As the league’s Fashion Editor, I watch style in women’s basketball with the same fervor most fans reserve for the game itself. I don’t play favorites—my original editorial series analyzes seasonal trends, top tunnel fits, and stylists’ inspirations behind looks.
For All-Star, I’m extra strict about maintaining an unbiased angle in my own style—the Pinterest boards for my personal wardrobe include lace-up sneaker-inspired heels, star-printed Italian slip dresses and oversized black sunglasses for stadium lights.
My top notes from my weekend in Indy include the league’s most infamous, elephant-inspired mascot arriving in a hot pink holy grail—she’s raising the bar with a five-figure crocodile handbag. And a tricked-out phone camera version of an athlete’s signature sneaker appeared on the jumbotron—a nod to a similar “shoe cam” seen at the 2006 men’s All-Star in Houston.
Then, “stud” officially enters the league’s vocabulary (and as a legitimate media outlet), but do studs have a sartorial impact on the tunnel? Out of the 21 athletes photographed before the game, 11 wore heels, which accounts for 52.4% arrivals. That’s a sharp rise from last year, when just 7 of 22 wore heels. With nearly 21% of players moving away from stud-coded footwear, heels must be on the stylists’ mood boards—we still miss the OGs of the league!
Style has always been the sharpest lens into how athletes express who they are and where they’re headed. Following the weekend, I used Pinterest to identify three standout trends that reveal where these hoopers’ minds seem to be—on and off the court.
BREAKING RECORDS & INCHES
Discussions around on-court beauty in women’s basketball have evolved from performance and practicality into one that's centered on power, presence and self-expression. While younger players have worn longer, baddie hairstyles since entering the league, even seasoned stars debuted their longest hair looks before the Skills challenge.
“Extra inches are a power statement,” says hairstylist King Kaat, who works on hair for several big-name pros. "These women are athletes, yes, but they’re also icons, and long hair adds that movement, that flair, that main character energy."
King Kaat also ties long hair to reclaiming space: "Players have had to fight against being boxed in—by gender norms, by media narratives, even by what 'athletic' is supposed to look like."
Extra inches can provide Pinterest inspo for individuals whose style leans more masc, too—some leaguers have even joked about how they’ll act with a “40 inch bussdown.”
RED RUNS THE COURT
Red was undeniably popular at this year’s Orange Carpet and throughout the entire weekend. Widely shared carpet looks include a red sequined dress paired with classic red soled heels, all styled by Karla Welch; a sculptural gown; and a custom black leather and red suede suit.
Stylist Golden, who worked with several athletes over the weekend, explained how red became a thematic anchor: “Red is typically associated with dominance, which [players] obtain both on and off the court.”
Both Golden and stylist Victoria Jackson—who curated a bespoke look for a rising player—agree that red symbolizes dominance, but with different nuances: for some, it’s a statement of athletic power; for others, it channels fierceness and passion.
Let’s update those Pins—orange has been the go-to color in past seasons, but this weekend’s style choices felt bolder, sharper, and more intentional.
GIRLS LOVE (& SUPPORT) GIRLS
The support between fellow pros runs so deep, it’s literally worn on their chests. Licensed merch is cool, but it’s time to add D.I.Y. jersey inspo to your mood boards.
The choice to create a triple jersey mash-up that honors three of your teammates or repping a custom Stud Budz sweatsuit are gestures of respect, solidarity, and shared legacy. In other cases, the lines between platonic and romantic blur, but seeing a courtside guest repping a fellow player’s number is undeniably cute. I also live for the classic WAG uniform—turning a jersey into a custom dress.
On the media front, the aforementioned Stud Budz offer fans behind-the-scenes access to the league, while WAG Talk merges traditional sports stat nerdiness with ultimate displays of partner devotion. It’s a beautiful thing to watch. Forget the designer carpet fits—rumor has it a recent hard launch interview (“Pazzi”) hit record-breaking views, signaling a new lane for engagement and excitement around women’s basketball.
Head to Highsnobiety’s Pinterest Page for more All-Star inspo.
