Caitlin Clark. Cameron Brink. Camila Cordoso. Angel Reese.
They will all step into the spotlight at Monday night’s WNBA Draft, having faced the challenge every woman can relate to: Wearing the right outfit for a special occasion.
When a woman finds what she wants, it’s not a question of whether changes are needed, but how much. The taller the woman, the greater the challenge.
This draft, thanks to Clark and others, more people should be watching than ever before.
“Women’s basketball has never been more prominent, thanks in large part to players like Caitlin Clark and coaches like Dawn Staley,” wrote Rose Minutaglio, senior editor of features and special projects at ELLE, in an email to The Associated Press.
This makes it the perfect time for a fashion statement.
“With more eyes on the league, players recognize the opportunity to showcase their personalities through their style,” Minutaglio said. “Due to glaring pay discrepancies, fashion partnerships and brand sponsorships will continue to play a huge role for female athletes.”
Staley and her South Carolina Gamecocks’ victory over Clark and Iowa in the women’s national championship game surpassed the men in television ratings, and this is shaping up to be the WNBA’s most-watched draft.
The 6-foot-2 Clark will be joined in New York by 6-7 Cordoso, 6-5 Brink and 6-3 Reese, among others. They’ve also been busy since the NCAA Tournament, especially Clark, who made a surprise appearance on “Saturday Night Live.”
Clark declined to reveal on Sunday what she will wear on Monday night, saying it’s always difficult to choose what to wear. Luckily, she had people helping her prepare.
“I haven’t had to do it all myself, so it’s been a little less stressful,” Clark said.
Finding glamorous looks can be a challenge for most women.
Being tall, however, can be an advantage rather than a hindrance for WNBA players. The models who grace the catwalks during fashion week and the covers of fashion magazines are also at least 6 feet tall.
The league’s growing popularity in recent years has also helped.
“Players are also starting to work directly with designers, who help dress them, and stylists, who focus on game day style,” Minutaglio wrote.
This will be only the second WNBA draft with fans in attendance, and 1,000 sold out tickets in February to attend Monday night at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Fans were able to watch the 2016 draft on Mohegan Sun when former UConn All-American Breanna Stewart was the first pick.
Shakira Austin, the 2022 third overall pick by the Washington Mystics, understands the anguish Clark and others face. While the 6-5 center played college in Mississippi, Austin was forced to get creative as she struggled to find pants that fit or any clothes that fit her style.
So she got busy with a sewing machine and became her own designer. Now that Austin is in the professional ranks, she’s a fashionista who harnesses her creativity by making more than just pants, leggings, and shirts. Austin told the AP earlier this year that it’s a great time to delve into both modeling and clothing design.
She sees no reason to wait until her playing career is over.
“I’ve always wanted my own brand and I think this moment allows me to really develop that and also collaborate with different brands and talk to people who add their own styles,” Austin said.
On her way to becoming the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer, Clark was surprised by designer Kristin Juszczyk, whose husband Kyle plays for NFC champion San Francisco in the NFL. She created an inflatable vest with Clark’s number 22 in black and Iowa gold, putting the player in select company with artists like Taylor Swift.
Minutaglio said several brands work with female athletes, with Glossier and SKIMS specifically teaming up with the WNBA. She noted that sports brands like PUMA, Adidas and NIKE work with women in basketball.
“What’s interesting is that we’re seeing players and teams go all in on haute couture, wearing Dior, Louis Vuitton and Gucci,” Minutaglio said.
Staley herself was dressed on the sidelines of the title game in Louis Vuitton, from her silver jacket to her sneakers, drawing attention to her look far beyond the sports pages. Minutaglio noted that New York-based women’s apparel brand MM LaFleur has a multi-year deal with the New York Liberty.
“I wrote a story for ELLE in 2022 predicting the rise of WNBA game day fashion, and since then, the look has only gotten better,” Minutaglio wrote. “The fashion set is excited to see where it goes from here.”
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AP Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg contributed to this report. ___
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