Designing women of the WNBA

The WNBA is set to unveil a redesigned uniform next week, and it’s one that adds a dash of fashion to the league’s 13 teams.

An ardent basketball fan, the Mirror managed to track down an NBA spokesman in advance of Tuesday’s announcement to get the details.

“There are three big differences from the uniform that’s been in use since 2002,” said Christopher Arena, vice president of apparel, sporting goods and basketball partnerships. “We changed the neckline to more of a Y-shape that follows the clavicle, and we changed the back to a racer back design that’s more like a women’s sports bra.”

But the most noticeable difference will be the side panels of the jerseys, which will be emblazoned with all-over patterns based on elements of each team’s logo.

“It’s sort of tribal in nature, like a tattoo that you would use to symbolize who you are,” Arena said. “We thought it would be a great way to connect fans to the game and for the teams to be more unique in their uniforms.”

The Los Angeles Sparks uniform, for example, has a recurring spark pattern running from pit to hip, the San Antonio Silver Stars’ jersey serves up a scattering of stars and the Chicago Sky features an abstract design based on the Windy City’s skyline. (The Indiana Fever’s choice of a pinstripe seemed a bit odd, though — as if someone in the head office had been fighting a fever of her own on decision day.)

Another departure from seasons past is the return to the tucked-in top. “These jerseys are designed to be tucked in,” Arena said. “That’s one of the responses we got from players.”

Arena said the goal of the new uniforms was to inject a subtle sense of style into a game “that is essentially played in a tank top and shorts” as the league heads into its 11th season on May 19.

It’s a far cry from some of the ideas bandied about for the inaugural WNBA uniforms — concepts that included dresses, tunics and the dreaded “skort.”

adam.tschorn@latimes.com