WNBA Draft night Orange Carpet looks, ranked: Zia Cooke and Haley Jones shine amongst 2023 class

Sara Tidwell

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WNBA Draft night Orange Carpet looks, ranked: Zia Cooke and Haley Jones shine amongst 2023 class image

The Orange Carpet debuted in 2017 and has been a beloved staple ever since. Honestly, anticipation for the night's outfits might be higher than where each draftee ends up.

In New York City, serving looks and serving game is what the league does. And it does it well.

Here are my rankings of the 2023 WNBA draftees as they slay their appearances on the Orange Carpet.

MORE: WNBA Draft live results, list of all selections

1. Zia Cooke

Enough cannot be said about Cooke's dress. Seriously, it's going to be hard, if not impossible, to top.

The sleek black fabric frames her nicely, but the chest cutout and diamond breast accents?! Someone get a fire extinguisher because this girl is SMOKIN'!

She's my, and probably America's, obvious favorite tonight.

2. Haley Jones

The color is so unique. It's something I've never really seen worn out on the carpet before (or maybe I don't watch enough carpet appearances like this?), but I'm so glad I have now. It's doing numbers for her skin tone and the heels elongate her legs in a pristine way. It's business casual with extra pizzazz. It's just out of the box and rare, and that speaks numbers to the skill she will be bringing to the W.

Honorable mention goes to her camcorder.

3. Brea Beal

I'm a sucker for anything hot pink, and then combining it into a power pantsuit like that?! Elle Woods is somewhere very, very proud.

I love the way she added sparkle. The diamond bralette, the diamond heels and that chain, she traded out her boyfriend Jaycee Horn's initials for her own tonight. Let it shine, girl!

4. Laeticia Amihere

Sleek, simple. The cut out on the collarbone and the slit up the leg give it a bit of dimension to really spice it up. The way her curls fall and bounce is an extra point.

South Carolina did not come to play!

5. Maddy Siegrist

This outfit is giving royalty. Trophy wife, even. Except, she's the trophy, and her husband's ...just Ken. (Please someone tell me they get that Barbie movie reference).

Elegant and angelic all around. I love the fact that she stuck solely to white, and she didn't add too many accessories. Nothing wrong with bling, though. Even her shoes are plain enough that they don't take away, but still draw your eye. And not to mention her skin, absolutely glowing.

6. Diamond Miller

Talk about pretty in pink?! My God, Miller is living up to her namesake, looking like a literal diamond in the sky tonight. It's simple, yet makes her dark skin tone and hair color pop so pleasingly to the eye.

7. Aliyah Boston

This is definitely the lowest number in a ranking Boston will probably ever be.

The hair is what drew me in here. I love the color change for Draft night. She's always been a show out when it comes to her hair color and her shoes and she never, ever disappoints.

The silk jumpsuit or pantsuit is a popular look this year is what I'm gathering, and each girl brings their own bang to its buck.

8. Alexis Morris

I swear, the power suit is going to go down as my favorite look tonight. Morris looks sleek and untouchable. She has an aura about her that's noticeable even in a picture. The simplistic vibe, yet bold energy leaving the top half open, so it also says, "yeah, that's right, I made it."

I'm a sucker for color pops too. The blue purse just adds so much flare in such a subtle way.

9. Grace Berger

My jaw-dropped when I saw a picture of her. I'm used to her wild mane of curls, I almost didn't recognize her. Can she pull off every hairstyle?! Because it's so unfair.

The choice to have a bare neck when wearing an off the shoulder dress is a bold one and I'm really digging it. Turn your attention to her makeup please! She's out here serving face.

The orange carpet has begun. #WNBADraft pic.twitter.com/EMsN5GaSIc

— Kareem Copeland (@kareemcopeland) April 10, 2023

10. Lou Lopez-Sénéchal

Another dripped out in a fully pink pantsuit? Can't complain in the slightest. The blush-shade that Lopez-Sénéchal went for really contrasts the hot pink Beal has on and the salmon pink Miller is wearing. It's like the monochromatic color wheel, for my favorite color in the rainbow.

I also am a fan of the sneakers over heels. Comfort always wins.

11. Stephanie Soares

She looks like she runs the business capital of the world and I'm living for it. The all white makes her smile stand out and that watch is massive ice on her wrist.

12. Jordan Horson

The checkered suit jacket, the crispy white collar and those big diamond earrings and diamond chains. Even the sunglasses. Seriously everything about this is fire.

13. Ashley Joens

Another simple, little black dress, but in a lineup of outfits that pop off the screen, Joens' outfit ranks lower, by comparison. Still, the classiness still goes a long way.

14. Dorka Juhász

I'm a huge fan of her sparkly heels. Those are truly an eye catcher.

Dorka Juhasz’s #WNBADraft outfit.

(📸: @krisrhim1) pic.twitter.com/KWK67fI3OL

15. Taylor Mikesell

Just because she's last does not mean she didn't slay!

The basic white and black cross tie top and black slacks combo was clean and fresh. Also I don't think I've ever seen her hair down and it's gorgeous.

Sara Tidwell

Sara Tidwell Photo

Sara Tidwell is an editorial intern with The Sporting News. A native to Michigan's Thumb region, she received her Bachelor's degree in journalism from Michigan State University. Previous bylines include the Detroit News, Cincinnati Enquirer, Hartford Courant and The State News.