Coach had a big presence at this year’s WNBA draft, decking out some of the league’s newest rookies as they walked the Orange Carpet.
Sponsoring the carpet at The Shed at Hudson Yards, New York City on Monday (April 13), the league’s official handbag partner designed custom fits for draft prospects Azzi Fudd, Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez, and Raven Johnson.
Designed by Coach Creative Director Stuart Vevers, each look, which was inspired by the brand’s Fall 2026 collection, was reinterpreted to reflect the unique style of the athletes through a collaborative process in the lead-up to draft day.
Inspired by the film noir looks from the brand’s fall collection, Fudd wore a silver sequined slip dress complete with loveworn effect, evoking ’90s grunge and “the romance of found objects with a history of their own.” Layered over a black silk satin laced-back corset, the fit was finished with a black silk bow that descended to the floor, a black sandal, and the Loved Crystal Signature Denim Tabby.
Betts wore a bias-cut black floor-length crepe slip dress inspired by Look 25 from Coach’s Fall 2026 collection. Inspired by the romance and glamour of 1940s film noir, the look was paired with a black Margot sandal and the Tabby Shoulder Bag 26.
Rice was decked out in a fit built partly from repurposed materials. The long skirt was inspired by Looks 30 and 31 from the brand’s Fall 2026 collection, while the entire ensemble, which also included an inside-out shell-style top and the Crystal Tabby Shoulder Bag 26, combined matte and shine for rich texture and dimension.
Jaquez’s fit was adapted directly from Look 40 of Coach’s Fall 2026 collection. Paired with a black leather jacket, it featured a floor-length black crepe dress with deep V-neckline and a scattered celestial embroidery of distressed lamé stars and beading.
Johnson flipped a tailored tuxedo jacket inside out and wore it as a dress, referencing the deconstructed tailoring seen in Look One of Coach’s Fall 2026 Collection. Featuring mixed silk shades of gray and black in plaid, stripe, and star-printed fabrics with beaded elements, the dress was paired with a black platform sandal and the Kisslock Frame 30 bag.
Coach’s custom dressing of the five players and its Orange Carpet sponsorship are part of a larger, multi-year partnership it has with the WNBA.
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