Angel Reese departs The Mark Hotel prior to attending The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating the opening of “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” on Monday, May 6, 2024, in New York.
CJ Rivera/AP
Monday wasn’t typical for Sky rookie Angel Reese.
After spending the morning with her team at Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield for practice, the Sky forward left early for a “prior engagement.”
Coach Teresa Weathespoon held back on disclosing where Reese was headed, but said the team supported her. A short time later Reese shared on X, formerly Twitter, a short but very loud message.
“One thing about me,” Reese said. “I’m [going to] maximize my 24 hours.”
About three hours later, Reese emerged on the Met Gala red carpet wearing a plunging, sequin covered dress by the British designer 16 Arlington that featured a feathered mini skirt that flowed into a sheer, embellished layer that draped to the floor.
On her feet, she wore custom Stuart Weitzman pumps, which she paired with jewelry by New York designer Briony Raymond, Material Good, and Bernard James. Reese was styled by Vogue editor Naomi Elizée.
“I’ve always dreamed of this moment. Being here on my 22nd birthday is amazing,” she told Women’s Wear Daily as she left the Mark Hotel en route to the gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. “I look amazing. I feel beautiful and I feel sexy.”
Reese is the first WNBA rookie to attend the event and second WNBA player overall. Brittney Griner attend in 2023.
Sky co-owner Dwyane Wade also attended with his wife, actress and businesswoman Gabrielle Union. Other athletes attending this year’s Gala included Nets guard Ben Simmons and tennis stars Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova.
Reese continues to solidify herself as a multi-hyphenate woman in the sports space. She was among the top NIL earners during her senior year at LSU. One of those partnerships included a multiyear deal with Reebok. In a recent video, Reese detailed her choice to sign with Reebok over “so many other shoe companies,” she said in the video.
“They didn’t have a woman basketball player, a face,” Reese said. “So, I wanted to be that.”
Reese has an established connection to the fashion world’s premier event via Vogue. Two days after LSU lost to Iowa in the Elite Eight, Reese declared for the WNBA Draft in a profile written by the publication. Vogue Editor in Chief, Anna Wintour, is the chair of the Met Gala.
Monday night, Vogue documented Reese’s Met debut.
A test of how Reese will handle juggling being a professional athlete and a businesswoman will come Tuesday night when she suits up for the Sky’s preseason game against the Liberty.
Weatherspoon said Reese will be back and available for Tuesday night’s game. The Sky will be leaning on her with a lengthy injury report that includes rookie Kamilla Cardoso (shoulder) being out and forward Isabelle Harrison (knee) listed as questionable.