The Sporting News originally published the story on Angel Reese’s fashionable return following the WNBA’s World Cup hiatus. You can select The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by following this link.
WNBA action has officially resumed, bringing back the highly anticipated pregame tunnel entries.
Following an approximate three-week hiatus due to the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, athletes made their way back to WNBA courts on Thursday to kick off the regular season’s concluding stretch. Atlanta Dream standout Angel Reese immediately revived one of the sport’s most-followed pregame rituals. Showing up for Thursday’s matchup against the Connecticut Sun, she sported a sophisticated black-and-white outfit that balanced a tailored, business-like silhouette with her signature trendy flair.
She layered a cropped black jacket over a white blouse, complementing the top with a matching black skirt, dark-tinted eyewear, and an elegant handbag. Although this two-tone style was more low-key than some of the vibrant outfits she has displayed earlier in the year, it still made a major statement as the players made their first tunnel appearances since August.
Images of Reese’s pregame entrance were posted online by Athlete Vanity.
The striking entrance was perfectly suited for one of the most prominent stars in the league.
After dedicating the last several weeks to playing for USA Basketball, Reese is shifting her focus back to her duties in Atlanta.
Angel Reese heads back to the Dream holding a world title
The past few weeks have been exceptionally remarkable for the 24-year-old player. She aided USA Basketball in securing the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup championship in Germany, earning her inaugural gold medal at the senior international level.
Her return to Atlanta aligns with a milestone she has yet to experience with the Dream: preparing for a postseason campaign.
Carrying a 26-14 record into Thursday, Atlanta had already clinched a spot in the playoffs. The team had just four games left on their regular-season schedule, kicking off against the Sun before facing Chicago and ending with a back-to-back series against New York.
Prior to her departure for the international tournament in Germany, Reese was putting together a record-breaking campaign.
The standout out of LSU went into the tournament hiatus with averages of 16.1 points and a league-best 12.4 rebounds per contest. She had already set new WNBA single-season benchmarks for total boards, offensive rebounds, and double-doubles.
Her final league game before the break was another high-impact performance, where she secured her 29th double-double of the campaign to lead Atlanta to an 89-81 victory over the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx on August 30.
Having won five out of their last six matches before the pause, Atlanta aimed to recapture that winning momentum on Thursday.
WNBA arena arrivals bring back high fashion alongside the sport
The pregame pathway has evolved into something far greater than a mere passage to the court. WNBA competitors regularly leverage these walks to express their personal style, highlight fashion trends, and promote brand collaborations. Reese has solidified her place as one of the most anticipated figures in this arena.
Her wardrobe choices range from laid-back street clothes to highly structured luxury attire, allowing her walk-in to serve as a platform for her personal self-expression.
Her selection for Thursday’s game was decidedly on the formal end of that spectrum.
The two-color look was sharp and well-assembled without being overly flashy. She completed the style with sleek glasses and understated accessories prior to changing into her Atlanta jersey.
The pressure intensifies once the warmups come off. Atlanta is currently neck-and-neck with Indiana in the postseason hunt, with final standings still to be determined. Additionally, the Dream received unfortunate news on Thursday that veteran center Brionna Jones is sidelined for the rest of the year due to a left leg injury.
This development puts even greater pressure on Reese to anchor Atlanta’s frontcourt. However, for a brief period before the opening whistle, the pressure of the game was temporarily set aside.
Following a nearly three-week break, the return of WNBA action brought back the intense postseason race, the on-court battles, and the celebrated pregame fashion walks.
Reese looked fully prepared to take on each of them.
