The WNBA star talks all things Met Gala, fashion, basketball, and more.&nbsp;

Making her Met Gala debut, Paige Bueckers arrives not just as one of basketball&rsquo;s brightest stars but also as part of a broader cultural shift, one in which WNBA athletes are more embedded in fashion than ever before. From front rows to global campaigns, players are redefining what it means to be both an athlete and a style authority, and Bueckers is leading that charge.
The Coach ambassador stepped onto the 2026 carpet in a custom look by Creative Director Stuart Vevers that reimagined classic tailoring through an artistic lens&mdash;melding sharp suiting with painterly details that echoed this year&rsquo;s &ldquo;Costume Art&rdquo; theme. Rooted in craftsmanship and personal storytelling, the ensemble reflects both Bueckers&rsquo; evolving fashion identity and her instinctive approach to self-expression.
Ahead, she takes us inside her getting-ready process, the meaning behind the look, and what it felt like to step onto fashion&rsquo;s biggest stage for the very first time.

paige bueckers wnba met gala

L'OFFICIEL: Growing up, was the Met Gala something you followed, or is this a world you&rsquo;re just now stepping into?
PAIGE BUECKERS: Growing up, I knew about the Met Gala more as this iconic moment in culture than something I ever imagined being part of. You&rsquo;d see the looks online the next day, and it felt kind of untouchable&mdash;like its own universe. Stepping into it now is definitely new for me, but I&rsquo;m so honored to be a part of it and doing my best to embrace it and have fun.&nbsp;
LO: What does your getting-ready process look like for a night like this, from the first fitting to stepping onto the carpet?
PB: The process has been exhilarating so far. From seeing the sketches of my look and meeting with Stuart [Vevers], I&rsquo;ve been taking it all in. Really understanding the vision and the story behind the look. Then closer to the night, it&rsquo;s about settling into that energy and keeping things light. Once everything comes together, there&rsquo;s this shift where it clicks, and stepping onto the carpet feels like stepping into a role you&rsquo;ve been preparing for &ndash; kind of like stepping onto the court.&nbsp;
LO: Do you see fashion as another form of self-expression similar to basketball, or does it feel like a completely different world?
PB: Fashion is definitely another form of self-expression. Basketball is how I&rsquo;ve always communicated - it&rsquo;s my creativity, my competitiveness, my personality. Fashion gives me a different language to do that. It&rsquo;s visual, intentional, and it lets me show different sides of myself without saying a word.&nbsp;
LO: Athletes are increasingly becoming fashion figures&mdash;why do you think that shift is happening right now?
PB: People are starting to see us as more than what we do in our sport, and I feel like that&rsquo;s because we as athletes are starting to own the narrative. Being able to tap into what we wear in the tunnels and during our time off the court has started to become part of our storytelling. It&rsquo;s another way for us to connect with fans and show individuality beyond performance.
LO: As a global ambassador for Coach, what drew you to the brand and how does it align with who you are on and off the court?
PB: With Coach, it felt natural from the beginning. The brand has this balance of heritage and modern expression, and that really resonated with me. It&rsquo;s grounded but still evolving, which is how I see myself. On and off the court, I try to stay authentic, and work with a brand that values that makes everything feel aligned. I&rsquo;m so thankful for the opportunity they have given me for fashion&rsquo;s biggest night.
LO: Entering the WNBA, how are you balancing the demands of being a professional athlete with these growing opportunities in fashion and culture?
PB: Basketball will always be my foundation; it&rsquo;s what drives me, but I&rsquo;m enjoying the process of growing in other spaces, too. It&rsquo;s all about time management, having the right support system, and staying clear on what matters most. I don&rsquo;t see it as juggling two worlds; I see it as building one life that includes all these different passions.
LO: How would you define your personal style today, and how has it evolved since stepping into the spotlight?
PB: My personal style is always evolving. Right now, I&rsquo;m more intentional and relaxed than before. I still like clean, effortless looks, but I&rsquo;m not afraid to take risks or try something new. I think style grows with confidence, and as I&rsquo;ve become more comfortable in who I am, that&rsquo;s naturally shown up in how I present myself.

WNBA’s Paige Bueckers Takes on Her First Met Gala With Coach

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