From the 2024 Draft to All-Star Weekend, beauty brands have an increased presence in the WNBA space. The league is buzzing with multiyear partnerships and increased endorsements for individual players, creating more hiring opportunities for professional makeup artists. 

Jackie Young and Alysha Clark with Heather Bates getting glammed for Las Vegas Aces Media Day

Based in Las Vegas, makeup artist Heather Bates uses her “less is more” approach to enhance an impressive client roster like Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, Alysha Clark, Candace Parker, and more. Bates notes that the players “have always utilized makeup artists, but with the league’s new spotlight, it’s shown more.” Traveling to All-Star Weekend for her clients, Bates creates (and recreates) signature looks for her athletes, which are seen on Media Day, commercials, and events like when the Aces visited the White House. 

While Bates played basketball her entire life, it was never in a professional sense– it’s a full circle moment for her to “do what [she loves] in a world that [she loves.]” Running through her glam schedule at All-Star Weekend, Banks explains the ‘KP signature glam’ and different makeup moments during the season. 

Kirsten Chen: Who was your first client from the WNBA? 

Heather Bates: My first WNBA client was Dearica Hamby. I got hired to do makeup for a podcaster, and she was interviewing Dearica. I touched up Dearica’s makeup, and we hit it off from there. 

Chelsea Gray and her wife Tipesa Moorer showing off glam by Heather Bates

KC: How is working with WNBA players different from working with other celebrity clients? 

HB: The difference between my WNBA clients and other celebrity clients is the style of glam: less is more with my WNBA clients. They love glam and each have their own style. But, with my athletes, I do more of a ‘no makeup makeup’ versus glam for being on stage or dramatic glam. 

Jackie Young with Heather Bates on the Orange Carpet at All-Star

KC: Tell me about your process of working with multiple players during WNBA All-Star Weekend 2024. 

HB: I did 3 – 4 clients each day, trying to make sure everyone is ready at specific times. When I landed on Thursday morning, it was straight to work. I started with Andraya Carter from ESPN, then Aliyah Boston immediately after. From there, I went to the hotel and did Chelsea Gray and her wife Tipesa; I ran to the next room and glammed Kelsey Plum. We left for the Orange Carpet, and I touched up Jackie Young before her interviews. 

Kelsey Plum on the Orange Carpet during All-Star weekend glammed by Heather Bates

KC: How did you and Kelsey figure out her makeup for this year’s Orange Carpet?

HB: Kelsey and I came up with her look from previous shoots we’ve done. She loves a simple glam with a nice contour and clean eye, so we stuck with what we call our ‘signature KP glam.’

Sydney Colson, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young headshots from Media Day glammed by Heather Bates

KC: You’ve glammed players like Alysha Clark, Jackie Young and Sydney Colson for Media Day, how is doing makeup for team photos different from doing commercials?

HB: Media Day is more fun– they have free range of their looks to express themselves through art and their own [image and] identity. 

Kelsey Plum and Heather Bates during glam sessions

KC: How do you want your clients to feel after you do their make-up?

HB: I want people to feel like themselves when they leave my chair, but more confident. [They] know they look like themselves and that I heard everything they love or don’t like when getting glammed. 

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