Angel Reese Wears Protect Black Women Shirt, USA Today Reports
As the WNBA Finals shifted back to the Bay Area for Game 5 on October 26, 2026, the pregame tunnel at the Chase Center in San Francisco featured a sharp contrast in player fashion, highlighted by Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese wearing a shirt bearing the message “Protect Black women,” USA Today reported.
Contrasting Tunnel Statements in San Francisco
Reese bypassed the high-fashion luxury looks she frequently displays, such as the sequined Chanel crop top and crocodile-textured leather maxi skirt she wore for Game 3 in Atlanta on October 21 as noted by theFashionSpot, opting instead for the direct text message across her all-black outfit. Fox News and Yahoo Sports noted that it remains unclear whether the shirt referenced a specific event or served as a general statement.
Other players took different approaches to their Game 5 arrivals. Golden State Valkyries guard Kaitlyn Chen moved away from her typical sweatsuit to wear dark red leather pants and a black corset top, according to USA Today. Teammate Kaila Charles wore a woven jacket featuring a purple Golden Gate Bridge alongside an image of Valkyries players on the back, while Jordin Canada wore a sweatsuit from the WNBA collaboration with Fear of God’s Essentials paired with a head bandana.
Moments before battle 🅰️Tune in to USA NOW for a pivotal Game 5 on these 2026 WNBA Finals! pic.twitter.com/ici6eFV9aD
Tributes and Messages Across the Finals Series
Atlanta players utilized their pregame attire to highlight historical figures and personal focus. Rhyne Howard wore a white T-shirt featuring a quote from Michael Jordan’s documentary The Last Dance—”And I took that personally”—alongside black Jordan XI sneakers. Tiffany Hayes chose a green varsity jacket adorned with motifs from Muhammad Ali’s life and career, paired with cropped khaki pants and Timberland boots, while Brionna Jones wore a khaki jacket, black trousers, polka dot tie, and zebra-print heels.
The messaging surrounding player attire mirrored broader discussions throughout the series. Fox News and Yahoo Sports highlighted that the phrase on Reese’s shirt drew comparisons among fans to Sophie Cunningham’s earlier message this season reading “Protect women’s sports.” Additional attention focused on pregame routines, as Dream star Rhyne Howard explained to OutKick regarding her absence from the floor during the national anthem during her tenure in Atlanta.
Scheduling and Game Logistics
Beyond pregame fashion and routines, the series faced logistical adjustments regarding venue and scheduling.
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