Basketball Star Angel Reese Makes Her Met Gala Debut on Her 22nd Birthday — with a 'Preseason Game Tomorrow'

The 'Bayou Barbie' showed she's one to watch on and off the court

Angel Reese, the LSU basketball star who recently became a member of the WNBA's Chicago Sky, made her Met Gala debut on May 6 — and her look is a slam-dunk.

Reese, who also celebrated her 22nd birthday at the event, wore a 16Arlington by Marco Capaldo gown. The sparkly, mint-green dress featured a halter top with a deep V-neck and a sheer, floor-length skirt with feather details around the waist. Her long hair was swept back into a sleek ponytail.

This special occasion, of course, required a special pair of shoes too. Stuart Weitzman customized its Eva 75 Slingback heels in a seafoam green satin to match Reese's ethereal dress, plus adorned the shoes with over 600 crystals meticulously placed by hand.

The WNBA player celebrated her big night on X (formerly known as Twitter), writing, "Training camp in the morning, Met Gala at night, preseason game tomorrow. Just another day in the life for Angel Reese."

Reese, whose nickname during college was the "Bayou Barbie," has been making a name for herself in the fashion space. The forward made a fashion splash back in April at the WNBA draft, where she was selected by the Chicago Sky with the seventh pick. For her big night, she wore a shimmery black and silver gown with a hood, deep scoop neckline and an open back feature.

In May 2023, she posed for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and this April, she announced her decision to enter the WNBA draft in an article and photoshoot for Vogue. “I didn’t want anything to be basic,” she told the outlet about how she announced the news.

“I’ve done everything I wanted to in college,” she explained of her decision to go pro. “I’ve won a national championship, I’ve gotten [Southeastern Conference] Player of the Year, I’ve been an All-American. My ultimate goal is to be a pro — and to be one of the greatest basketball players to play, ever. I feel like I'm ready.”

Related: All About the 2024 Met Gala, from the Co-Chairs to the Theme

As for her fashion style, she told the outlet that she’s a “girly girl” but still a “killer on the court.”

In June 2023, the then-newly minted national champion opened up to PEOPLE about how, at times, she felt “overwhelmed” by the attention on her, but she mostly saw it as a positive.

"It's a blessing, honestly. I've kind of embraced it. People are watching me," she explained. "I mean, it's a fast life I'm living. I think I have to mature quickly."

The 2024 Met Gala’s dress code is themed around the Costume Institute’s exhibit “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” with attendees dressing for the theme “The Garden of Time." The exhibit itself features 250 items that span from the 17th to the 21st century.

Jennifer Lopez, Chris Hemsworth, Zendaya and Bad Bunny joined Vogue editor Anna Wintour as the night’s hosts.

See all of PEOPLE’s Star-Studded Met Gala Coverage in One Place!

There is a long history of athletes at the Met Gala: Serena Williams, Megan Rapinoe, Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka, Suni Lee and Lewis Hamilton are just some of the sports stars who have attended in the past. 

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