Naomi Osaka paid tribute to basketball star Allen Iverson by wearing an Iverson-inspired outfit during her US Open first-round match against Anastasia Zakharova on Monday, September 1, 2026, which she won 7-6, 7-6 to advance to the second round [1, 2, 3].
Her outfit included a gray hooded robe or tunic featuring newspaper clippings, a long white skirt or tulle train, cornrows under a headband, and an arm sleeve, mirroring Iverson’s signature style from his NBA days [1, 2, 3]. Designers Téla D'Amore and Ev Bravado said the look referenced Iverson’s gray sweats and his nonconformist presence on and off the court [3].
Osaka praised Iverson as "a fashion trailblazer who changed the way NBA players dress" and someone she admires for expressing individuality through sport fashion. She said, "It’s my, I guess, my tribute to Iverson. I really like him a lot. I mean, Nike said basketball, so I said, ‘OK, you want basketball, I’ll give you basketball’" [1]. She added she looks up to Iverson for the way he shifted the conversation around clothes in sports and style expression [3].
Before the tournament, Osaka wore a shirt featuring Iverson’s picture at a news conference and posted a photo of her match outfit on Instagram captioned "The Answer," Iverson’s nickname [1, 3]. Iverson responded on Instagram, calling Osaka an honor and "BIG FAN" who he looks forward to meeting [1, 3].
2026 has seen Osaka embrace adventurous fashion at all majors. She wore a kimono-inspired outfit at Wimbledon in June and a jellyfish-themed outfit at the Australian Open in January, showing a consistent flair for bold sportswear [1, 2, 3]. At the French Open in May, she sported a black skirt with an Eiffel Tower-inspired look [2].
Osaka’s US Open victory over 101-ranked Zakharova marks her continued strong showing at Grand Slams, as the four-time major champion advances deeper into the tournament [1, 2].
