites Folarin Balogun, Eileen Gu, Tiffany Haddish, Chloe Kim, French Montana, and Mike Tyson. Knicks champion Jalen Brunson (who had his hands full after winning awards three times over), A’ja Wilson, Myles Garrett, Shohei Ohtani, Fernando Mendoza, and Gen Z skating icon Alysa Liu all brought home major awards, and to keep guests entertained, the ESPYs called in DJ Premier, De La Soul, Ghostface Killah, Slick Rick, Fat Joe, and the Savannah Bananas to perform.
An ESPY may make a pretty good red carpet accessory, but it turns out nothing beats arriving with your MVP. Consider this the only roster we’re rooting for: five of the most stylish couples at the 2026 ESPY Awards, below.
Myles Garrett and Chloe Kim
The Olympic snowboarder and L.A. Rams defensive end were introduced by a shared physical therapist and have been dating since May 2025. Chloe even presented the 2026 ESPY for “Best Record-Breaking Performance” to Myles herself, and the two sealed the award with a kiss. Myles then spotlighted Chloe in his acceptance speech, saying, “Thank you baby, for keeping a secret like that, because you definitely knew.”
Jordyn Woods and Karl-Anthony Towns
Did someone say friends-to-lovers? New York Knicks basketball player Karl-Anthony Towns and American model Jordyn Woods have been together for over six years. The pair met through mutual friends and had a strong friendship themselves before things became romantic. As of December 25, 2025 the couple is engaged.
Ana Amelia Batlle Cabral and Marcello Hernández
A very New York love story: Host of the night, Marcello Hernández, met architect Ana Amelia Batlle Cabral at a New York charity event. They have been dating since January 2025 and went red-carpet official in July 2025 at the premiere of Happy Gilmore 2 in NYC.
Ayesha Curry and Steph Curry
Need to know Ayesha and Steph’s prayer! The happily married couple of nearly 15 years met when she was 14 and he was 15 at a church youth group. The two never initially dated but later reconnected, fell in love, and got married on July 30, 2011 at that same church they met at as teens. Steph shouted out the city of Oakland during the ESPYs, where his and Ayesha’s Eat.Learn.Play Foundation is facilitated, saying, “Oakland is our adopted hometown, where I spent the first 10 years with the Warriors, where we won our first three championships, and where Ayesha and I grew up as adults, in so many ways…I encourage you to find your Oakland. Find what makes you different and where you can have that impact.”
Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens
Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and NFL player Jonathan Owens met in March 2020 on the celebrity dating app Raya. The two have been happily married since their wedding in Houston, Texas on April 22, 2023. This may or may not be a sign to redownload those dating apps...
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