Studying the styles of two guards in the league who share similar off-court achievements.

This weekend brings another exciting round of the 2022 WNBA Playoffs presented by Google between the Chicago Sky’s guard Kahleah Copper and the New York Liberty’s guard Betnijah Laney. Copper strikes with her on-court skills in a feisty and unapologetic style, which creates a strong contrast to her low-key arrivals at games. On the other hand, Laney signals her presence at games with a dazzling smile before moving on the court so skillfully that it looks like she’s dancing with the ball. Driven by the league’s core value of inclusivity, both guards represent the wide range of expressions that are unique to the player personalities in the WNBA.

Apart from their aggressive display of athletic skills, Copper and Laney stand out for how well they play with other team members. Both players are notable for how they suddenly provide in-game support to any position and bring an insightful eye when they’re watching their team play. Copper even solidified her coaching skills by becoming an assistant coach at Purdue Northwest for the 2020-21 season. With Copper as a sneaky, subtle player who’s always ready to strike and Laney as an aggressive player with a graceful presence, they express fierce on-court attitudes in highly different ways. But, these two guards also share similar backgrounds as notable Rutgers alumnae and current athletes on the Adidas roster. Recently, both players wore Adidas during their appearances at All-Star Weekend.

Comparing Copper’s in-game demeanor with Laney’s, their pre-game outfit choices and uniform performances contain a mix of similar and different traits. Even if they’re wearing cozy sweats, Copper has streetwear-inspired fits while Laney goes for city-ready, “baddie” styling. These two guards also have similar, neutral color palettes occasionally interrupted by Copper’s bold neon yellow garments and Laney’s hot pinks outfits. As both players introduce contemporary twists to classic player fashion, this Playoffs Style Matchup breaks down their diverse approaches to style:

Iced Out Chains vs. Baddie Hoop Earrings

If Copper had a signature pre-game outfit accessory, it would be an iced-out piece of jewelry. Throughout the season, Copper has worn a heavy diamond-covered Cuban chain, a blinged-out “K” shaped pendant, or a circular photo pendant surrounded by small, square-cut stones. Sometimes, she’ll even stack different combinations of chains to bring extraordinary shine to simple graphic T-shirts and jeans. Although Copper and Laney are both Adidas athletes, Copper pairs her affinity for iced-out pieces with rapper-worthy designer brands like Rick Owens, Gallery Department, Fear of God ESSENTIALS, Balenciaga, and more.

Since Laney plays for the New York Liberty, it’s no surprise that her most frequently worn accessory is a pair of gold hoop earrings. Her wardrobe combines preppy, and hip-hop baddie pieces, and Laney has worn hoop earrings in various sizes to match each look. Her largest pair of hoops might come out in an outfit with edgy leather-looking pants and Yeezy sneakers, while her smallest pair are in sportier outfits with a pleated skirt and classic bomber jacket. Unlike other players with a more consistent style, Laney dresses in a versatile range of aesthetics.

Cozy and Comfortable Silhouettes vs. Sweatsuits with Sexy Cuts

Sweats are one of the most popular garments for athletes, providing comfort while traveling or preparing for a game. With a fiery on-court demeanor, Copper maximizes her pre-game comfort with oversized hoodies paired with matching bottoms or printed pairs of basketball shorts. Copper understands the art of wearing multiple oversized pieces— she’ll wear a t-shirt with a strategic length that hangs under her sweatshirt or create strong coordination between her hoodie and shorts. Copper’s relaxed approach to fashion also includes canvas tote bags from streetwear brands for a practical yet stylish bag option.

Laney has also worn sweatsuits in her pre-game outfits but gravitates towards form-fitting pieces and sexy cropped cuts. Even when she wears a sporty set from Honor The Gift, Russell Westbrook’s clothing brand, Laney will pick slimmer silhouettes over typical sweatpants with a slouchier shape. Although Laney dresses with streetwear-inspired elements like denim, camouflage, and bold all-over prints, she’ll occasionally incorporate bright pops of color that make her stand out. Seeing Laney in eye-catching hot pink outfits prepares fans for her impressive in-game performance that balances graceful movement with flashy footwork.

Unconventional Color Pairings vs. Chic Color Coordination

Copper builds outfits with surprising color pairing moments, keeping her opponents guessing her next move. She’ll pair an all-black leather set with contrasting white leather boots and an unexpected “PIXBURGH all-over print” from John Geiger. Although she has an overall neutral color palette, Copper builds outfits around a garment in striking colors like highlighter yellow, forest green, and bright orange. Even when she wears a striking piece of clothing, Copper looks away from cameras in most of her pre-game photos. She carries an interesting mix of wanting to be seen and wanting to lay low until it’s time to strike.

Laney creates her elevated athlete style with heavily color-coordinated outfits that feature sharp pieces like oversized blazers. She’s more likely to be seen in a matching set with interesting patterns than working around a single unconventional garment. Since Laney was still recovering from knee surgery at the beginning of June, she showed up for her team in impressive courtside outfits with heels and snatched silhouettes. Whether a spectator at a game or gearing up to play, Laney establishes her presence with her bright smile and model-like posture.

On-Court Assassin Energy vs. Queen of the Court Energy

Copper is a deadly on-court assassin who is bonding with Candace Parker over their compelling sense of competitiveness. It’s fitting that Copper’s essential in-game accessory is a black WNBA headband that she wears in nearly every game, with her hair in a long ponytail. Copper rocks more performance accessories than other players by wearing leg sleeves, arm sleeves, and, occasionally, shin pads. Judging by how she styles her uniform, Copper is always ready to dive after loose balls, step into intimidating positions and break new career-high records in her games.

Known as “Queen B” to her teammates, Laney has regal on-court energy that is apparent in how she styles herself for games. Her long hair is secure in ponytails, with no additional distractions. Laney has strong, arched brows that provide her with a focused, ready-for-anything facial expression that comes out during games. She also doesn’t bring too many additions to her team’s standard uniform, apart from an occasional single-leg sleeve or a pair of compression shorts. Every player is very particular about the minor details of their in-game outfits— studying her footwear, Laney also wears shorter socks than most other players.

WNBA reporter Kirsten Chen writes a lifestyle & fashion column on WNBA.com throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter through @hotgothwriter. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.