The sports tunnel entrance has long been the pregame before the main event. Fans tune in to see their favorite athletes arrive, headphones on and game face locked in. Recently, for the WNBA, the walk from the locker room to the court has transformed into something bigger.

Women are told our whole lives that the way we present ourselves matters—often by people who have no business saying it. For those who step into an arena in the same uniform as everyone else, hair pulled back however it needs to be, appearance is hardly the focus. For years, stereotypes kept fashion and female athletes at opposite ends of the spectrum: How could women working hard on the court have time to think about fashion? Or, more narrow-mindedly: How could the same person even be interested in both?

Enter the tunnel walk. With a cleverly placed designer piece here and there, that narrative has been challenged. As WNBA stylist Golden (née MacKenzee McDonald) explains, “At first, players were just throwing on outfits to get to the court. Now they’re using fashion strategically—building brand partnerships, branching into modeling or content creation, or just expressing creativity.”

The stylist, who has worked alongside stars including Atlanta Dream players Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard and New York Liberty’s Isabelle Harrison, shares that attainable fashion is also a big reason why WNBA style has resonated with fans. “They see a jacket on a player and think, I could actually buy that,” says Golden. “[The tunnel walk] becomes a walking Pinterest board that inspires fans while also expanding how people see these athletes—dominant on the court and in fashion.”

As the old adage goes, any walk can become a catwalk if you believe it hard enough. What was once just concrete beneath an arena has become a runway, a place for players to assert who they are before the first whistle blows.

Ahead, McDonald breaks down all that goes into making a great tunnel walk happen.

When you’re putting together a tunnel look, what’s the first thing you think about?

I base a lot of the outfits on my client’s brand identity or something they want to forecast. Starting from brand identity lets me explore elements of their personality, colors, or details that feel true to them. I always say with tunnel looks, it’s important to keep a thread of similarity from one outfit to the next, so it flows with their authentic style.

BTS of Golden styling Saniya Rivers of the Connecticut Sun.

Golden Pieces

What’s your process for collaborating with each client to make sure their identity still shines through?

Before I start working with anyone, my number one question is: What do you want to be remembered for? What is the primary message you want to show the audience? From there, I sculpt that vision through fashion. My role as a stylist is to elevate—to add fun pieces, maybe even push them outside their comfort zone—but never at the expense of their identity. It’s always about making sure they feel comfortable, confident, and true to who they are.

There’s been so much conversation about tunnel walks becoming the new runway. From your perspective, how is styling for a tunnel different than another event?

Both take a lot of work, but they’re different kinds of work. A tunnel look happens during a season that has 40 games; so, while you can create standout moments, you’re not producing an entire spectacle each time. Red carpet styling is almost like a production: creative directors, hair, makeup, all collaborating to build the moment that people will talk about. With tunnel looks, those big productions tend to come during playoffs or finals.

Does that progression throughout the season—building toward playoffs—influence how you style?

Definitely. A good example is Isabelle Harrison. During the regular season, we love creating strong outfits and fun moments that turn heads. But when it comes to the playoffs, that’s when we really want to stop media in their tracks and be the talk of the town. A regular-season look might land on someone’s Pinterest board, but a playoff look has people asking about the designer, analyzing every detail, breaking down the shoes, the tailoring, the accessories. Playoffs are about making a statement, not just an impression.

Do you have any go-to tricks or items that always work for a tunnel look?

Outerwear, always. A great jacket can anchor a look—you can layer it, build around it, and make it versatile. The other essential is what I call a “statemental” piece. It could be pants, shoes, or a bag—something bold that grabs attention and adds storytelling to the outfit. Between outerwear and statement pieces, you can’t go wrong.

Have you noticed brands are more eager to dress WNBA players, or do you still have to push for that?

I still push for visibility and pitch my athletes, because some brands are skeptical, wondering if this WNBA fashion moment is just a trend. But that actually motivates me—it forces me to be more creative about how I position my clients. Sometimes I’m even the first stylist to bring a WNBA player into their orbit. But, while we have a long way to go, there’s real momentum building, and I’m proud to be that bridge between sports and fashion.

What has been a career highlight for you so far?

I’ve had many in a short time, but one that stands out is styling Saniya Rivers for the 2025 WNBA draft. That moment was deeply personal and emotional, especially since her mother passed shortly after. To know that her mother loved the look we created together—and to see her family coordinated around it—was incredibly meaningful. Another highlight was styling Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend. Allisha’s Nike look, [called] Pressure Makes Pearls, was all about storytelling through textiles and fashion, reflecting her decade-long career and recent accolades. Those moments remind me why I love this work.

Where do you see WNBA fashion going from here? What’s next?

I see it heading straight to global runways, TV campaigns, and high-fashion spaces. The players already have the stature, the presence, the charisma—fashion houses are going to catch on. I wouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing WNBA athletes at Paris Fashion Week, or as regulars at the Met Gala. I also think some players will go even further, maybe starting their own brands or agencies to bridge sports and fashion. Right now, we’re just at the beginning, and the creativity within this league is about to explode in ways even I can’t fully imagine. People should be paying attention—if not, it’s going to hit them like a train.