The WNBA tunnel was deemed an official fashion destination by Vogue in May of 2024, and the hottest runway of the year by Harper’s Bazaar. While it may seem like a dash of title-friendly hyperbole, the point stands as the surge of attention to tunnel walk style in the WNBA this season is undeniable and, frankly, well deserved.
“It’s one thing to have money but it’s another to have style.” Kelsey Plum who has been central in the tunnel walk conversation, told Complex. “I think fashion is a great way to express yourself and it’s been cool to see how much the W[NBA] has blown up in the fashion sense.”
Her excitement for the recognition that players are getting on their pre-game style is palpable. “They’ve always been there so it’s cool to see it being highlighted,” said the three-time WNBA All-Star. “These women are beautiful, they’re sexy, and they have a great sense of themselves. And now people are like, ‘whoa, look at these gorgeous women– dang!’”
With the help of acclaimed stylist Sydney Bordonaro, Kelsey’s outfits are crafted to foreshadow the action ahead. “I think it depends game to game,” she explained.“I definitely love the all-blacks and just [showing up] in full killer-mode because you’re going to play basketball and I’m a competitor, so you’ll probably see a lot more of the edgier fits for playoffs and bigger games.”
For the recent launch of her partnership with Smartwater, Kelsey teamed up with renowned designer and stylist Brittany Hampton to piece together a look for the campaign.“This was the first look that we’ve done together,” the two-time WNBA champion said. “But I know for me, I like trying out new things and working with new people, and new ideas– I think that’s what fashion is, right? It’s always evolving, always changing, so we’ll see where it goes.”
For the shoot, Kelsey and Brittany “tried a bunch of different things,” according to Kelsey. “But I’m an all black girlie– which actually ended up going really well with the Smartwater alkaline bottle. It was also New York Fashion Week so I was like ‘Britt, we have to elevate this a little bit, let’s do it fierce.’ I really loved the fit [we settled on]. It was sexy and edgy but definitely still me.”
Kelsey emphasizes the power that fashion holds in expressing individuality, all while she loves to sport her signature black monochrome. “I want to be someone that can pull off a lot of different genres– sporty, edgy, sexy, elevated, low key,” she said.“That’s what’s so cool about fashion, you can be super creative and try new things to see what works for you. I’m always watching things, getting new ideas, and finding inspiration. For the most part, I’m pretty much just open to trying new things and just grow. As an athlete, I’m always trying to evolve. Same goes for my fashion sense.”
This push for continuous growth and evolution is evident in both arenas for Kelsey. Following her devastating Achilles tear in 2020, she adjusted to a role off the bench and nabbed the Sixth Player of the Year award in 2021. After returning to the starting lineup for the 2022 season, Kelsey led the team in scoring alongside the growing legend that is A’ja Wilson, pushing the Aces to their first title. As A’ja has continued in her journey toward GOAT status, grabbing another MVP this year, Kelsey continued to adjust and evolve. This year she maintained her typical scoring punch, chipping in 17.8 points per game on the highest scoring team in the league, all while navigating the crevices of space that exist alongside Wilson’s transcendent midrange brilliance.
“I think that a lot of times when you have success, you just try to repeat it,” she said about her evolving role and the Aces’ up and down season in their quest for a third straight WNBA title. “But it’s a new year, new variables, new people– everything is new. What got you there is not going to get you to the next, so you’ve got to adapt and reinvent the wheel. So what won you last year is not going to win you the next.”
Things got off to a rocky start for the Aces this year. An injury to six-time All-Star Chelsea Gray didn’t help, as she missed the team’s first 12 games. That stretch included the Aces first three-game losing streak in five years. Sitting at 5-5 – the Aces had a .500 record for the first time since the third game of the 2021 season – the team finally looked normal, human even, and ripe for the picking.
“We’ve lost some games and the league has been really tough this season,” Kelsey said, emphasizing the importance of taking it one game at a time.”You can’t get too far ahead. I just kind of stay focused on the next game and I know my teammates do too, so it’s good to have teammates that can lock in on things that matter.”
That focus won out for the champs. They followed the three-game losing streak with a six-game winning streak. Six Aces were named to Olympic teams, with four on the US Olympic 5×5 team, including Kelsey. The mid-season Olympic break seemed to have helped the team, as the Aces posted an 11-5 record after the break, ending the season on a 9-1 stretch, with Wilson missing the lone loss.
“People get caught up with statistics when, to be honest, I think a lot of people’s statistics are empty,” Kelsey lamented. “I think that we should put more emphasis on winning even if people have lesser numbers. Those people should be appreciated more because in my mind, we should value winning a lot more than we do in our society.”
The words ring loudly coming from the woman who set the record for most points scored in Division I history during her time at Washington. But individual records are made to be broken, a fact Kelsey knows all too well after Caitlin Clark broke that scoring record in her final season at Iowa. Championships, however, live on, and Kelsey is steadfast that winning remains the focus for herself and her team.
“If someone scores 20 and the [team ultimately loses the game] it’s still like, oh, they had 20. No offense, it doesn’t matter,” Kelsey stated matter of factly. “That’s kind of my philosophy on it. I would say less flash, less highlights, more substance.”
Now the Aces look toward carrying out that mantra and completing the ultimate goal. As dangerous a 4 seed as the league has ever seen, the job’s not done. A date with their rival and No. 1 seed New York Liberty looms in Round 2, and history beyond that, it seems the Aces are ready and Kelsey will be instrumental alongside the newly minted unanimous MVP.
“Don’t get me wrong it’s been hard, this has been the hardest season I’ve played in the W,” Kelsey said when asked about the Aces’ championship chances. “But now we’re in the playoffs, and we have an experienced team and I feel very confident in the talent that we have. We’ll take care of it.”
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