Former LSU basketball star and top pick in this year’s WNBA draft, Angel Reese, took some time away from her new team to celebrate her birthday at the Met Gala in Manhattan.
The WNBA rookie showed up at the event in a dress by 16Arlington and was one of several athletes to appear at the New York City event.
Reese posed for photos on the main carpet and quickly earned several posts on social media from SportsCenter, the WNBA, and other accounts.
While speaking with Women’s Wear Daily, she shared that she was happy to celebrate her birthday in style.
“I’m just excited to see everyone’s outfit. Everyone looks amazing here,” Reese told Women’s Wear Daily before heading to the gala. “I’m just excited. I’ve always dreamed of this moment, so being here on my 22nd birthday is amazing.”
Reese was the seventh overall pick of the Chicago Sky in this year’s WNBA draft, which she declared for after falling short in this year’s NCAA tournament.
On Friday, the 2023 NCAA Champion appeared in her first WNBA game when she took the court for preseason action against the Minnesota Lynx. She tallied 13 points and nine rebounds.
“I’m really hard on myself, so I didn’t feel like I had the best game,” Reese told WGN News. “I didn’t feel like I was super efficient, but I got to the line. But it was my first [game], so I kind of got to just kind of groove with it. Obviously, room for improvement. I feel like, defensively, I can be better for sure, but I feel like I did a great job just being able to step up to the plate.”