WNBA All-Star weekend once again delivered unforgettable fashion, with players turning the Orange Carpet into a celebration of personal style, culture, and creativity. Every standout look is the result of a collaborative effort, with stylists, designers, and fashion labels helping athletes bring their vision to life. Here are five Orange Carpet outfits we loved—and the women behind them.

Kelsey Mitchell | Kellie Ford @thekellieford

For Ohio native Kelsey Mitchell, wearing a custom look by Cincinnati designer Kellie Ford was a fitting hometown connection. Mitchell, who grew up in Cincinnati before starring at Ohio State, wore a metallic purple ensemble featuring wide-leg trousers, a matching crop bomber jacket, and bralette, finished with Prada sneakers. 

"I was really just going for something with pizzazz," Mitchell said in her Orange Carpet interview. "I wanted a different color, but I wanted to look cute and sexy. I wanted to be comfortable and wanted to be me."

Designer Kellie Ford discovered fashion by accident. What started as a handmade birthday outfit for her three-year-old son quickly turned into a business after strangers began asking where they could buy his custom look. Armed with a gifted sewing machine and what she calls a degree from "YouTube University," the Cincinnati native taught herself to sew through trial and error. Today, Ford creates custom pieces that make every client feel like the best version of themselves while proving you don't have to leave home to build a career in fashion.

Rhyne Howard | MacKenzee “Golden” McDonald @itsgoldenpiece

Rhyne Howard's custom monochromatic purple ensemble featured a cropped jacket with dramatic square shoulders, matching ultra-wide-leg trousers, and hand-beaded basketball details throughout. The deep purple color honored a close friend living with lupus, while an autism symbol embroidered on the back recognized a cause Howard supports. Every detail was intentionally designed to tell a story.

For Dallas-based stylist MacKenzee "Golden" McDonald, that's the goal. After exploring sports medicine and product development in the NFL, McDonald found her calling in fashion, where she helps WNBA, NBA, and NFL athletes build their personal brands through style. She views tunnel fashion as an opportunity for athletes to express who they are before they ever step onto the court. 

“The growth in [women's basketball is] mind blowing,” McDonald said on the nostalgiaandnoise Instagram account. “The players have gotten serious about their brand identity, and as a stylist, that's my job: to tell who you are through garments.”

Kelsey Plum | Kara Welch @karlawelchstylist

Kelsey Plum embraced modern tailoring in a bold, architectural look styled by Karla Welch. Featuring a deep-V halter crop top with draped navy-and-blue striped panels, a structured leather underbust band, and matching high-waisted culottes, the outfit balanced sharp structure with effortless movement. Finished with sleek slingback pumps and a razor-sharp ponytail, the look perfectly captured Welch's fearless approach to styling.

One of Hollywood's most influential stylists, Karla Welch didn't take a traditional path into fashion. Before dressing stars like Justin Bieber, Lorde, Olivia Wilde, and Sarah Paulson, Welch worked in the restaurant industry and became a certified sommelier, gaining experience in food and beverage management. She credits that detour with teaching her how to work under pressure and prioritize service. After moving to Los Angeles, Welch began styling organically and built a career centered on helping clients become the most stylish version of themselves rather than fitting them into a single aesthetic. In recent years, she has become a vocal advocate for investing in women's sports style.

"If brands aren't dressing [female] athletes, they aren't keyed in to the biggest opportunities in the world right now, and it's only in its infancy," Welch told Who What Wear last year. "I love the challenge. Let us show you what we can do!"

Natasha Howard | DALYA @dalyanyc

Natasha Howard put a fresh spin on power dressing in a custom all-white suit by DALYA NYC. Featuring a cropped jacket and exaggerated collar inspired by '80s and '90s fashion, the perfectly tailored look stood out on the Orange Carpet. 

"Thank you to Dalya for customizing my suit for me," Howard said in her Orange Carpet interview. "I wanted to do something different. I've never had a crop jacket like this before or a collar like this before. I am bringing the 80s or 90s style."

Founded by Egyptian designer Farida Raafat, DALYA NYC is built around the idea that women deserve the same access to custom tailoring long reserved for men. After years designing menswear and working for brands like Tom Ford and Rag & Bone, Raafat launched the brand to give women bespoke pieces that fit both their bodies and their ambitions. The brand's mission is summed up in its signature slogan: "Dress how you want to be addressed." Through modern tailoring and made-to-order craftsmanship, DALYA NYC celebrates women who challenge the status quo and define success on their own terms.

Nneka Ogwumike | FUMI THE LABEL @fumithelabel

As a proud Nigerian-American, Nneka Ogwumike's choice to wear the Aura Ombre Knit Mini Dress by FUMI the Label felt especially meaningful. The shimmering ombré knit dress, complete with asymmetrical fringe and adjustable side ties, blended modern elegance with bold confidence.

The woman behind the brand, Fumi Egbon, is also Nigerian-born. Raised in Canada after moving there as a child, Egbon found confidence through fashion after struggling to fit in and experiencing bullying. She launched FUMI the Label in 2020 to create timeless, confidence-boosting pieces that celebrate women's bodies and individuality.

"Fashion changed the way people saw me. It gave me confidence,” Egbon said in an interview with Her Network. “I use fashion as a tool for self-love."  

As the WNBA's influence continues to grow, so does the impact of the creatives shaping its fashion culture. These women are helping athletes tell their stories through style while leaving their own mark on one of the league's biggest weekends.