Written By | Fashion and Design Desk
From a sequin-upgraded crop top to a crocodile-textured skirt with a thigh-high slit, the Dream star's Finals arrivals are driving as much conversation as her double-doubles.
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ATLANTA
The WNBA tunnel walk has become a fashion event in its own right, and the Finals have raised the stakes. As the Atlanta Dream took a 2-1 series lead over the Golden State Valkyries, Angel Reese arrived for Game 3 at State Farm Arena in a head-to-toe black-and-gold look anchored by Chanel, and fashion outlets noticed immediately.
The Game 3 look, piece by piece
According to theFashionSpot, which published its report on October 22, Reese paired a black Chanel crop top with gold lettering with a fitted, glossy, crocodile-textured skirt. The skirt features overlapping wrap-style panels and a high slit that the outlet described as "daring thigh-high." A black belt sat at the waist, with layered gold hip chains, a circular Chanel-inspired charm and large gold hoop earrings completing the jewelry story.
She finished the outfit with black open-toe heels with slim straps across the toes and carried a delicate dangling accessory in one hand. Her hair was worn long in loose dark waves, with defined eyes, sculpted brows and a deep rose lip. The photo was shared via Reese's own Instagram account.
A second report, from Yahoo Sports, described the same arrival as a cropped black Chanel tank and sweater worn with a leather skirt that has a gold coin belt, in what it called a black-and-gold look. The two outlets differ slightly on the specifics of the top and skirt, which is common with fast-moving fashion coverage, but they agree on the headline: Chanel, black, gold and a skirt built for the cameras.
A pattern, not a one-off
The Game 3 outfit follows an earlier Finals look that theFashionSpot headlined as a "tiny Chanel crop top" with a sequin upgrade for game day, and Yahoo Sports has also reported on her Game 2 arrival in kitten heels with a Gucci bag. In other words, Reese is using the Finals as a series of deliberate fashion statements, mixing houses and silhouettes while keeping a consistent attitude: polished, bold, and photographed.
That strategy is not accidental. Arrival photos from the tunnel travel faster on social media than most box scores do, and Yahoo Sports noted that the Game 3 look generated buzz and made a statement before tip-off.
The wider tunnel scene
Reese was far from the only player dressing for the moment. Yahoo Sports' best-dressed roundup for Game 3 highlighted several distinct approaches. Tiffany Hayes of the Valkyries wore a breezy white button-up with pink-and-white striped pants, chunky black shoes and a small black crossbody bag. Teammate Miela Sowah wore a tracksuit from Mindzet, a brand linked to Hayes, with a cropped jacket and pumps.
Elsewhere in the lineup, Aminata Gueye went sporty in a bright yellow Jordan Brand jersey with dark jeans and white sneakers; Laeticia Amihere paired a lilac track jacket with black biker shorts and leather boots; DeWanna Bonner chose a denim cargo jumper with Timberland heels; and Kaila Charles wore a red ruched leather top with cheetah-print oversized shorts and knee-high boots.
The range, from streetwear to luxury, from athletic to avant-garde, is the point. The tunnel has become a place where players present themselves as individuals and, in some cases, as founders: the Mindzet connection shows how personal brands are entering the frame alongside established houses.
Why the Chanel moment matters
Luxury houses have long understood that appearances by high-profile athletes can reach audiences that runway shows cannot. The WNBA Finals, which Sports Media Watch reports drew about 2.1 million viewers for Game 1 on NBC, offer exactly that sort of audience. A single arrival photo can circulate to millions of people who may never watch a Paris fashion show.
It is worth being careful about what is and is not known here. The outlets covering the look do not say whether Reese has a formal partnership with Chanel, and this article does not claim one. What the coverage does establish is that the brand features prominently in her Finals wardrobe, and that fashion media treated each appearance as news.
What this means for you
The black-and-gold palette on display is easy to borrow. A black crop or fitted top, a textured or glossy skirt, gold jewelry layered in different scales (hoops, a charm, hip chains) and strappy heels is a formula that translates to evening events without needing a luxury-house budget. Textured black, whether faux croc or patent leather, reads as dressed up even in a simple cut.
The roundup's other looks offer more accessible lessons: a crisp white shirt with striped trousers, a tracksuit with pumps, or a bright jersey with jeans and clean sneakers. The common thread is a clear point of view, which is more valuable than any label.
What to watch
With Game 4 scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. ET on NBC and a possible Game 5 to follow, expect the tunnel to stay as competitive as the court. If the Dream win and the series ends, the final arrival photos will be remembered alongside the final score. Either way, the Finals have shown that in 2026, the walk to the locker room is part of the game.
