Twenty-two year old San Francisco native, kiki riceIt’s been a busy few weeks. Throughout March and early April, she competed in March Madness with her UCLA teammates and best friends, and left the tournament with the Bruins’ first NCAA women’s basketball title and a huge trophy. After the victory – three more days “Party”-He and the team’s other graduating seniors (as well as their head coach, Corey Close) flew to New York City for an appearance. jimmy kimmel live, And a few days later, joined the hosts of good morning america. Finally, on Monday night, she was drafted into the WNBA and faced the sixth-ranked Toronto Tempo, the newest team to join the league.
“The last ten days have been extremely busy,” she tells Who What Wear from the makeup chair, where she prepared for the draft surrounded by her family, her boyfriend, Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard Cason Wallace, and her team. “But this is something we’ve been waiting for all season.” Everything she and her teammates had dreamed of came true: a national championship title and a chance to play in the pinnacle of women’s basketball, the WNBA. All six draft-eligible players from UCLA’s championship-winning team were drafted into the WNBA, with five being drafted in the first round, a record-breaking feat.
(Image credit: Courtesy Ben Rosser/Coach)
Kiki on rice: Custom coach sets, jackets, shoes, and Crystal Tabby Shoulder Bag ($695)
Given the significant opportunity in front of her, Rice had to prepare for some time, and opted to work with Coach, the official handbag sponsor of the WNBA, as well as sponsor WNBA Draft Orange Carpet. The coach’s team — which also groomed Rice’s teammates Lauren Bates and Gabriella Jacquez, as well as University of Connecticut star shooter Azie Fad and University of South Carolina point guard Raven Johnson — worked with the styling duo. Dani Charlton and Emma Rubenstein To put together Rice’s custom look, which was inspired by Looks 30 and 31 of the Fall/Winter 2026 collection that debuted during New York Fashion Week in February. The ensemble consisted of a two-piece skirt set made partly from repurposed materials, as well as a black bomber jacket, platform sandals and. Crystal Tabby Shoulder Bag ($695). “When I went to college, all my classmates had Coach bags,” she recalls. “That was a big deal. It was ingrained in me right away.” wearing coach, let alone custom Koch was a perfect bookend to her time at UCLA. “I think it all came together really well,” she says.
Keep scrolling to read our conversation with Rice and see the details of her look for the 2026 WNBA Draft.
(Image credit: Courtesy Ben Rosser/Coach)
How were the last ten days after winning the title?
The last ten days have been very busy. We are running around a lot of media, programs and entertainment events. It was really great to celebrate with the team and enjoy this time together. We’re also preparing for the WNBA Draft, which we’ve been waiting for all season.
What is unique is that you can do it with many of your companions and your best friends. What was it like to be able to go through this whole process with them?
This is very special. Tonight we have the opportunity to set a record for the number of players selected from one school, so UCLA can do that and we get to share these moments together – these are some of my best friends, people who are going to be sisters for life – we’re so excited to see each other walk across the stage and achieve our dreams.
(Image credit: Courtesy Ben Rosser/Coach)
With March Madness and the draft, and then training camp and the start of the season, there’s a lot going on. What are you doing to mentally prepare as well as soak up a moment and really experience it?
I’m just making sure I’m really enjoying everything that we get to do, because winning a national championship is not something that happens often. This is a once in a lifetime experience, so I don’t want to rush into it. I don’t want to rush to the next thing, but rather live in the present moment and enjoy time with my teammates and my family.
(Image credit: Courtesy Ben Rosser/Coach)
For tonight, can you tell me something about your look?
Tonight, I’m wearing a Coach set with a Coach jacket and bag. I feel like the jewelery really adds that finishing touch with a lot of silver and black, which I really like. I think it all comes together really well.
How did you come up with the concept of this look, and are there any aspects of it that the naked eye would miss?
The nails really completed the outfit very well. It’s a gray chrome set that matches my bag perfectly. It has lots of glitter in it, which gives a great pop to the outfit. And I think the dresses are beautiful too – they’re small details, but the whole fabric of the skirt and top added something really nice.
(Image credit: Courtesy Ben Rosser/Coach)
Do you have any early memories of Coach?
I wouldn’t say early, but when I got to college, all my peers had Coach bags — it was a big deal. When I reached campus, especially all the seniors and older girls, they were really rocking Coach bags. It was something that was born inside me immediately.
How would you describe your relationship with style and fashion?
Style is a great way to show my personality, have fun, try different things and it’s really nice to be able to wear a ‘fit’ before a game or when I’m going out and feel like I look good outside my uniform.
Do you have a plan for how you want to approach the tunnel in your rookie season?
I’m definitely excited to debut my first tunnel ‘fits. In college, we got to do some of those, but W offers the opportunity to do it every time you play. I’m going to try some new things and see how I feel. I’m really excited to dress up at every opportunity.
