The WNBA concept not only started with making opportunities and wing which player would go to which team to which team (well, except Paige Bueckers, who was a lock as number 1 for Dallas), but with an announcement.
Coach, the New York Fashion Week brand that is known for its bags and shredding, became a long -term sponsor of the competition and joined Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Ralph Lauren to bring the fashion/sports partnership to a new, more permanent, level.
It set the tone for the night.
Not only because four of the 15 players who were invited to attend the concept personally, also signed deals with coach and wore the brand, but because the design is no longer just the choices, it is about the ‘attacks. And the women involved know.
It is their chance to not only introduce themselves to fans, the viewing world and their new teammates, but also to the potential sponsors who can strengthen their relatively small salaries. (Mrs. Bueckers, who is often referred to Like the new face of the Wnba, reportedly alone $ 78,831 Her first year.) The easiest way to do that is because of their appearance.
“These girls are at the intersection of sport, culture and fashion,” said Cathy Engelbert, the WNBA commissioner, just before the design, with a NIP-in Raspberry Sergio Hudson-Broekpak. The goal, she continued, is “growing their brands, not only on their teambarks, but nationally and worldwide.”
Perhaps that is why the bar on last year’s design by Caitlin Clarke in Prada and Cameron Brink was raised in Balmain. The biggest trend of design night was individuality; As Stuart Vevers, creative director of Coach, has indicated, both fashion and sports are ‘based on self -expression’. But don’t take it away from us. This is what the players had to say.
Paige Bueckers
No. 1 Pick, Dallas Wings
Wearing a three -part plaid suit from Coach covered with 200,000 transparent glass crystals placed by hand in New York (she later turned into a black tuxedo).
“I have really been in fashion for the past few years. Coach and I worked together on this great idea in the past week. I wanted it sparkling, bed-made and only a small doll, but nothing too crazy, and I felt that the oversized-smoke is trending. If I turned it on, it fits like a glove.”
Dominique Malonga
No. 2 Pick, Seattle Storm
Wearing a Louis Vuitton pack, 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 from 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 chains, just to make it a bit different. A chain says coach and says my name. I wanted to have faith in what I look like, and I think you have confidence in it by looking good by looking good, and I look good.”
Kiki iriafen
No. 4 Pick, Washington Mystics
Wearing a long, tailor -made bead dress from Nneka Alexander, a Nigerian American designer, in honor of her Nigerian American heritage and beads from her mother’s closet.
“I am very proud to be Nigerian, and to be able to present 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
Wear the gift from Russell Westbrook and coach shoes.
“Last year, around November, I had a zoom with Russell, and he proposed the idea. I think his fashion brand summarizes who he is as a player: it’s exciting, it’s flashy, it’s there. And I was just so honored to work with him because I am.
“He did my full gaze. He even had his hand in styling the accessories. I love what the silver and black is. I think it’s just – excuse my language – Badass. He inspired me.”
Anesah Morrow
No. 7 Pick, Connecticut Sun
Wearing a long adapted leather coach dress and jacket made from recycled vintage bicycle jackets.
“I wanted to be brave over my outfit. I actually thought of a trench coat, but I feel that the cut coat shows a little more in my figure, and I like that.
Saniya Rivers
No. 8 Pick, Connecticut Sun
Wearing an adapted suit of her stylist, golden, and a bag that says, “Wnba Be Poppin.”
“I usultally go with black, but I want to step out of my comfort zone a little bit. Tonight representations 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 on the side, so -on -it, it’s side side, it’s side one side, it’s side, it is side on the side, it is side on the side side, it on the side side, it is on the side side, it on the side, it on the side, it is on the side, it on the side, it is on the side side, it’s side on the side, it is on the side on the side, it. Open in Back.
Sarah Ashlee Barker
No. 9 Pick, Los Angeles Sparks
Wearing turns.
“This was the second what I tried, and as soon as we saw it, we were,” Yes, that’s the one. ” I am one of those people who, when I see something that I really like, I will not pass.
Ajsa Sivka
No. 10 Pick, Chicago Sky
Did a dress she bought in a shopping center.
“My friends helped me put this together. I really wanted to keep it easy, but keep it elegant.”
Hailey Van Lith
No. 11 Pick, Chicago Sky
Wearing a silk tulle and chiffon mini -dress by coach tailor -made from recycled vintage evening dresses with a black satin corset.
“I love to channel Old Hollywood, Marilyn Monroe-Vibes on the red carpet. The Barret is actually my favorite piece of the entire outfit, because of that old-school atmosphere.
“I wanted the dress to be short, because I think, as athlete, our legs are a large part of our body to show, especially with the power in my thighs and the bruises that I have to play. It shows that I can be sexy, but I am also an athlete. You can be both.”
Asiaha James
No. 12 Pick, Dallas Wings
With an R13 jacket, Comme des Garçons Culottes, Doc Martens and soft monster sunglasses.
“It is out of the box, and that connects with me. I will switch to another new location. I will transfer to another competition. And I wanted to try something else.”
Madison Scott
No. 14 Pick, Dallas Wings
Wearing a black Amiri-Broekpak and a customized diamond “24” pendant, stylized by her former teammate Liatu King.
“I wanted a piece to work around my pendant. It is my first time I was wearing my 24 pendant. It was a Christmas gift from my mother two years ago, and I hadn’t worn it yet. I was waiting at the moment. I know it is a possibility that 24 will not be my next song, but I had my whole life.”
Shyanne Sellers
No. 17 Pick, Golden State Valkyries
Wearing a three-part suit, white T-shirt and Cleef jewelry.
“Blue is my favorite color; it brings me peace and tranquility. And the jewelry is cool. I love to fiddle with it.”
Sania Feagin
No. 21 Pick, Los Angeles Sparks
Wearing a dress selected by her mother.
“I couldn’t find a dress that I really wanted, so I let my mother choose a dress for me. I am not even sure where she has it, but I feel good. But I enjoy getting dressed.”
Serena Sundell
No. 26 Pick, Seattle Storm
Wearing a Norma Kamali dress, Kate Spade and her own jewelry.
“Initially I got a dress from a shopping center that I liked, but then they got in touch with me. I didn’t know the brand, but I wanted something that was classic and elegant, like a small black dress, but that also showed my body and was comfortable. The little bracelet is from my mother, and she got a watch that is always on my wrist.
