Two veteran guards face seasonal changes with unwavering attitudes and style consistencies. 

Ahead of tonight’s WNBA Playoffs game between the Connecticut Sun and the Minnesota Lynx, there’s a growing anticipation over which teams will make the semifinals. For veteran players like guards Tiffany Mitchell and Tiffany Hayes, perhaps this nerve-wracking period is another opportunity to lock in and get down to business. Sharing the same first name, these players couldn’t be more different in how they’ve cultivated their signature pre-game style. Mitchell is committed to keeping things coordinated, sharp, and simple while Hayes has become increasingly imaginative in how she combines clashing, bold pieces in her looks. 

Both of their styles invigorate their pre-game arrivals with a strong sense of fun, their outfits are never too serious or contrived. While both players have nearly ten seasons of experience under their belts, this season has also introduced them to new team changes and challenging injuries. While players have spoken about the volatile nature of the WNBA’s seasons, being able to tap into a signature formula for dressing might bring some relief to these powerful guards. On the Minnesota Lynx, Mitchell has quickly learned to make those lighting quick and extra, last-minute passes to her new teammates, and on the Connecticut Sun, Hayes started the season strong with a team-high of 14 points. 

Even when Mitchell and Hayes wear the same pieces in their outfits– bold sunglasses, oversized bags, and printed button-up shirts– it’s hard to draw similarities in their styles. But, they both seem very confident and comfortable, neither player has been spotted in a piece of clothing that wasn’t perfectly cut to their proportions, which speaks to their experience with dressing for these tunnel moments. In the midst of navigating new teams, both players are active on social media with Mitchell showing off glam, off-court moments of her life and Hayes showing off laid-back, chill moments of rest and relaxation. As the first of this season’s Playoffs Style Matchup, discover key elements that define both of these players’ latest chapters: 

Sweet Simplicity vs. Eye-Catching, Clashing Patterns 

With a busy, traveling schedule, the most straightforward approach that players can bring to the tunnel includes simple, color-coordinated outfits as seen on Tiffany Mitchell throughout the season. Although her looks have ranged from casual sportswear or sweat to structured, suit-inspired sets, Mitchell is strict on keeping every component of her outfit– including her shoes, bags, and accessories– to a tight color scheme. Other parts of Mitchell’s style that stay consistent include her “25” sparkly pendant necklace.

Similar to tunnel legends like Sue Bird, Tiffany Hayes is a rare kind of player who’s drawn towards combining clashing patterns or textures into a single outfit. Whether it’s her height or her undeniable swag, Hayes can take two eye-catching patterns and perfectly balance their proportions so that it creates a cohesive look. Even Hayes’ choice of bag changes week to week – she’s been spotted in mini cross-body bags, graphic-printed tote bags, and classic oversized designer duffels. 

Tiny, Cropped Silhouettes vs. Big, Baggy Shapes 

Relating to the female empowerment that’s rooted in tight, figure-flattering silhouettes, Mitchell has mastered the art of finding crop tops that hit the ideal parts of her athletic torso. From plain, simple cropped tops to intricately tied button-up shirts, these shorter tops have become a seasonal staple for this guard. Looking at Michell’s outfit aesthetics, which range more than the average player, these tops become a base for chic, khaki-colored sets or a fun way to balance out a pair of standard athletic shorts. While revisiting Michell’s looks, it’s also worth shouting out this player’s impressive designer bag collection. 

Tiffany Hayes stands at 5’ 10”, which is slightly taller than most guards. This statistic is key to understanding Hayes’ impressive prowess in wearing the biggest, baggiest shapes throughout an outfit, which never makes her look overwhelmed or swimming in fabric. From knitted button-up tops to oversized jackets, Hayes poses in the tunnel to breathe life into her apparel and send subconscious messages about her intimidating athlete’s wingspan. The big, baggy look has become an extremely popular choice for all players this season, but Hayes might be one of the top players to ever rock this look. 

The Higher-The-Heel Mindset vs. Stepping Out in Swag

At the risk of making this a sheer comparison of players who dare to wear heels and players who stick to sneakers, it’s worth giving Tiffany Mitchell her flowers for consistently wearing heels in the tunnel. For Mitchell, heels aren’t an afterthought– it feels like a core piece that she builds the rest of her outfits around. From simple skirt combinations that coordinate with her shoe color to an intentionally scrunched, cropped pair of capris, Mitchell commands attention to her footwear. Heels can actually shape everything, down to how a player poses for their pre-game photos– there’s an undeniable confidence and comfort that Mitchell struts within her high-heeled choices. 

Whether Tiffany Hayes is in sneakers, combat boots, or other flat shoe options, her shoes help to create an aura of effortlessly stepping out in her pre-game outfits. Although nailing her complex, layered outfits is no easy feat– and repping for athlete-certified brands like KA Originals and MNML– Hayes never looks like she’s trying too hard with her style. Studying the outfits within this match-up, it’s also cool to see how Hayes can re-wear items like her olive green combat boots into different outfits. She’s not only a style inspiration but also a pragmatic one. 

WNBA reporter Kirsten Chen writes a lifestyle & fashion column on WNBA.com throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter through @hotgothwriter. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.