Your Playbook To Becoming a WNBA Stylist
Just in time for the WNBA All Star Weekend, Hypebae chats with the industry’s best stylists.
Welcome to Hypebae’s new advice column, Field Notes. This series will provide you with everything you need to know about tapping into your dream industry. Whether you’re an emerging designer, stylist, photographer or simply creatively inclined and seeking to make your side hustle your main gig, Field Notes is for you. Stay tuned monthly as we provide exclusive access to the creatives leading your field, their essential advice and words of encouragement for your next era.
Dreaming of curating the next iconic tunnel fit? Or styling a WNBA star for her next magazine cover? In this installment of Field Notes, we spoke to the stylists behind the league’s best looks, from Paige Bueckers’ style to Olivia Nelson-Ododa’s tunnel fits, for the real on how they broke into the industry.
There used to be a joke that no one watched the WNBA. However, as of the 2025 WNBA season, tickets are soaring due to a spike in interest. So much so, athletes are hiring stylists as image consultants. The result? WNBA tunnels doubling as runways.
If you’ve seen our tunnel fits content, you know we’re obsessed with Kristine Anigwe’s styling. Behind more hype moments is Brittany Hampton, who led NBA player Russell Westbrook’s Honor the Gift design team. Now, she’s producing Bueckers’ most viral fits. Here, she teaches how to leverage community and design to make your client stand out.
Elsewhere, London Wilmot shares sizing and sourcing hacks for tall, athletic women – because off-the-rack sizing is not it. WNBA player and stylist Chloe Jackson also shares hacks for scoring your dream clients. Adri Zgirdea, Caitlin Clark’s stylist, adds advice about navigating the male-dominated sports industry.
If you’ve got the eye, hustle, and a mood board full of fits, but no connections, don’t stress. Marisa Ripepi landed her first major client after months of sharing her portfolio. The result? A personal DM from NFL player Tee Higgins, who immediately booked three looks. Former basketball player Sydney Bordonaro began styling after WNBA player Jewell Loyd admired her game-ready outfits which set her up for her favorite moment: styling Azhia James for the 2025 WNBA draft. Lastly, Kesha McLeod proves you don’t have to start in sports to break into the game; you just need a go-getter mentality.
Continue reading for your playbook.
How did you get started in sport or was this always an area you wanted to work in?
Bordonaro: For me, it was always sports. I played D1 basketball at Pepperdine and Long Beach State. Both of my degrees are in Sports Management. All of my internships in college were at sports agencies. I’m a hooper at heart, so it was a no-brainer.
Jackson: I got started simply from playing in the WNBA and yes, it was always an area I wanted to work in. I have an understanding of the athlete and the way they think because I’ve been in those shoes. I knew I had an advantage.
Mcleod: I came up in entertainment and worked with artists like Jadakiss, Rick Ross and Ne-Yo. While I was in the entertainment world, sports kept circling back. Vernon Davis was one of my early sports clients, then came legends Serena Williams, Chris Bosh and assisting for LeBron James.
Where are you pulling fits from for tall, athletic girlies?
Anigwe: I’m a designer first, so instead of shopping, I’m able to design pieces that match their theme of the season, and then outsource pieces throughout the season.
Hampton: All over! I’m reaching out to brands all the time, pulling from everywhere, but also working on a lot of custom pieces.
Ripepi: Custom! And if it’s something last minute, there are tons of brands that are tall girl-friendly. It’s all about doing your research and knowing your clients’ measurements.
Wilmot: I’m always tailoring menswear bottoms and mixing and matching with womenswear. I have to play around with many different brands; to me, there’s no one specific.
How do you navigate being a woman in a more male-dominated sports industry?
Jackson: You have to be resilient because it’s not easy. Be undeniable in all that you do and let your work speak for itself.
Hampton: Perseverance. I don’t take no for an answer.
Zgirdea: Set boundaries early and carry yourself with professionalism. Respect is earned and maintained through consistency.
Mcleod: I look up to women like Candace Parker and Serena Williams, who’ve remained at the top of their game and made it look effortless, even when the world tried to count them out.
How do you get creative when resources, timings or budget are tight?
Wilmot: I have great friends in the industry who always look out for me, and together, we create magic.
Zgirdea: I didn’t grow up with a lot, so being resourceful is second nature. Creativity often comes from constraints – that’s how some of my best work was created.
How do you nurture the synergy and relationship with your clients?
Anigwe: I do weekly check-ins to make sure they’re okay throughout the season. Styling is deeply personal, so you have to be intentional; you’re helping someone feel confident during the highs and lows.
Bordonaro: It’s difficult managing client relationships when they become friends, too. The best thing I’ve learned in this journey is not to take things personally and to always let energy flow. If it’s right for you, it’ll be!
Ripepi: I wait for my clients to come to me. They know they can message me at 2 a.m. and I’ll answer at 2:01 a.m. and get an outfit for them the next day.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone looking to become a sports stylist now?
Anigwe: It’s okay when someone doesn’t understand your vision, and it’s okay to have tunnel vision. Have advisors and people you trust – everyone else is just noise.
Bordonaro: Always do good by people! Your relationships are everything. I can’t tell you how many opportunities I’ve gotten because I went hard for people, and things came back twofold. Style is subjective. You don’t need any true or formal education to do this. What you do need is a hunger and passion for your client and what they do.
Hampton: If it doesn’t make your client feel powerful and confident when they walk in the room, it’s not the look!
Mcleod: Send the email. The worst that can happen is no reply — but the next person might say yes.
Wilmot: Know why you want to work in this lane; KNOW the sport.
Zgirdea: Assist. Assist. Assist. There’s no substitute for being on set and in fittings. Constant research and staying curious are key, too. Understanding historical references and how the industry moves helps you guide your clients toward meaningful, lasting relationships with designers, rather than chasing trends or trying to be the loudest in the room.
This interview was condensed for clarity.
While you’re here, check out our favorite tunnel fits of the 2025 WNBA season.
