Paige Bueckers and Hailey Van Lith get 'orange' carpet treatment as fans name WNBA Draft's best
By JAKE NISSE
Paige Bueckers divided opinion with her WNBA Draft night outfit on Monday as the former UConn star turned up to The Shed in New York City in a sparkly dark pantsuit and large bag on her arm.
The No. 1 overall pick actually switched her outfit between the orange carpet and when she shook commissioner Cathy Engelbert's hand onstage, putting on a lower cut jacket, but it was her first look that drew criticism from some fans.
Not all viewers were in favor of the oversized bag on her arm and made their thoughts clear online.
'This big a** bag. Who is her stylist… ,' one said on X.
'The f*** does she got in the bag ? An iPad?,' a second asked.
'Should've saved last years draft fit for this year imo,' a third added along with a slew of crying emojis.
Paige Bueckers divided opinion with her Draft night look as she held a large bag
Hailey Van Lith wore a short black dress and heels before being selected by the Chicago Sky
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Kiki Iriafen turned heads as she wore an ornate gold dress before going No. 4 overall
No. 2 pick Dominique Malonga went for a formal look as she wore a black pantsuit and glasses
However, others thought the recently-crowned national champion looked great.
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'Her stylist always kills it [I don't care] I loved her fit from the other night too,' one said.
'She looks amazing,' another said.
And a third added, 'Suit game elite. Confidence even louder.'
Hailey Van Lith also fueled plenty of social media comments with her Draft day look, as the former Louisville, LSU and TCU star wore a short black dress with her hair in a side part.
She told ESPN moments before the Draft that she was going for a 'Marilyn Monroe vibe,' and her look went down well with fans as she was selected No. 11 overall by the Sky.
'She ATE this one up honestly. Kudos to her stylist,' one said of her look.
Others commented that she looked like actress Hayden Panetierre, while others asked if her boyfriend, Orlando Magic star Jalen Suggs, 'could fight.'
Kiki Iriafen, who went No. 4 overall to the Washington Mystics, also turned heads with an ornate gold dress, while her new teammate Sonia Citron - picked one spot before -wore a cropped suit jacket with long white socks.
The No. 2 pick, French center Dominique Malonga, looked formal and chic in a black pantsuit and clear glasses.
Georgia Amoore wore a patterned jacket and skirt that was actually styled by Russell Westbrook
Sonia Citron went for a cropped suit and high white socks as she joined the Mystics
Aziaha James went for a daring look as she wore sunglasses, capri pants and scrunchy socks
Georgia Amoore, who joined Citron and Iriafen on the Mystics at the No. 6 pick, wore a patterned jacket and skirt to go along with a small white bag.
Notably, she was dressed by NBA star Russell Westbrook, who was in attendance for the event.
Aziaha James, the final pick of the first round by the Wings, went for a daring look as she rocked sunglasses, capri pants and scrunchy white socks on the orange carpet.
'Aziaha James didn’t take the moment for granted,' one fan wrote with a fire emoji.
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WNBA player Dearica Hambry, who walked the carpet with her daughter Amaya, also went for a risky look as turned up in a bright pink dress with a bow.
Te-Hina Paopao, who did not attend the Draft in New York, honored her Samoan roots as she wore a floral arrangement and was selected in the second round by the Atlanta Dream.
UConn star Azzi Fudd, who was at the Draft to support Bueckers, was also praised for her look as she wore an elegant sleeveless black gown.
'Azzi baby how are you gonna look like this for a draft that isn't even yours?,' one fan said of the player, who will return for a fifth season.
'If this is how Azz Fudd is pulling up to support Paige Bueckers at the #WNBADraft, she's going to kill the orange carpet next year,' another added.
WNBA player Dearica Hamby walked the orange carpet with her daughter, Amaya, and wore a bright pink dress
Te-Hina Paopao honored her Samoan roots with a floral arrangement on Monday night
UConn star Azzi Fudd showed up to support Bueckers and wore an elegant black gown
The night started as expected as Bueckers was selected first overall by the Dallas Wings.
'Dallas I´m so excited, a new city, a new start,' Bueckers said afterwards.
'A fresh start, so let´s get it.'
The franchise has had just two winning seasons in the past 15 years.
However, with former AP Player of the Year Bueckers and four-time WNBA All-Star Arike Ogunbowale on the roster, they'll hope to turn that around.
Bueckers will make her WNBA debut on May 16 against the Minnesota Lynx.
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