WNBA players “still face a yawning gap in income, exposure and endorsement opportunities compared with their male counterparts,” and “nowhere is that more apparent than the style world,” according to the N.Y. TIMES' Alex Williams, who wrote a Fashion & Style feature under the header, “WNBA Stars Try To Move Up To Fashion’s Front Row.” NBAers “seem to carry as much clout as movie stars, but many of the WNBA’s athletes remain as invisible as key grips.” However, that “may be starting to change,” as players like Mercury C Brittney Griner and Wings G Skylar Diggins have “emerged as style influencers, and the fashion world slowly embraces a new inclusiveness that defines beauty beyond size 2 waifs from Ukraine.” Sky G Cappie Pondexter: "There are so many cool people in the women’s league that have a good sense of style. We talk about it every week -- it’s visibility. We don’t have that exposure.” Williams reported Pondexter has "made a splash with her fashion company, 4Season Style Management, which provides wardrobe styling, personal shopping and other services for celebrity clients.” Wings G Tiffany Bias said, “I’d love to see women’s players get to the point where we’re sitting next to [Vogue Editor-in-Chief] Anna Wintour at fashion shows.” However, Williams noted “there are snags.” Bias: “People have that perception: They hear ‘women’s basketball player,’ and think of a very masculine player.” Other players “cited race as a potential complicating factor.” Former WNBAer Swin Cash said, “You look at the WNBA, and a high percentage of the league is African-American women. We struggle a lot, in jobs or in society in general” (N.Y. TIMES, 10/9).
