WNBA x WGACA All-Star Weekend

The History of the WNBA

The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) is the premier professional women's basketball league in the United States. It has played a pivotal role in advancing women’s sports, empowering female athletes, and shaping the cultural landscape around gender equity in sports.

The WNBA was founded on April 24th, 1996, by the NBA Board of Govenor's. The first official season took place in Summer of 1997, contrary to the NBA’s fall-to-spring schedule. The WNBA began with eight teams: New York Liberty, Los Angeles Sparks, Houston Comets, Charlotte Sting, Clevland Rockers, Pheonix Mercury, Sacramento Monarchs, and Utah Starzz. The first game was held on June 21st, 1997, which saw the New York Liberty take on the Los Angeles Sparks. The Houston Comets would go on to win the first four championships in the WNBA, establishing their early dynasty.

By 2000, the league expanded to 16 teams but would go on to fold two teams due to financial troubles and the lack of owners. Regardless of this, players like Lisa Leslie, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, and Tamika Catchings became household names. Lisa Leslie, perhaps the most famous name to come out of the WNBA, would become the first woman to dunk in a game.

Throughout the 2000s, the league focused on marketing individual stars and improving the overall visibility of the WNBA, though it faced ongoing challenges in attendance and TV ratings.

In 2016, The WNBA signed a landmark collective bargaining agreement to address pay and overall conditions. Often viewed as the most transgressive franchise in all American sports, the league and its players always take a stance on social justice, particularly around racial inequality and the WNBA’s support for the Black Lives Matter movement. The players use their platforms and social media accounts to further push for equality and fight for social justice.

In 2020, another collective bargaining agreement was signed, which saw major improvements in salaries, travel conditions, and improved maternity benefits. Thanks to players like A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, and Angel Reese, the WNBA saw a dramatic growth in fan interest, boosted by streaming, social media, and strategic partnerships.

With the renewed and heightened interest in the WNBA, a new team in San Francisco (Golden State Valkyries) will join the league in 2025, with more expansion likely coming.

The WNBA and its Connection to Fashion

The WNBA’s connection to fashion has become a powerful part of the league’s identity, with players blending personal expression and social commentary. WNBA players are not only athletes, they’ve proven to also be style icons, entrepreneurs, and trendsetters, shaping broader fashion conversations.

Tunnel Walks: The New Runway

Much like the NBA, what players wear walking into the arena, (also known as “tunnel fits”), has become a showcase of personal style. This specific style gives players ownership over their image and identity. Players use this moment to express themselves before games, and everyone from fashion outlets to fans meticulously watches to discuss outfit choices. Some players who are known for their outfits and tunnel fits are: Tiffany Hayes, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Chiney & Nneka Ogwumike, Sabrina Ionescu, Natasha Cloud, and Diamond DeShields.

WNBA players use style to build their brands, especially important in a league where off-court visibility helps drive earnings and endorsements. Some players have launched or collaborated on fashion lines. Social media (especially Instagram and TikTok) helps amplify this self-branding, giving fans direct access to their favorite players’ closets and personalities. Style in the WNBA is also deeply political. Players often use clothing to make statements about race, gender, identity, and justice. Pride-themed fits and gender-fluid fashion highlight the league's strong LGBTQ+ presence and advocacy.

Nike, Balenciaga, and Off-White have all collaborated with or featured WNBA stars, with A’ja Wilson and Sabrina Ionescu having signature sneaker deals. Players attend fashion week, have been on the cover of Vogue, and are increasingly seen as part of the global fashion ecosystem. Fashion helps elevate WNBA players into pop culture spaces beyond sports, leading players to hopefully make more than their relatively low salaries.

WGACA Joins the WNBA All-Star Weekend

Outside of the All-Star Game, players flocked to the “Orange” carpet and other events during All-Star Weekend, in only the finest of luxury fashion. Caitlin Clark rocked Prada head-to-toe, Kelsey Plum was perfectly styled in Loewe, and breakout star player Angel Reese sourced vintage pre-loved and vintage straight from us at WGACA.

Hosting an activation on Friday July 18th and Saturday July 19th, WGACA partnered with Fenty Beauty and Gran Coramino in a gifting suite, which saw players like Rickea Jackson and Sydney Colson to hall of famer Sheryl Swoops attend. Players from the WNBA and NCAA, coaches, brand ambassadors, and company executives posed for pictures with iconic bags from Hermès and took to Instagram to discuss their connection to vintage fashion.

117 notable attendees visited WGACA’s booth, including the iconic and beloved Ellie the Elephant, the New York Liberty’s mascot. Ellie was photographed holding the ultra-rare Fuchsia Pink Crocodile Birkin, which made the rounds on social media, propelling Ellie to fashion icon status.

Head on over to WGACA’s socials to learn more about what went down over the iconic weekend!