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Inside The Tunnel With New York Liberty's Breanna Stewart And Jonquel Jones
New York Liberty Tunnel Walk Brandon Todd/New York Liberty
In Brooklyn, at the back entrance of the Barclays Center, Breanna Stewart, forward for the New York Liberty, walks through the industrial tunnel near the loading buses wearing a crisp white buttoned vest and tailored cutoff suit shorts. As she passes the team's social media coordinator, she sticks out her tongue, a playful moment later shared on the Liberty's Instagram as part of a carousel featuring her teammates and their tunnel fits. What might have once been dismissed as a casual pre-game ritual now reads like something else entirely: a highly anticipated moment and one of the most stylish spectacles in women's sports.
For basketball players, tunnel walks, the act of players showing off what they're wearing before switching into their jerseys, have long been an established and sought-after ritual. Think: Michael Jordan's '90s power suit era, Allen Iverson's relentless commitment to streetwear and throwback jerseys, and more recently, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's aura-filled fits. But in the WNBA, tunnel style has taken on something deeper. It's not just about taking a photo, it's about expanding the league's cultural footprint, building a narrative around each player and their personal style, and crafting moments that feel as essential as the game itself.
June 10th, 2025; New York Liberty defeat the Chicago Sky 85-66 during Commissioners Cup play at ... More Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, NY (Photo by. Brandon Todd) Brandon Todd/ New York Liberty
Before the 10 A.M. shootaround, there's a quiet choreography: outfit laid out, pose considered, maybe even a mental note of what's most likely to end up on Instagram. And while there's no official scoreboard for tunnel firs, some teams take the ritual more seriously, and look more cohesively, than others. One standout: the New York Liberty.
Maybe it's because they reside in the heart of the fashion capital, or maybe it's tied to their league-leading 10–3 record in the in-season series, either way, the New York Liberty embody a look good, play good mentality. The connection between fashion and the Liberty is hardly new. It shows up in the details: their mascot often spotted carrying a Telfar or Luar bag, and the team itself becomes the first in league history to secure a sponsored tunnel, courtesy of Snipes USA.
Snipes, a German-born streetwear and sneaker retailer is, perhaps not-so-coincidentally, located directly across the street from Barclays Center. It's also where many Liberty players go to get styled before game day.
June 10th, 2025; New York Liberty defeat the Chicago Sky 85-66 during Commissioners Cup play at ... More Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, NY (Photo by. Brandon Todd) Brandon Todd/ New York Liberty
Jonquel Jones, center for the New York Liberty, is known not just for her game but for her undeniable style. She was even named one of the best-dressed athletes at this year's Met Gala, where she wore a black-and-white Sergio Hudson suit. And even while sidelined with an ankle sprain, Jones continues to show up fully dressed, even if she's just sitting courtside.
When it comes to game-day fashion, her approach is intuitive: 'I have a couple of different options, and whatever is speaking to me for that game is the outfit I go with,' she says. 'I want to make sure that I look good, because when you look good, you play good.'
On June 10th, she pulled up in a full Canadian tuxedo. 'It was a really nice but simple outfit,' she recalls. 'I'm wearing Dolce & Gabbana jeans—and really, Dolce & Gabbana denim all the way from floor to ceiling—jeans and top!'
New York liberty Tunnel Walk Brandon Todd/New York Liberty
Over the years, her style has evolved. 'In the past, I styled myself, and while it was fun, it kind of took a little bit of focus away from basketball. I didn't want to do that again,' she says. 'So this year, I'm working with a stylist—the wonderful Kesha McLeod—who's done amazing things helping me up my game on that level. It's been a great partnership so far.'
Breanna Stewart, also a 2025 Met Gala attendee, is equally as known for her style. In tunnels, she can often be seen wearing a blazer or baggy jeans, but never forgets a purse. So much so, her teammate Natasha Cloud posts a 'what's bag did Stewie's bring today' video weekly. Stewart adds to that sentiment of looking good so she can play well. When it comes to her game-day style, she says, 'This year specifically, it's about looking like a pro. Nothing crazy or over the top, just looking ready to handle business. Look good, feel good, play good.'
June 10th, 2025; New York Liberty defeat the Chicago Sky 85-66 during Commissioners Cup play at ... More Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, NY (Photo by. Brandon Todd) Brandon Todd/ New York Liberty
Though 'best dressed' doesn't appear on the stat sheet, it plays a real role in an athlete's performance—style as a signal of mental readiness, a barometer for preparation. Just as lawyers have their power suits and soldiers their uniforms, basketball players now have their tunnel fits: garments that ready them for the walk, and everything that comes after it.
