Naomi Osaka’s 2026 US Open night session kit, inspired by Allen Iverson: “For me he’s a trailblazer. He’s someone I look up to a lot because he’s kind of done a lot in fashion, whether it’s on purpose or not. But he’s shifted the way NBA players dress. I also think the whole conversation around clothes in sports… and also just expressing yourself through style. He’s someone I look up to in that regard.”
Naomi Osaka brought basketball culture to the tennis court at the 2026 US Open, honoring NBA icon Allen Iverson with a playing look that celebrated his influence on sports, fashion and personal expression.
For her opening-round match at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Osaka wore a black Nike ensemble that borrowed from the visual language of a vintage basketball uniform. The sleeveless top featured contrasting white trim, while her glossy layered skirt was finished with graphic detailing along the hem. Black Nike sneakers marked with “NYC,” a black headband and tightly braided cornrows completed the Iverson-inspired transformation.
The resemblance was intentional.
“It’s my tribute to Iverson,” Osaka explained following the match. “Nike said basketball, so I said, ‘You want basketball, I’ll give you basketball.’”
Why Allen Iverson Remains a Fashion Icon
Iverson’s influence reaches far beyond his achievements as an NBA Most Valuable Player, 11-time All-Star and four-time scoring champion. His cornrows, headbands, tattoos, jewelry, oversized clothing and unapologetic personal style helped change how professional athletes presented themselves.
At a time when many athletes were expected to conform to a carefully controlled image, Iverson entered arenas looking unmistakably like himself. His style reflected hip-hop culture and the communities that shaped him, helping create a cultural shift that can still be seen in professional sports today.
Osaka considers Iverson a trailblazer who transformed the relationship between fashion and athletic identity.
“He was an elite player on the court but also found a way to authentically merge culture, sports, and fashion,” she told Vogue.
Like Iverson, Osaka has consistently used fashion to communicate parts of her identity that cannot always be expressed through competition alone. Her tribute was therefore more than a costume or a nostalgic reference. It acknowledged an athlete who helped make individual expression an essential part of modern sports culture.
From Basketball Uniforms to Tennis Fashion
Osaka’s playing kit translated several recognizable elements of Iverson’s image into a modern tennis silhouette. Her cornrows and headband offered the clearest visual connection, while the loose, jersey-like top and layered black skirt brought basketball styling into a performance-ready tennis uniform.
Even the attitude behind the outfit felt connected to Iverson. The look was strong, unconventional and completely committed to its inspiration.
Iverson soon acknowledged the tribute on social media, writing that it was an honor and describing himself as a big fan of Osaka.
The exchange represented a meaningful meeting of two athletes from different generations and different sports—both known for competing at the highest level without surrendering their individuality.
A Dramatic Who Decides War Entrance
Before revealing her Nike playing outfit, Osaka entered Arthur Ashe Stadium in a custom creation from New York fashion label Who Decides War, designed by Téla D’Amore and Ev Bravado and styled by Law Roach.
The hooded walk-on gown combined French terry fabric with flowing tulle and incorporated newspaper-style images chronicling important moments from Osaka’s career. The dramatic garment connected the relaxed energy of athletic sweats with an almost ceremonial couture silhouette.
According to the designers, the look referenced Iverson’s famous gray sweats and the nonconformist way he moved through professional sports. Its silhouette also nodded to a Fall 2020 Off-White design by the late Virgil Abloh, further connecting Osaka’s entrance to a lineage of designers and athletes who challenged traditional boundaries.
Once the gown was removed, the black Nike kit underneath carried the Iverson story directly onto the court.
Osaka Wins in Style at Arthur Ashe Stadium
The fashion moment was supported by an equally determined performance. Osaka defeated Russia’s Anastasia Zakharova 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3), surviving two demanding tiebreaks to reach the second round.
The four-time Grand Slam champion and two-time US Open winner relied on her composure and powerful serve during the late-night contest. One of her serves reached 122 mph as she fought through a match that extended beyond midnight.
Osaka’s victory demonstrated exactly why the tribute worked. Iverson was never admired for style alone; his image was inseparable from his toughness, skill and competitive spirit. Osaka brought that same combination of athletic intensity and cultural confidence to New York.
Fashion as a Form of Self-Expression
Osaka has developed a reputation for turning Grand Slam entrances into carefully constructed fashion stories. Her previous tournament looks have referenced her Japanese heritage, nature, architecture and fantasy, allowing clothing to become part of the emotional experience surrounding each competition.
At the 2026 US Open, she used that platform to honor an athlete who expanded what personal expression could look like in professional sports.
The result was more than a basketball-inspired tennis outfit. It was a tribute to Allen Iverson’s enduring cultural legacy—and another reminder that Naomi Osaka is creating a
fashion legacy of her own.
