Can WNBA Players Dress Their Way to Pay Equity?

 

Getty Images / InStyle

One of the year’s biggest fashion moments took place not on a runway or red carpet, but at the WNBA Draft. On April 15, league hopeful and NCAA finalist Caitlin Clark took the stage to accept the No. 1 draft pick from the Indiana Fever, clad in a head-to-toe Prada ensemble. Her outfit featured a satin pink skirt suit, a shimmery cropped top, rimless sunglasses, and a mini Prada Galleria handbag—the first custom look ever created for a WNBA draftee.

This fashion statement was more fitting for an A-list star than a recent college graduate. True, Clark had just competed in a highly-watched NCAA final (her Iowa Hawkeyes versus the University of South Carolina) that drew a record 24 million viewers. Yet, this sartorial choice marked a seismic shift, signaling a new era where fashion serves as a powerful tool in women’s basketball. “Fashion is the vehicle,” says Velissa Vaughn, a publicist and former Division 1 basketball player who runs the Instagram account @wnbatunnel. “It’s about where they are taking it.”

Ideally, that destination is financial success. WNBA players are quickly becoming tunnel style icons, a trend already established in leagues like the NBA and NFL, where photographers capture athletes’ fashion-forward looks as they enter arenas. While the high-fashion tunnel walk is not new to the WNBA—players like Sue Bird, Tina Charles, and Nneka Ogwumike have previously made their mark—this season has seen a broader embrace of fashion. Players such as Clark, Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky, A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, Nika Mühl of the Seattle Storm, Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty, and Rickea Jackson and Cameron Brink of the Los Angeles Sparks are stepping into arenas in looks that could easily come from the catwalk: Diesel denim skirts, Gucci tailored suits, Luar and Chanel handbags, futuristic wraparound sunglasses, and knee-high cowboy boots.

For women players, who often face significant pay disparities and undervaluation compared to their male counterparts, leveraging their fashion sense is about more than just aesthetics; it’s a strategy to draw attention, increase viewership, and ultimately secure larger paychecks. “It doesn’t necessarily matter how you can get people to start watching,” says Christopher Ruff, who documents WNBA outfits under the handle @wnbaleaguefits. “It’s just about getting them to do it.”

Getty Images From left: Skylar Diggins-Smith, Breanna Stewart, and Olivia Nelson-Ododa

Like many women’s sports, the WNBA faces a significant gender pay gap, compelling players to seek additional income through endorsements or overseas contracts to make a living. While the average NBA salary stands at $10 million (with a minimum salary of $1.12 million), most WNBA players earn less than $150,000 annually, according to Statista.

The gender pay gap issue in the WNBA gained significant attention earlier this year when it was revealed that Caitlin Clark’s entry-level salary would be $76,000—about 600 percent less than the average NBA player’s salary. This disparity is often justified by the league’s lower revenue, attendance, and viewership. However, sports economist David Berri argues that this rationale is flawed. The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement guarantees players a 50-percent share of the league’s basketball-related income, whereas the WNBA’s agreement lacks similar provisions. Instead, female players receive a fixed salary, which means that as league revenues rise, their percentage actually decreases. Berri also points out that the stereotype that women don’t watch sports is unfounded, citing public polls that show nearly half of American women consider themselves sports fans.

In response, WNBA players are leveraging fashion to challenge the system and draw attention—and potentially, financial support—from the fashion industry. Angel Reese, a new addition to the league this season after winning the NCAA championship with USC, made waves by announcing her participation in the WNBA draft with a full editorial spread in Vogue. She also graced the Met Gala in a custom aqua 16 Arlington gown featuring a plunging neckline, sheer skirt, and feathered peplum. For her debut game against the Connecticut Sun on May 15, Caitlin Clark entered Gainbridge Fieldhouse in an all-black ensemble, including Tibi jeans and Tiffany & Co. x Nike sneakers, styled by Adri Zgirdea.