WNBA stars turn tunnel into fashion runway ahead of All-Star game

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The WNBA have raised the gauntlet on sports fashion, making the entry tunnel a fashion show in its own right.

The runway begins as the women enter the “tunnel” — AKA the entrance to game day arenas — showing off their designer looks. Even legendary fashion magazine Vogue has dubbed the WNBA tunnels as new runways to watch.

On Saturday, July 20, Angel Reese, 22, said she felt “like a Barbie” as she arrived in a matching two-piece outfit with a crop top, coordinating gold heels, and a Louis Vuitton Loop purse. She also shared the fashionista look on her Instagram, captioning the series of photos, “all-star barbie💋 pt.1.”

A’ja Wilson, 27, also wore a matching set that paired a green plaid zip-up with a matching pleated miniskirt. The Los Angeles Aces star accessorized the look with chunky, gold Mary Jane-style heels with white lace socks and a green and gold purse.

Matching sets were all the rage as Nneka Ogwumike, 34, stunned in a bright orange cropped sweater with a coordinating skirt. She accessorized with a silver body chain around her waist, a shiny, silver bag, and black sunglasses. Dearica Hamby, 30, looked chic and sporty in a white jacket with a matching skirt, accessorizing with a pair of stylish sneakers.

Caitlin Clark, 22, switched things up in Gucci, with a short-sleeved cream top with accents on the sleeves, and a brown miniskirt. The Indiana Fever pro accessorized with pointed-toe burgundy shoes, a coordinating purse, and trendy sunglasses.

Kelsey Mitchell, 28, and Aliyah Boston, 22, both wore pants, with the former sporting a custom halter top and fitted trousers made of WNBA logos, and the latter glittering in a ruby red crop top and matching, wide-leg pants. Every woman on the All-Star team showed up and showed out in high fashion, from bra tops under blazers and designer brand miniskirts to chic menswear-inspired looks.

In fact, the looks have gotten so iconic that Christopher Ruff created the X (formerly known as Twitter) account called WNBA League Fits to show off all of the looks. The fashion, and all of the eyes on it, also help to bring more people to watch the WNBA in general, which is needed, seeing as women make a shocking fraction of what men in the NBA do.

For example, The Washington Post reported that a No. 1 draft pick will earn $76,535, while her NBA counterpart will earn more than $10 million. “Fashion can be used as the first step to get people to look and put more eyes on the actual product, which is the game,” Ruff told the publication.