Ever wonder how WNBA stars and other top female athletes transform from talented players into fashion icons? The secret often lies with stylists like Brittany Hampton, who's not just dressing these athletes, but shaping their entire image. Let's dive into how she's changing the game, one outfit at a time.
Stepping into Brittany Hampton's apartment is like entering a meticulously curated art gallery, a blend of art deco furniture sourced from Facebook Marketplace, monographs celebrating Black artists, and stacks of vintage Vogue magazines. This Filipina-American stylist has had an incredible year. Last May, she joined the Golden State Valkyries Collective and creatively directed their inaugural fashion show, a celebration of the fusion of sports and high fashion. In October, she headlined a panel on sports and fashion at the espnW: Women + Sports Summit in Ojai. And that's not all! She's been instrumental in shaping Sloane Stephens' image as she returns to professional tennis. One of her clients, Nika Mühl, the Seattle Storm's point guard, was recently named the best-dressed rookie by GQ. And then there's Paige Bueckers, whom Hampton affectionately calls her "good luck Chuck,” who was recently named WNBA Rookie of the Year. Clearly, Hampton's influence is undeniable.
But here's where it gets interesting… Hampton's journey with Paige Bueckers showcases her transformative power. When they first met during a StockX shoot in 2022, Bueckers was a stylish NCAA player, but Hampton saw untapped potential. Fast forward two years, and Bueckers stunned the internet in an all-white Louis Vuitton suit at the 2024 draft. Hampton also styled Bueckers for her professional debut in 2025, when she was drafted No. 1 to the Dallas Wings. This wasn't just about clothes; it was about crafting a brand.
Hampton herself sports an SRG by Sofia Richie Grainge top, Maison Margiela trousers, and Amina Muaddi pumps, reflecting her own keen eye for style. Bueckers’ evolution – guided by Hampton – from sneakers to designer loafers (she loves androgynous looks) mirrors the evolution of the WNBA itself. With a massive $200 million battle for the next WNBA expansion teams (Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia ultimately secured contracts), the league has come a long way from the financial struggles of the early 2000s. And this is the part most people miss... While the league has grown, young female athletes, often without the lucrative contracts of their male counterparts, lacked the resources to match their style to their game.
“That was a field that I feel like no one was willing to touch,” Hampton explains. She transitioned into styling athletes through her work with Russell Westbrook's brand, Honor the Gift. It was a bold move, addressing a clear need.
This dedication to mentorship has been a constant in Hampton's life. Her maternal grandmother, her Apo, ran Fashion Arts & Youth Enterprise, teaching young girls how to sew, shaping Hampton's path from an early age. Working in retail as a teenager, Hampton tirelessly found ways to travel to Los Angeles, her gateway to the fashion industry. On her graduation day from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in San Francisco, she and her parents drove to Koreatown, her first Los Angeles neighborhood, with a mattress strapped to the car. After two years of hard work, her dedication paid off. At just 23, Hampton was chosen to lead in-house styling internationally for Nickelodeon.
“Building out characters was the main thing that I did at Nickelodeon,” she says. “Understanding that Sam and Cat, the characters, also had to play Sam and Cat on the red carpet, and Sam and Cat in any appearance that they made.” While Nickelodeon executives initially envisioned runway looks for Miranda Cosgrove and others, Hampton understood her audience and instead shopped at Macy's, Old Navy, Nautica, and Nike. She knew how to connect with the audience.
For Hampton, styling young female athletes isn't that different from styling young Hollywood stars. “We are curating the trajectory of who these women are about to become,” Hampton says, referring to her celebrity-athlete clients as “kids,” even though she's only 36 herself. She sees herself as helping to shape their future, not just their look.
But for all the support she gives her "kids," stepping into her own power has been, in her words, “hard, f— hard.”
“Coming up in this industry, stylists were very behind the scenes,” she explains. “They weren’t the image curators, they weren’t [at the forefront].” This has changed in recent years, largely due to Law Roach, Zendaya's stylist, whom Hampton assisted after leaving Nickelodeon. However, becoming comfortable in the public eye is still a journey for Hampton, even as she recognizes the importance of designers and brands knowing who she is to understand her clients. It's a fascinating shift in the stylist's role.
If you were to catch Hampton off-duty, she'd likely be in athleisure wear. Comfort has become a priority as she gets older. But when she dresses up, she always considers her grandmother's fashion principles: quality, color, and taste. These three pillars guide her style choices.
“Things that you might think, ‘Oh I’m only gonna wear that one time’ — that’s what you grab,” she says of her “eclectic” style. “Sometimes I can be this femme fatale, sometimes I can be super sporty, sometimes I can pop up to Paige on set and be super goth and she’s like ‘What are you wearing?’ and I’m just like, ‘Oh, please.’”
So, what do you think? Is style now as important as skill for athletes in the WNBA and other professional leagues? And how much influence should stylists have in shaping an athlete’s public image? Is it empowering, or does it risk overshadowing their athletic achievements? Share your thoughts in the comments below. What do you think of Hampton's approach – focusing on comfort and the client's personality – versus chasing high-fashion trends? Let's discuss!
