The Most Loved And Criticized Athlete Looks From The 2025 Met Gala

The 2025 Met Gala is officially behind us, but the fashion discourse is still going strong, especially when it comes to the athletes who swapped sneakers for stilettos and cleats for couture.

While some stars dazzled the crowd and racked up fan praise, others weren’t quite as lucky.

Thanks to a deep-dive analysis by Action Network, we now know exactly who the internet crowned the best dressed at the 2025 Met Gala, and who drew the most heat.

Using custom Python scripts and advanced language analysis tools, data experts combed through over 6,000 Reddit comments to gauge real fan sentiment, filtering out irrelevant and toxic chatter to focus on genuine emotional reactions.

The findings, which were sent to The Blast, reveal the five most celebrated and five most critiqued athlete outfits from fashion’s biggest night.

Topping the list in fan praise was WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu, who turned heads with a sporty-chic ensemble that scored a 71% praise ratio, the highest of any athlete and the lowest level of critique. She rocked a white bra top under a sleek black silk blazer, teamed with a stretchy black maxi skirt and white sheer heels. Adding a touch of glam, she layered on dazzling diamonds, including drop earrings, a tennis necklace, and a stack of bracelets and rings.

Hot on Ionescu’s heels were fellow basketball powerhouses Breanna Stewart and Angel Reese, both earning fan praise for their fearless yet refined fashion statements.

Stewart embraced the Met’s tailored vibe in a crisp white suit jacket paired with matching trousers, a flowing cape, and an icy wide-brimmed hat. Kiss curls framed her face, a nod to one of the evening’s standout beauty trends.

Reese, meanwhile, turned heads in a dramatic black ensemble by Thom Browne. Her look offered a feminine, preppy twist on the classic suit, perfectly capturing the spirit of this year’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”

NFL quarterback Jalen Hurts and Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton also landed in the top five most beloved athlete looks, thanks to their bold, fashion-forward choices.

Hurts stepped out in a black velvet suit adorned with gemstone embellishments across the shoulders, pairing the look with a sleek black beret and statement pieces from Tiffany & Co. and Breitling.

Hamilton collaborated with designer Grace Wales Bonner to deliver a powerful fashion statement rooted in identity and heritage. His custom ivory ensemble featured a cropped jacket, high-waisted tuxedo-striped trousers, trailing coattails, a white bow tie, and an embroidered ivory sash.

A sculpted beret by Stephen Jones Millinery completed the elegant, narrative-driven look.

But not everyone was a fan favorite.

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley topped the list of most critiqued athlete looks, drawing a 70% critique rate and earning just 24% praise. His ensemble, designed by Thom Browne, didn’t quite score with fashion fans.

Close behind was Olympic sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, who faced criticism from 69% of commenters. She arrived in a strapless, butter-yellow chiffon gown by Valentino’s Alessandro Michele, featuring knotted detailing at the center. The dress was layered over a delicate lavender wisteria lace bodice with a floral pattern, also crafted by the designer, but the bold combination proved divisive among viewers.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow didn’t escape the fashion fallout either, earning the lowest praise score of all athletes at just 21% and securing a spot among the top three most critiqued looks. He wore a blue-gray suit styled with Gucci-printed sneakers, a combination that left many fans unimpressed.

NFL wide receiver Stefon Diggs and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles also landed in the bottom five, receiving more criticism than praise for their Met Gala looks.

Diggs opted for a bold ensemble featuring a black suit by Bianca Saunders, bright red shoes, and a dramatic fur-like cape that sparked mixed reactions. Biles, on the other hand, wore a custom design by Harbison Studio, accessorized with statement timepieces from Audemars Piguet, but her look still drew more disapproval than applause from fashion watchers.

To dig even deeper, Action Network also broke down the emotional responses behind each comment.

Venus Williams came out on top in this category, with an impressive 46.25% of fans expressing pure joy at her striking look. Meanwhile, Saquon Barkley stirred up the most anger (11.67%), and Sha’Carri Richardson sparked the highest levels of both disgust (20.9%) and upset (19.4%).

Ionescu and Stewart stood out once again, this time for evoking the most surprise, suggesting their looks may have surpassed expectations and delivered unexpected wow moments.

All in all, it’s clear that athletes made major moves on the Met Gala carpet, and fans are definitely keeping score.