Coach Teams Up with the WNBA to Champion Style, Self-Expression, and Sport
Source: Coach
Reported By: Matthew Kennedy
April 14th, 2025 – The 2025 WNBA season kicked off with more than just rookie talent and hardwood dreams—it debuted a stylish new partnership between two cultural icons. On April 14, Coach and the WNBA announced a multiyear collaboration that positions the American fashion house as the official handbag partner of the league, fusing fashion with the fierce individuality that defines women’s professional basketball today.
This alignment between Coach and the WNBA isn’t simply a brand collaboration—it’s a statement of purpose. Tied to Coach’s foundational ethos, The Courage to Be Real, the partnership aims to spotlight authenticity, self-expression, and identity through fashion, sport, and storytelling.
A League of Style: Fashion Takes the Orange Carpet
The collaboration debuted in high style at the WNBA Draft 2025 presented by State Farm®, held at The Shed in New York City. For the first time, the WNBA Draft Orange Carpet presented by Coach welcomed incoming rookies as they celebrated their entry into the league—and into the public spotlight—with a runway-worthy moment that blended personality and poise.
But Coach didn’t stop at event sponsorship. As part of this landmark announcement, the brand will highlight the stories of five standout WNBA prospects who have been using fashion as a form of personal storytelling long before the draft lights went on. Paige Bueckers (University of Connecticut), Hailey Van Lith (Texas Christian University), Aneesah Morrow (Louisiana State University), Kiki Iriafen (University of South California), and Sonia Citron (Notre Dame) are the inaugural faces of this campaign, each celebrated for how they blend athleticism with distinctive style and self-awareness.
Coach’s Chief Marketing Officer, Joon Silverstein, underscored the deeper message behind the partnership:
“Coach and the WNBA share a belief in the power of self-expression. We're excited to partner with this league... and to support these courageous athletes who are breaking molds both on and off the court.”
Joon Silverstein, Coach’s Chief Marketing Officer
More Than a Fashion Statement: Coach x WNBA Pride
This partnership also carries powerful cultural weight. Coach will become the presenting partner of WNBA Pride, a platform that’s been at the forefront of inclusivity in sports since 2014. Originally the first fully integrated LGBTQ+ program in any major professional league, WNBA Pride presented by Coach will continue to evolve with the Pride Is Love content series and a slate of nationally televised games.
This partnership marks a meaningful expansion of Coach’s presence in the cultural conversation around identity and inclusion—one that aligns closely with the brand’s modern positioning. For the WNBA, it’s another step in amplifying the voices and experiences of its players and fans alike.
Eyes on Indianapolis: A Fashion-Forward All-Star Weekend
The partnership’s reach will continue at AT&T WNBA All-Star 2025, where Coach will serve as an associate partner of the league’s high-profile midseason celebration. Set to take place in Indianapolis, the All-Star showcase is expected to be more than just a basketball event. With Coach involved, it will become a curated experience at the crossroads of sport, fashion, music, and culture—a true representation of how far the game, and its community, has come.
“The WNBA sits at the intersection of sport and lifestyle… We look forward to joining forces with Coach to inspire fans everywhere to embrace individuality, especially around some of our most anticipated tentpole moments.”
Colie Edison, WNBA Chief Growth Officer
Elevating the Culture Around the Game
By joining forces, Coach and the WNBA are signaling a new era for women’s basketball—one where performance and personal expression are equally celebrated. With luxury handbags as the centerpiece, and a commitment to identity and inclusivity at its heart, this collaboration is as stylish as it is significant.
As the season unfolds, fans can expect to see more crossover moments between the hardwood and the runway, with Coach continuing to champion players and personalities shaping the future of both sport and fashion.
ABOUT COACH
Coach is a global fashion house founded in New York in 1941. Inspired by the vision of Creative Director Stuart Vevers and the inclusive and courageous spirit of its hometown, the brand makes beautiful things, crafted to last—for you to be yourself in.
Coach is a Tapestry, Inc. brand. Tapestry is publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker TPR.
ABOUT THE WNBA
Tipping off its 29th season in 2025, the WNBA celebrates and elevates the game of basketball and the culture around it. The league was ranked by Morning Consult as the fastest-growing brand in 2024, and No. 4 on Fast Company's list of the World's 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2025, on its way to setting records for engagement on social and digital platforms, attendance, merchandise sales and unique viewers across its broadcast partners. The WNBA's commitment to societal impact is supported by the first-of-its-kind WNBA Changemakers Collective, a group of purpose-driven companies that have partnered with the WNBA to enhance the player experience, build the brand of the league and players, inspire innovation and connectivity, increase media coverage and visibility, and help drive the league's business transformation. AT&T, Carmax, Deloitte, Google, and Nike are part of the WNBA Changemaker Collective.
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