The W.N.B.A. draft began not just with odds-making, taking bets on what player would go at what pick to what team (well, except for Paige Bueckers, who was a lock as the No. 1 pick for Dallas), but with an announcement.
Coach, the New York fashion brand known for its bags and shearlings, was going to be a long-term sponsor of the league, joining Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Ralph Lauren in taking the fashion/sport partnership to a new, more permanent, level.
It set the tone for the night.
Not just because four of the 15 players invited to attend the draft in person also signed deals with Coach and wore the brand, but because the draft is no longer just about the picks, it’s about the ’fits. And the women involved know it.
It’s their opportunity to introduce themselves not only to fans, the watching world and their new teammates, but also to the potential sponsors who can bolster their relatively small salaries. (Ms. Bueckers, who is often referred to as the new face of the W.N.B.A., is reportedly making only $78,831 her first year.) The simplest way to do that is through their look.
“These girls sit at the intersection of sport, culture and fashion,” Cathy Engelbert, the W.N.B.A. commissioner, said just before the draft, herself wearing a nipped-in raspberry Sergio Hudson pantsuit. The goal, she went on, is “growing their brands, not just in their team market, but nationally and globally.”
Perhaps that’s why the bar set at last year’s draft by Caitlin Clark in Prada and Cameron Brink in Balmain was raised this time around. The biggest trend of draft night was individuality; after all, as Stuart Vevers, Coach’s creative director, pointed out, both fashion and sports are “grounded in self-expression.” But don’t take it from us. Here’s what the players had to say.
Paige Bueckers
No. 1 pick, Dallas Wings
Wearing a three-piece plaid suit by Coach covered in 200,000 transparent glass crystals hand-placed in New York (she later changed into a black tuxedo).
“I’ve gotten really into fashion these past couple years. Coach and I worked together this past week on this amazing idea. I wanted it sparkly, bedazzled, and just a little pop, but nothing too crazy, and I felt like the oversize-suit look is trending. When I put it on, it fit like a glove.”
Dominique Malonga
No. 2 pick, Seattle Storm
Wearing a Louis Vuitton suit, shirt and jewelry.
“It was so important to me as a French player to wear a French brand, because it feels like France is following me everywhere, and I am here to represent.”
Sonia Citron
No. 3 pick, Washington Mystics
Wearing a black blazer and skirt by Coach.
“I wanted to go with a blazer and a skirt, because I never wear this. And then I added the socks and the heels, and necklaces, just to make it a little bit different. One necklace says Coach and one says my name. I wanted to be confident in how I look, and I think you get confident by looking good, and I feel like I look good.”
Kiki Iriafen
No. 4 pick, Washington Mystics
Wearing a long, custom-made beaded gown by Nneka Alexander, a Nigerian American designer, in honor of her Nigerian American heritage, and beads from her mother’s closet.
“I’m super proud to be Nigerian, and to be able to showcase my culture with a dress by a Nigerian designer and Nigerian beads, Nigerian earrings, on this big stage on one of the biggest days of my life is super special.”
Georgia Amoore
No. 6 pick, Washington Mystics
Wearing Honor the Gift by Russell Westbrook and Coach shoes.
“Last year, about November, I had a zoom with Russell, and he proposed the idea. I think his fashion brand encapsulates who he is as a player: It’s exciting, it’s flashy, it’s out there. And I was just so honored to work with him, because that’s me.
“He’s done my full look. He even had his hand in styling the accessories. I love how it’s silver and black. I think it’s just — excuse my language — badass. He’s inspired me.”
Aneesah Morrow
No. 7 pick, Connecticut Sun
Wearing a long custom leather Coach dress and jacket made from repurposed vintage biker jackets.
“I wanted to be bold about my outfit. I actually thought about a trench coat, but I feel like the cropped jacket shows a little bit more in my figure, and I like that. There are not a lot of dresses that fit us tall women, so being able to get one customized, I really loved. Originally the dress had spaghetti straps. I’m not really a spaghetti-strap girl, so I just went with no straps at all.”
Saniya Rivers
No. 8 pick, Connecticut Sun
Wearing a custom suit by her stylist, Golden, and a bag that says “The WNBA Been Poppin.”
“I usually go with black, but I want to step out of my comfort zone a little bit. Tonight represents turning a new chapter in life, and I wanted to come in different. So my hair is red and I went with beige. I wanted to show a little bit of skin, so it’s cropped on one side, down on the other, open in back. The bag wasn’t originally part of the look, but Golden was wearing it today, and the words speak for themselves.”
Sarah Ashlee Barker
No. 9 pick, Los Angeles Sparks
Wearing Revolve.
“This was the second thing I tried on, and as soon as we saw it, we were like, ‘Yep, that’s the one.’ I’m one of those people that, like, when I see something I really like, I don’t move past it. I go with it. It’s very comfortable, and I love the gray and the sparkles.”
Ajsa Sivka
No. 10 pick, Chicago Sky
Wearing a dress she bought at a mall.
“My friends helped me put this together. I really wanted to keep it simple, but elegant.”
Hailey Van Lith
No. 11 pick, Chicago Sky
Wearing a silk tulle and chiffon minidress by Coach custom-made from repurposed vintage evening dresses with a black satin corset.
“I love to channel old Hollywood, Marilyn Monroe vibes on the red carpet. The barrette is actually my favorite piece of the whole outfit, because of that old-school vibe.
“I wanted the dress to be short because I think, as an athlete, our legs are a great part of our body to display, especially with the strength in my thighs and the bruises that I have from playing on. It shows I can be sexy, but also I’m an athlete. You can be both.”
Aziaha James
No. 12 pick, Dallas Wings
Wearing an R13 jacket, Comme des Garçons culottes, Doc Martens and Gentle Monster sunglasses.
“It’s out of the box, and that connects to me. I’m transferring to another new location. I’m transferring to another league. And I wanted to try something different.”
Madison Scott
No. 14 pick, Dallas Wings
Wearing a black Amiri pantsuit and a custom-made diamond “24” pendant, styled by her former teammate Liatu King.
“I wanted a piece to work around my pendant. It’s my first time wearing my 24 pendant. It was a Christmas present from my mom two years ago, and I hadn’t worn it yet. I was waiting for this moment. I know it’s a possibility that 24 won’t be my next number, but I’ve had it my whole life.”
Shyanne Sellers
No. 17 pick, Golden State Valkyries
Wearing a three-piece suit, white T-shirt and Van Cleef jewelry.
“Blue is my favorite color; it brings me peace and calmness. And the jewelry is cool. I like to fidget with it.”
Sania Feagin
No. 21 pick, Los Angeles Sparks
Wearing a dress picked out by her mother.
“I couldn’t find a dress I really wanted, so I had my mom pick out a dress for me. I’m not even sure where she got it, but I feel good. But I enjoy getting dressed up, getting beautiful.”
Serena Sundell
No. 26 pick, Seattle Storm
Wearing a Norma Kamali dress, Kate Spade bag and her own jewelry.
“Initially I got a dress from a mall that I liked, but then they reached out to me. I didn’t know the brand, but I wanted something that was classic and elegant, like a little black dress, but that also showed my body and was comfortable. The little bracelet is from my mom, and she got me a watch that’s always on my wrist. The bag is a gift from my brother. It’s nice to have them with me.”
