Courtney Mays breaks down iconic looks for her athlete clients

Introducing Aesthetically Speaking, our series that delves into style-minded storytelling at the intersection of fashion and sports, featuring the brands and stylists who make it happen.

Courtney Mays knows how to use clothing to tell a story for her clients.

The veteran stylist has long been trusted by some of the biggest names in women’s basketball — from former WNBA great Sue Bird to the Atlanta Dream’s Brittney Griner, the Connecticut Sun’s Tina Charles, and New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart. She’s also worked with Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul and his wife, Jada, building a reputation for using clothing as more than just a finishing touch. For Mays, fashion is a tool to tell a larger story.

That philosophy was on full display at the 2025 Met Gala, where Mays styled New York Liberty stars Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu for the red carpet. With designer Sergio Hudson dressing the group, Mays became the creative force tying it all together — helping turn one of fashion’s biggest nights into a showcase for women’s basketball.

“The Met Gala was a chance to show how being a woman in sport can look so many different ways — and that is, in fact, dandy,” Mays told The New York Times.

Mays, who grew up around athletics as the daughter of an NFL player, has always seen sports and style as intertwined. She began her career under NBA star LeBron James’ longtime stylist Rachel Johnson, learning how to craft images that travel far beyond the court. Armed with an art history degree and years of experience, she now uses fashion to spark conversations about inclusivity, gender expression, and the visibility of women in sports.

“If I can use this moment of you getting dressed to tell a larger story — about size inclusivity, gender presentation, or just the celebration of women in sports — I want to help you do that,” she told Andscape.

In the sixth episode of Aesthetically Speaking, Mays joins host Ari Chambers to break down the power of a red lip, the cultural weight of the Met Gala, and how fashion can amplify women’s sports on and off the court.