• Loading stock data...
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Want a chance to win $250 and free FOS gear? Take our quick reader survey. Take the survey here

WNBA Draft Fashion Has Come a Long Way From ‘Most Athletic Accountants’ Era

  • Former draftees say they had to comply with a strict business dress code.
  • Caitlin Clark wore Prada on Monday, the first time the designer has styled a NBA or WNBA draftee.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

WNBA draft picks walked the orange carpet at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Monday night styled by Prada, Jason Wu, and Vogue’s fashion editor Naomi Elizée. No. 7 pick Angel Reese, wearing a backless silver dress with a hood and low v-neck, “looked as if she had taken a side road on her way to the Met Gala,” the New York Times wrote. Cameron Brink wore a one-shoulder black and white gown with a high slit, while Rickea Jackson showed off two looks, starting in a bold red suit before changing to a sparkling silver one.

The fashion show highlighted the players’ personalities and made the draft about more than basketball. But players and fans on social media treating the WNBA Draft like a miniature Oscars red carpet hasn’t always been the case. For years, the league instilled a strict business dress code, former draftees say. And looking back now, the group photos are a bit cringey.

“We were looking like some of the most athletic accountants you’ve ever seen,” 2012 No. 3 pick Devereaux Peters tells Front Office Sports.

Peters headed to the draft after surpassing 1,000 points at Notre Dame, and says she didn’t know what to wear for the “very, very, very strict dress code.” A fellow 2012 draftee, Samantha Prahalis, was even forced to put on stockings under her dress, Peters says. (Photos from draft night indeed show Prahalis wearing stockings.) 

Brad Penner – USA TODAY Sports

Reese and Jackson wore Peters’ favorite looks of the night. “I am really excited to just see some actual fashion,” she says. “That was not a thing for us, so it’s really cool to see how that’s evolved.”

Sydney Colson of the Las Vegas Aces, a 2011 draft pick, chimed in on social media Monday night: “It’s super emotional to see these WNBA draftees no longer have to wear business casual clothing at the draft,” she posted along with a teary-eyed emoji. Colson engaged with fans, including one who joked that an old draft group photo looked like a “student council meeting.”

Peters, who saw her last WNBA action in 2018, says she’s excited to see how some of the rookies transition into the league. That’s been a common chorus among veteran players in recent weeks, with renowned trash-talker Diana Taurasi saying “reality is coming” for Clark. Breanna Stewart filmed a commercial for the league where she ate “Rookie-O’s” for breakfast.

The buzz around the draft is exciting because it’s the result of decades of WNBA players fighting for coverage, salaries, exposure, and sponsorship, Peters says.

“I feel like a proud parent to be honest. It’s just really cool to see them getting this attention in a way that we’ve wanted it to be for a very, very long time,” Peters says.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Aug 24, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Seattle Storm center Dominique Malonga (14) celebrates with Seattle Storm guard Skylar Diggins (4) during the second half against the Washington Mystics at CareFirst Arena.

Dominique Malonga Headlines Unrivaled’s Final Player Announcements

Aari McDonald and Rebecca Allen are also joining Unrivaled.
Dec 10, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) talks with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) after a game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

CBS Bets Big on Chiefs-Bills Rivalry As AFC Landscape Changes

Big viewership likely awaits the revival of the NFL rivalry.

ESPN Says No Issues With Its Handling of NBA Gambling Scandal

Viewership for every ESPN studio show was “up significantly.”

Featured Today

September 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell before the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium

NFL Fall Meeting: 7 Big Topics Among Team Owners 

Media, facilities, and labor highlight some of the key areas of concern.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Isaiah West (32) runs the ball in the second half at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin
October 25, 2025

NIL Has Birthed a Third-Party Cottage Industry—and It’s a Mess

There’s no limit to how much players can make from NIL deals.
Christie's
October 21, 2025

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
Sep 11, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Injured Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) stands on the sidelines before a WNBA game against the New York Liberty at Wintrust Arena.

After ‘Mebounds’ and ‘Reesebounds,’ Angel Reese Trademarks Her Name

The Sky player has already trademarked “Reesebounds” and “Mebounds.”
May 1, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Floyd Mayweather (left) stares at Manny Pacquiao during weigh-ins for the upcoming boxing fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
October 29, 2025

Pacquiao Confirms Mayweather Fight Talks After Political Career Fizzles

Pacquiao and Mayweather last fought in May 2015.
Sponsored

How HOKA is Reimagining the NIL Relationship

TNT Sports is going all-in on college athletics—bringing fans closer and giving brands a powerful new way to connect.
Sponsored

How HOKA is Reimagining the NIL Relationship

TNT Sports is going all-in on college athletics—bringing fans closer and giving brands a powerful new way to connect.
Aug 25, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Close up view of the ball and club of Scott Scheffler during the first round of the TOUR Championship golf tournament.
October 27, 2025

From Third Tier to $1M: Michael Brennan’s Surprise PGA Tour Win

The 23-year-old won his first professional start on the PGA Tour.
Oct 26, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates a three-point shot in the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Frost Bank Center.
October 27, 2025

NBA Betting Scandals Overshadow Wembanyama’s Superstar Leap

Wembanyama is following the path of Shohei Ohtani in MLB.
Terry Rozier
October 24, 2025

Terry Rozier Will Be Paid Full NBA Salary While on Leave

The Heat are scheduled to pay Rozier $26.6 million for this season. 
Oct 18, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) holds the MVP trophy after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in game five of the NLCS during the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium.
October 24, 2025

World Series Will Be First to Showcase Ohtani’s Two-Way Skills

The two-way superstar is slated to pitch in the World Series.