The W.N.B.A. draft began not just with odds-making, taking bets on what player would go at what pick to what team (well, except for Paige Bueckers, who was a lock as the No. 1 pick for Dallas), but with an announcement. Coach, the New York fashion brand known for its bags and shearlings, was going to be a long-term sponsor of the league, joining Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Ralph Lauren in taking the fashion/sport partnership to a new, more permanent, level. It set the tone for the night. Not just because four of the 15 players invited to attend the draft in person also signed deals with Coach and wore the brand, but because the draft is no longer just about the picks, it’s about the ’fits. And the women involved know it. It’s their opportunity to introduce themselves not only to fans, the watching world and their new teammates, but also to the potential sponsors who can bolster their relatively small salaries.
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