The 2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend may be centered around basketball, but before the first major showdown, some of the league’s biggest names were already competing for attention in a different arena: fashion.
Ahead of the All-Star Game at Chicago’s United Center, players gathered at McCormick Place on July 23, transforming the welcome event into a showcase of personal style. From Prada tailoring and sheer eveningwear to distressed denim and leather Bermuda shorts, the WNBA’s stars demonstrated how closely professional sport and fashion have become connected.
For WOW Magazine, these appearances reflect a broader cultural shift. Athletes are increasingly becoming fashion figures in their own right, and the WNBA has developed one of the most distinctive style cultures in professional sport. Tunnel walks and official events are now opportunities for players to express identities that extend far beyond the court.
A’ja Wilson
A’ja Wilson delivered one of the evening’s boldest looks in a black corset dress by Rahul Mishra. The design featured intricate detailing and a transparent skirt, giving the classic little black dress a dramatic update.
Wilson has never been afraid of experimental fashion, and her latest appearance continued that approach with a look that combined glamour and confidence.
Paige Bueckers
Paige Bueckers took a completely different direction with Prada, opting for relaxed tailoring rather than traditional red-carpet glamour.
The Dallas Wings guard wore a sleeveless blue shirt with khaki trousers, an ivory tie and white sneakers. Styled by Jason Bolden, the outfit played with menswear codes while maintaining the effortless aesthetic increasingly associated with Bueckers’ public image.
Azzi Fudd
Azzi Fudd continued her relationship with Coach, combining a leather bralette with a plaid blazer, distressed jeans and pointed black heels.
The finishing touch was the brand’s recognizable Tabby Bag, creating a look that moved easily between street style and polished event dressing. It was deliberately casual, but carefully constructed — exactly the kind of high-low combination dominating contemporary celebrity wardrobes.
Breanna Stewart
One of summer 2026’s biggest trends also found its way onto the WNBA Orange Carpet.
Breanna Stewart chose leather Bermuda shorts with a Public School New York blazer and Christian Louboutinloafers. Instead of conventional eveningwear, Stewart embraced proportions and tailoring, giving the season’s Bermuda trend a sophisticated sports-fashion interpretation.
DiJonai Carrington
DiJonai Carrington leaned into sheer dressing with a fitted black lace jumpsuit featuring transparent sleeves and form-fitting trousers.
Oversized bracelets and gold ankle-strap heels brought jewellery and glamour into the otherwise monochrome look, making Carrington’s appearance one of the most daring of the weekend.
Jackie Young
Jackie Young offered another interpretation of the Bermuda shorts trend, choosing an extra-long silhouette paired with loafers and visible socks.
Rather than styling the shorts with a traditional shirt, Young added a lace bralette, creating a contrast between structured menswear references and lingerie-inspired details.
When sport becomes fashion
The looks arriving in Chicago highlight something bigger than a single All-Star Weekend. The relationship between luxury fashion and women’s sport is becoming increasingly visible, with players building recognizable personal aesthetics alongside their athletic careers.
For fashion houses, athletes represent a new generation of cultural figures with global audiences, distinctive personalities and influence that extends well beyond sport. For players, fashion has become another form of storytelling — whether through Prada tailoring, Coach accessories, experimental silhouettes or independent designers.
The 2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend is another reminder that the modern athlete is no longer defined only by performance.
Basketball remains the main event, but outside the arena, the WNBA’s stars are helping redefine what contemporary sports style looks like — confident, individual and increasingly connected to the wider fashion world.
