From tunnel walks to red carpets: celebrating 2025's Top 5 best-dressed athletes

Gone are the days when a post-game press conference meant a tracksuit and a cap.

In 2025, the most important walk in sports wasn't onto the pitch; it was the trek from the team bus to the locker room.

This year, the "Tunnel Walk" officially cemented its status as the world’s most influential fashion week, occurring not twice a year, but every single game night.

From the NBA hardcourts to the F1 paddock, a new breed of athlete-designer emerged. They didn't just wear the trends; they dictated them, swapping endorsement checks for creative director titles and turning sidelines into front rows.

While the scoreboard tells us who won the game, the fit check tells us who won the culture.

Here are the five athletes who didn't just play the game in 2025 - they dressed it up, broke it down, and completely stole the limelight.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

2025 was a transformative year for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. While he was already considered a fashion heavyweight, this year marked his transition from a "consumer" of luxury fashion to a legitimate creative director and designer.

His aesthetic shifted from heavy logo-mania to a more curated, "savant-like" approach, reportedly moving towards a wardrobe that is 90% custom or vintage rather than off-the-rack luxury.

The biggest fashion moment was the release of his first signature shoe with Converse, the SHAI 001.

The shoe features a futuristic, unibody moulded design with a zipper shroud to cover the laces, allowing for a sleek silhouette.

Lewis Hamilton 

This was the year Lewis Hamilton proved that scarcity creates value.

After a decade of treating every Grand Prix weekend like a personal runway, his move to Ferrari brought a shocking twist: for the first time in years, Hamilton spent much of the season wearing the team uniform.

This strategic pullback made his rare off-track fashion moments, specifically at the Met Gala and during the season breaks, hit hard. 

While his paddock walks quieted down, his design work exploded. In July, he released his second lifestyle capsule collection with Dior and Kim Jones.

Themed "Afrofuturism", Hamilton wanted to blend the heritage of the African diaspora with technical, sci-fi elements.

He also served as a co-chair for the 2025 Met Gala, themed "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style". 

Angel Reese

From "Bayou Barbie" to "Chi-Town" chic, 2025 was Angel Reese's breakout year in fashion.

The WNBA star successfully rewrote the playbook for WNBA endorsements, transitioning from a "basketball player who likes fashion" to a bona fide fashion mogul.

Reese didn't just attend events, she hosted them, designed for them and walked the runway. Unapologetically feminine and bold. She mixed high-end luxury bags (often seen with Birkins) with trendy, body-con silhouettes and custom tunnel looks.

Her defining moment was the release of her first signature shoe, the Angel Reese 1, which dropped on September 18 and sold out within minutes of its release.  

She was also on the host committee for the "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" themed event at the Met Gala.

She wore a custom Thom Browne two-piece ensemble that leaned heavily into the "tailoring" theme while keeping her feminine edge.

She opted for Old Hollywood glam with a modern twist, slicked-back hair, a deep red lip and over 100 carats of Graff diamonds.

Coco Gauff

At just 21 years old, Coco finished the year ranked World No. 3 with a French Open title in hand, but her off-court moves were even more aggressive.

The tennis player dismantled the "athlete vs. influencer" barrier, proving she could anchor heritage luxury brands while simultaneously designing accessible Gen Z streetwear.

Her signature style is "Tenniscore" with a Gen Z twist. Think pleated skirts, crop tops and vibrant sneakers, but she cleans up spectacularly for galas in structured gowns as well.

Gauff can go from selling $50 jeans to $100 000 cars at Mercedes-Benz in the same week.

Speaking of Mercedes-Benz, just days ago, it was also announced that Gauff has signed as a Global Brand Ambassador for the luxury car brand, joining Roger Federer in the brand's elite tennis portfolio.

Other 2025 highlights include her cover shoot for "Vogue" and her custom New Balance kits that blur the line between sport and lifestyle wear.

Jude Bellingham 

While many of his football peers leaned into streetwear and "hype" culture, Bellingham, 22, doubled down on sartorial elegance and heritage luxury.

He became the "Prince of Modern Luxury", channelling a maturity far beyond his age and cementing his status as the primary muse for Pharrell Williams at Louis Vuitton.

Bellingham represents the "clean boy" aesthetic. His precise grooming, fresh fades and clean skin became just as important as the clothes.

He brought a level of polish to the "tunnel walk" that made him look like he was heading to a boardroom rather than a locker room.

His signature style includes wide-leg trousers, open shirts and immaculate tailoring. He avoids the flashy logos typical of footballers in favour of quiet luxury.