HOUSTON (AP) — When Brittney Griner made history by becoming the first WNBA player to attend the Met Gala in 2023—just months following her release from a Russian prison in a high-profile exchange—she exuded modern sophistication in a custom Calvin Klein ensemble.

Her standout look was crafted by celebrity stylist Courtney Mays, who’s spent over ten years curating wardrobes for elite athletes. Dressing any star for fashion’s most celebrated event is no small feat, but it grows even more complex when designing for the extraordinary frames of pro athletes—Griner stands at 6-foot-9.

On top of that, stylists must navigate fashion industry icons like Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who chairs the Met Gala and hands each invitee a list of designers to consider as part of her creative vision. From there, the stylist must craft a look that fits the guest—and Wintour’s aesthetic.

“It taught me a lot,” Mays said. “I had some autonomy, but when Anna Wintour gives a directive, you kind of just go with it.”

Mays and Griner ultimately landed on Calvin Klein to honor an iconic American brand and reflect the patriotic emotion tied to Griner’s return home.

“We wanted something minimal that wouldn’t overshadow her powerful story—a sophisticated look that celebrated both her journey and her bond with her wife,” Mays explained. Griner wore a soft champagne-toned suit, while her wife, Cherelle, donned an elegant white corseted gown—symbolizing a fresh beginning and shared resilience.

The entire ensemble came together in just three weeks, with intensive weekly visits to Phoenix for extended fittings alongside a team of tailors. For footwear, Mays called on L.A. designer George Esquivel—renowned for his work with NBA stars like Kevin Love and DeAndre Jordan—to specially craft Griner’s size 18 men’s shoes.

As a 6-foot-tall woman herself, Mays relates deeply to the styling challenges athletes face.

“I've always been plus-size, and while fashion has been a mixed bag emotionally, it has also sparked my creativity in discovering how to dress myself,” she shared. “Now, working with women who wear men’s shoe sizes and stand well over six feet tall, I constantly think outside traditional fashion norms.”

Athletes Take on the Met Gala

In recent years, more athletes have found themselves on the exclusive guest list for fashion’s biggest night. This year’s Met Gala places sports in the spotlight, with Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton joining as a co-chair, NBA star LeBron James serving as honorary chair, and other sports figures featured on the host committee.

Hamilton, when asked Thursday about his outfit choice for the event, admitted he hadn’t finalized anything yet.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” he said. “I haven’t really focused on it.”

Still, he praised working with Wintour and her team.

“Collaborating with Anna is always amazing,” Hamilton said. “Fashion’s been a fun part of my life lately, and we’ve been working together over the past couple of years slowly but steadily—can’t wait for people to see what we’ve come up with.”

Wintour mentioned on “Good Morning America” Friday that she’s still unsure what Hamilton will wear, but has full confidence in his choices.

This year’s event launches the Met Museum’s spring costume exhibit, titled “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” and features the theme “Tailored For You.” Mays, a longtime advocate for better inclusion of athletes—especially Black athletes—in upscale fashion, views this as a watershed moment.

“I hope this shifts the narrative in how the fashion industry views Black voices and underestimated communities,” she said. “You’re going to see people who celebrate Black designers and hopefully some new faces. My wish is for these moments to become easier, not harder, to access in high fashion.”

The Rise of Tunnel Walk Fashion

The Met Gala may have been Mays’ debut on fashion’s biggest stage, but her work is already prominent in the evolving style culture of professional basketball, especially in what's now dubbed “tunnel fashion.”

NBA players began the trend, arriving stylishly dressed and turning their pregame tunnel walks into impromptu runways. WNBA players have since entered the spotlight, bringing a fresh lens to court-side style.

Mays, who has styled stars like Kevin Love, DeAndre Jordan, and veteran Chris Paul, also plays a significant role in elevating fashion in the WNBA. Her client list includes Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty, Tina Charles of the Connecticut Sun, and retired legend Sue Bird.

“She helps me feel confident and true to myself in whatever I’m wearing,” Stewart said. “That’s the key. When someone steps out in a tunnel look, they should radiate confidence and authenticity.”

For Mays, partnering with WNBA stars is another way to champion representation in fashion.

“As people begin to pay closer attention to tunnel fashion, especially for women, I hope we start celebrating a wider range of expressions,” she said. “Right now, the spotlight often lands on women who align with male beauty standards. But I want to see all kinds of style—gender-fluid, androgynous, bold, and feminine alike. That’s the beauty of it all.”

Tina Charles, who has worked with Mays since being drafted first overall in 2010, said clothing used to be a challenge but now feels effortless. She’s drawn to sharply tailored looks that complement her statuesque frame and athleticism.

“Courtney helped me gain confidence in how I present myself,” Charles said. “Even when she’s not around, her influence stays with me.”

Mays returns to the Met Gala this year and says to expect a look that reflects the style diversity seen among women athletes.

“Merging the world of sports and fashion in an authentic, inclusive way has always been my purpose,” she said. “Seeing athletes included among the Met chairpersons shows real progress—it signals there’s room for even more players to be part of the cultural conversation.”

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Reporting contributions by AP Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg in New York and AP Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer in Miami.

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