WNBA fashionistas showcase their styles at the draft with spotlight on women's hoops

From left, LSU’s Angel Reese, Iowa’s Caitlyn Clark, and Stanford’s Cameron Brink, pose for a photo before the start of the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Caitlin Clark. Cameron Brink. Kamilla Cardoso. Angel Reese.

All stepped into the glaring spotlight of Monday night’s WNBA’s draft having faced the challenge essentially every woman can identify with: wearing just the right outfit for a special occasion.

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.

LSU’s Angel Reese and Iowa’s Caitlyn Clark pose for a photo before the start of the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

This draft, thanks to Clark and others, more people should be watching than ever before.

Iowa’s Caitlyn Clark signs autographs before the start of the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

“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.

That makes it 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.

Iowa’s Caitlyn Clark, center, talks with UConn head coach Geno Auriemma before the start of the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

“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.”

Iowa’s Caitlyn Clark waves to fans before the start of the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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-1 Clark was joined in New York by the 6-7 Cardoso, 6-5 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 having people help her prepare keeping it less stressful.

“The first time Prada has ever dressed a male or female for WNBA or NBA draft so pretty cool,” Clark said during the WNBA’s livestream from its orange carpet.

UConn’s Aaliyah Edwards poses for a photo before the WNBA basketball draft on Monday, April 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Brink and Reese wore outfits that wouldn’t be out of place during Fashion Week or a red carpet in Hollywood. Brink wore a diagonal black and white dress showing off both shoulders with a slit exposing her right leg.

Reese dazzled in a gray dress with a plunging neckline after a late wardrobe change with help from designers Bronx and Banco, Simon Miller and Christian Louboutin.

“I got this two days ago,” Reese said. “My original dress didn’t fit.”

Finding glam looks off the rack can be a challenge for most women.

Being tall, however, actually can be an advantage and not a hindrance for WNBA players. Models who grace the runways during fashion week and the covers of fashion magazines often stand at least 6 feet and taller.

The league’s own growing popularity in recent years also has helped.

“Players are also starting to work directly with designers, who help outfit them, and stylists, who focus on game-day drip,” Minutaglio wrote.

This was only the second WNBA draft with fans in attendance, and 1,000 tickets sold out in February for the event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Fans got to attend the 2016 draft at the Mohegan Sun when former UConn All-American Breanna Stewart was the top pick.

FILE – Baylor’s Kalani Brown, right, poses for a photo with WNBA COO Christy Hedgpeth after being selected by the Los Angeles Sparks as the seventh overall pick in the WNBA basketball draft, April 10, 2019, in New York. Everyone likes to look good for a big night on the town. Lots of people will be watching as the WNBA’s next players turn out dressed in their finest looks for Monday night’s April 15, 2024, draft. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)

Shakira Austin, the third overall pick in 2022 by the Washington Mystics, understands the angst Clark and others face. While the 6-5 center was playing in college at Mississippi, Austin was forced to be creative as she struggled to find pants that fit or any clothing that captured her style.

So she got busy with a sewing machine and became her own designer. Now that Austin is in the pros, she’s a fashionista tapping into her creativity, doing more than just pants, leggings and shirts. Austin told the AP earlier this year that it’s a great time to dive 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 time right now allows me to really build off that and also collab with different brands and talk to people who add their own styles,” Austin said.

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley celebrates after the Final Four college basketball championship game against Iowa in the women’s NCAA Tournament, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Cleveland. South Carolina won 87-75. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

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 a puffer vest with Clark’s No. 22 in Iowa black and gold, putting the player in select company with the likes of pop superstar Taylor Swift.

FILE – Prospective players for the 2012 WNBA basketball draft pose for a photograph at ESPN in Bristol, Conn., April 16, 2012. Everyone likes to look good for a big night on the town. Lots of people will be watching as the WNBA’s next players turn out dressed in their finest looks for Monday night’s April 15, 2024, draft. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)

Minutaglio said several brands work with female athletes, with Glossier and SKIMS teaming up with the WNBA specifically. She noted sports brands like Puma, Adidas and Nike all work with women in basketball.

“What’s interesting is we’re seeing players and teams branch out into high-fashion, wearing Dior and Louis Vuitton and Gucci,” Minutaglio said.

FILE – Louisville’s Emily Engstler reacts after being selected by the Indiana Fever as the fourth overall pick in the WNBA basketball draft, April 11, 2022, in New York. Everyone likes to look good for a big night on the town. Lots of people will be watching as the WNBA’s next players turn out dressed in their finest looks for Monday night’s April 15, 2024, draft. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)

Staley herself was decked out on the sideline of the title game in Louis Vuitton, from her silver jacket down to her sneakers, grabbing attention for her look far beyond the sports pages. Minutaglio noted New York-based women’s wear brand M.M. LaFleur has a multiyear 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 looks just keep getting better and 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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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball