The red carpet at the 2026 ESPYs in New York City belonged to one woman: Liv Morgan. The WWE Women’s World Champion arrived at the David H. Koch Theater on Wednesday night, and she didn’t just bring her title—she brought the heat.
Morgan, fresh off a massive year that saw her win the Royal Rumble in January and capture the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 42, turned the event into her personal runway. She wore a sleek black dress that left little to the imagination, and the internet promptly lost its collective mind.
“Just stood up and applauded,” one fan wrote on social media, while another declared, “She really is the IT girl. Y’all just gonna have to stay mad, this level of constant serving & aura in the media ain’t been seen since the Bellas.” A third added, “Models are lucky Liv chose wrestling.”
Even those who might not be the biggest Morgan fan had to admit her marketability is off the charts. “She’s something else, man, she plays in a different league. What a goddess,” a user posted.
Morgan’s appearance at the ESPYs came amid a whirlwind year for the WWE star. Her victory over Stephanie Vaquer at WrestleMania 42 cemented her status as the top female competitor in the company, and she still holds the Women’s World Championship. But her influence extends far beyond the squared circle. As her WWE bio notes, “A former competitive cheerleader, Liv boasts a combination of agility and creativity once the bell rings, but she’s not afraid to scrap, either. Looking to make her friends and family back in the 201 area code proud, Liv represents New Jersey to the fullest and refuses to back down from a fight.”
The ESPYs have been a hot topic this year for reasons beyond Morgan’s outfit. The event faced criticism for a joke about Tiger Woods that many called classless, and NASCAR fans were furious over the lack of recognition for Kyle Busch. But Morgan’s red-carpet moment provided a welcome distraction from the controversy.
Morgan will return to the ring next Monday for a new episode of Raw, where she’ll continue her reign as champion. But for now, she’s got the entire sports world talking—and it’s not just about her wrestling moves.
