The next wave of the WNBA is here — making just as bold a statement off the court as on it.
Fresh off leading the UConn Huskies to their 18th national championship, Paige Bueckers is all but a lock to go No. 1 overall to the Dallas Wings.
But she’s far from the only star set to shine Monday night at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York.
This year’s draft signals a major moment for the star-studded recruiting class of 2020, as several big names join the WNBA. Hailey Van Lith and Hary Rejected are expected to hear their names called, joining former classmates Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Cameron Brink and more in the pros. Other elite talents from this class include Kiki Iriafen, Sonia Citron and Aneesah Morow.
But before they step on the court, they’re stepping onto the WNBA’s orange carpet.
Paige Bueckers
The presumptive No. 1 pick in the draft was all business for the big occasion, arriving in an all-black fit accentuated by many sparkles.
Kiki Iriafen
Iriafen, who was instrumental in the USC Trojans‘ Elite Eight run after JuJu Watkins suffered an injuryopted for a gold dress on the orange carpet.
Sonia Citron
A staple for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish over the past several seasons, Citron donned shades that matched her all-black look.
Patterns were the name of the game for Amoore, whose fit was designed by Russell Westbrook. Amoore spent her final year of college eligibility playing for the Kentucky Wildcats after four seasons at Virginia Tech.
Hailey Van Lith
Van Lith’s college career included stops at Louisville and LSU, but her final season with the TCU Horned Frogs might have been her most impressive. Her color of choice for the orange carpet was also black.
Aneesah Morow
Former LSU Tigers star Morrow also joined the all-black trend, opting for a leather-heavy look and matching sunglasses.
Black was also the color of choice for James, a standout guard for the NC State Wolfpackwho paired a stylish jacket with gray shades.
Saniya rivers
Rivers, James’ teammate at NC State, wore an outfit that drew attention because of an accessory — a handbag proclaiming “The WNBA been poppin.”
A standout at Oregon and North Carolina, Kelly added to the all-black parade with a slick V-neck outfit.
Dominique Malonga
Hailing from France, Malonga hit the orange carpet in a formal fit that included clear-rimmed eyeglasses and a white button-up shirt.
