Tunnel Vision: The Journey of the New York Liberty to Becoming the WNBA's Most Stylish Team

Tunnel Vision: The Journey of the New York Liberty to Becoming the WNBA's Most Stylish Team

      On a scorching July day, I exit the Who What Wear office in Bryant Park to catch the Q train to Brooklyn. I stroll through Times Square before descending underground, only to emerge again on the Manhattan Bridge. My view starts with the Lower East Side, followed by the East River, and eventually Dumbo. Shortly after, the train returns below ground, and before long, I join countless New Yorkers as we make our way to Atlantic Avenue. Looking up, I see Barclays Center, the home of the Liberty, New York's WNBA team. I pass by "The Liberty Portraits: A Monument to the 2024 Champions," a newly completed public art exhibit by LaToya Ruby Frazier outside the arena, and head to the VIP entrance to meet the league's (and arguably New York's) best-dressed roster. Even if you're a New Yorker who doesn't follow women's basketball, you've probably spotted Liberty players around the city. Their images are everywhere—from art exhibitions in Brooklyn to Times Square, bus stops all over, appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and the Met Gala. And if you've managed to miss them, you likely know about Ellie, the team's elephant mascot, who has become a celebrity in her own right. She walked the WSJ Innovator Awards red carpet in a custom gown while carrying a Brandon Blackwood bag and had her own float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. True, Ellie is a well-known figure in New York.

      "This city is not just the 'Mecca of Basketball' globally; it’s also a fashion hub," says Coach Sandy Brondello. Much of this popularity arises not only from the team's consistent performance on the court; they are champions for a reason, of course, but the Liberty stands out in the WNBA for emphasizing style as a significant aspect of their identity. The environment they play in demands such awareness. "That’s part of being in New York, isn't it?" Brondello tells me as we talk after a scrimmage at the Liberty's practice court beneath Barclays Center. I traveled across the bridge to explore the team's deep connection to New York and how that influences their stylish reputation, speaking with Brondello and players Breanna "Stewie" Stewart and Jonquel "JJ" Jones. "New York truly is both the 'Mecca of Basketball' and a fashion mecca," Brondello states.

      The entire team feels this connection. "Here, you have fashion week and basketball," Jones remarks, reflecting her coach's thoughts. "You have individuals who are knowledgeably involved in both sports and fashion, who have set trends in their unique ways." Jones quickly adapted to this blend when she arrived in New York from Connecticut in 2023, where she played for the Connecticut Sun. "Fashion here is expressive; it helped me embrace that aspect of myself and my style," she shares. "There’s inspiration everywhere—in how people present themselves and in the abundant art around." Simply living in New York has changed her approach to fashion.

      Stewart experienced something similar. Although she grew up in North Syracuse, New York, she only found her distinctive style after moving to Brooklyn, following her stint in Seattle with the Storm. "Coming from Seattle to New York, the pressure to express myself through my outfits was much higher; I wanted to embrace fashion and its culture," she explains. Before joining the Liberty, Stewart was hesitant to explore beyond her fashion comfort zone. The city encouraged her to experiment, helping the two-time MVP discover her style boundaries. "Fashion is extremely fluid here," she says.

      Jones believes that this fluidity contributes to the Liberty's reputation as a fashion-conscious team. "We have so many players who dress impeccably, each with their own unique style," she notes. "If you created a fashion board with various aesthetics, you could easily identify who would wear what." Each of the dozen Liberty players has developed their distinct fashion identity. "We’ve figured out what expresses us best," Jones emphasizes.

      The team’s embrace of fashion has inspired Coach Brondello to follow this trend as well. Before arriving in New York in 2022, she coached the Phoenix Mercury, where she often dressed in dresses and high heels. "I'm relieved I don’t have to do that anymore," she shares. The pandemic shifted everyone in the league towards more casual attire. A year into her Liberty role, Stewart joined the team, sparking her style evolution and encouraging her teammates to do the same. "She believed we should dress up at home," says Brondello of her All-Star forward. "It was enjoyable." Dressing for games in a manner she felt comfortable with became another way to bond with her team outside of basketball. "They enjoy looking at my outfits," she states, "and they usually give them ratings."

      This season, Brondello collaborated with the local New York fashion brand Kallmeyer for her courtside attire, working closely with founder

Tunnel Vision: The Journey of the New York Liberty to Becoming the WNBA's Most Stylish Team Tunnel Vision: The Journey of the New York Liberty to Becoming the WNBA's Most Stylish Team Tunnel Vision: The Journey of the New York Liberty to Becoming the WNBA's Most Stylish Team Tunnel Vision: The Journey of the New York Liberty to Becoming the WNBA's Most Stylish Team

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Tunnel Vision: The Journey of the New York Liberty to Becoming the WNBA's Most Stylish Team

Seen at the Met Gala.