The WNBA wears Prada.
The stars of the game wore top fashion labels Monday night that turned the draft into a mini-Oscars where style was front and center along with the picks.
Caitlin Clark. Cameron Brink. Kamilla Cardoso. Angel Reese.
They all stepped onto the stage and met the challenge essentially every woman can identify with: Overcoming the trepidation of finding just the right outfit for that special occasion.
“There’s never been a bigger spotlight on women’s basketball, thanks in large part to players like Caitlin Clark and coaches like Dawn Staley,” Rose Minutaglio, ELLE senior editor of features and special projects, wrote in an email to The Associated Press.
Usually, when a woman finds what she wants, it’s not a question of whether alterations are needed, but how much. The taller the woman, the bigger the challenge can be.
These tall ladies appeared to pass the test.
It was the perfect time for a fashionable splash just like NFL and NBA players do on their draft nights. Last year, Taylor Hendricks of UCF wore a pink suit with the jacket lined with photos representing his journey to the NBA and the people who meant the most to him.
“With more eyes on the league, players recognize the opportunity to showcase their personalities through their style,” Minutaglio said. “Because of glaring pay discrepancies, fashion partnerships and brand sponsorships will continue to play a big role for female athletes.”
Staley and her South Carolina Gamecocks’ victory over Clark and Iowa in the women’s national championship game outdrew the men in television ratings, and this is shaping up to be the WNBA’s most-watched draft.
The 6-foot Clark was joined in New York by the 6-7 Cardoso, 6-4 Brink and 6-3 Reese, among others. They’ve been busy since the NCAA Tournament, too, especially Clark, who made a surprise appearance on “Saturday Night Live.”
Clark went with a white jacket and skirt with a sparkly cut-off top, sunglasses and black heels. She credited…
Read the full article here
