The W in Designer '23: Flyest Fits of Week Two
Entering June, the WNBA players intensify their swag with casual, city-ready, and themed outfits.
Blazing through their first home games, the WNBA teams are welcoming June with a busy schedule of games. It’s perfect that the start of the season coincides with summer, as it creates the right temperature for players to take a casual approach to their pre-game outfits. As players start to settle into their teams and their seasons, their styles are incorporating their local surroundings while amplifying their unique personalities.
Forecasting what fans might see on players throughout the summer, it’s hard to say whether players will continue to lean into streetwear styles. There are players who have teamed up with stylists to create clever combinations of the top trending brands, but there are equally as many players who want to keep things as fun and effortless as possible. With the versatility of the WNBA players, it’s always fun to see the range of tough, streetwear and the sweet, chic vibes of their outfits from week to week.
Highlighting a selection of the most stylish players, this week’s edition of “The W in Designer” includes light-colored denim, cropped tops, and casual vibes. Some players opted for more colorful looks, while others stuck to a black-and-white colorway, it seems like an open shirt or vest over a smaller shirt is trending this season. Similar to previous seasons, several players are also wearing sunglasses in their pre-game tunnel photos, which adds a mysterious aura to their fun summer looks.
During the Phoenix Mercury’s call to #WearOrange to raise awareness against gun violence, Sug Sutton stands out in her orange WNBPA t-shirt. Styled with a Leopard Print Von Dutch Trucker Hat and matching Nike Dunk Lows, she makes orange look like the hottest color of the summer. Stylist Payton Caci, who worked on Sutton’s first home game look, identified her pants as a pair of Supreme x True Religion Denim Cargo Pants. As the duo looks ahead to Sutton’s style for this season, Caci shares that she plans to “infuse street fashion mixed with athletic and contemporary trends” while capturing the player’s “off-court fashion influence.”
Originally born in Syracuse, New York, Breanna Stewart makes a buzzy debut with the New York Liberty this season. While her outfits from previous seasons typically feature more bright colors, Stewart reflects her move with a black and white, city-ready fit. She wears a CELINE Men’s Hawaiian Shirt with an allover logo print, classic light blue jeans, and a pair of sharp-tasseled loafers with a pointy toe. Topped off with a pair of beige rounded sunglasses, Stewart easily blends in with New York’s local summer style.
Traded to the Connecticut Sun in January of 2023, Olivia Nelson-Ododa looks effortlessly cool in this outfit that combines an athlete’s essentials with rare streetwear styles. With her hair casually tied up into a bun, Nelson-Ododa rocks a Chrome Hearts x Matty Boy ‘Vanity Affair’ Graphic Print Hoodie in a bright pink color. Paired with simple black Nike sweatpants and a fresh pair of Air Force 1’s, the rising Center removes any pre-game nerves by dressing easy and breezy.
Playing for the Seattle Storm this season, Arella Guirantes is increasing her swag with her new red hair and outfits that reflect the latest trends. This week, she wears a pair of super baggy jeans, a cropped sweater vest with a graphic black and white print, and a chunky pearl necklace. Captioning a recent Instagram post with lyrics from Drake’s “Star67” song, “Peace sign in the air like I’m Nixon,” perhaps fans will see Guirantes flash a peace sign with all her outfits during this season.
Matching the Indiana Fever’s Themed Pride Night, Maya Caldwell brings in pops of primary colors with her pre-game outfit. She wears an oversized Men’s jacket from artist Marco Oggian x ZARA collaboration, which features a colorful array of geometric shapes. Keeping the rest of her outfit simple with a cropped black top and wide-legged jeans, Caldwell finishes her look with a pair of black and red Jordan Brand sneakers.
After a brief stint playing on professional teams in Europe, Kristine Anigwe makes a return to the league with the Chicago Sky. She creates a jungle-inspired outfit to welcome this summer season with a tiger-striped tote bag, dark green wide-legged, pants, and colorful New Balance sneakers. Topped with a brown oversized vest and a cropped top in the same color, Anigwe brings her love of muted, coordinated colors into a new, darker edition for this season.
Bringing the summer vibes to the Washington Mystics, Amanda Zahui B. brings a fun vibe to her pre-game outfit. Without wearing anything too flashy, she looks refreshed for this season in a laced white corset top, super high-waisted jeans, and plain black shoes. a metallic silver purse. To enhance her shiny accessory, she also wears oversized hoop earrings, a pair of orange rimless sunglasses, and a silver chain. Known as a serious forward on-court, it’s a great contrast to see Zahui B. in a more casual outfit before the action starts.
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
