Angel Reese responds to criticism about her attendance at the Met Gala the night before an important Chicago Sky game. During a press conference, the 22-year-old athlete said, “A lot of people told me I shouldn’t have gone to the Met Gala, that I wouldn’t be focused playing against the runner-ups.” She went on to say, “I went to the Met Gala, slayed at the Met Gala in New York, came back, slayed against New York. Like, it’s what I do.” This statement highlights Reese’s confidence in balancing her celebrity appearances with her basketball performance.
The Chicago Sky’s win against the 2023 WNBA runner-ups occurred just one night after Angel Reese attended the Met Gala at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday, May 6. Embracing the theme of the Costume Institute’s “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” exhibit and the night’s “Garden of Time” dress code, Reese dazzled on the red carpet in a mint green 16Arlington gown designed by Marco Capaldo.
Her dress’ V-neck bodice and sheer skirt featured intricate floral designs, while the waistline was covered in fluffy feathers. In addition to rocking a matching pair of mint green Stuart Weitzman heels, Reese completed her look with several pieces of silver jewelry, natural glam makeup and a slicked-back ponytail.
Her ability to jump from attending the Met to dominating on the basketball court is something Reese said she shouldn’t be criticized for. “I give a lot of confidence to so many different people, and knowing, like, I’m not one-dimensional. Women don’t have to be one-dimensional. They don’t have to do one thing,” she said during this week’s press conference, adding that she thinks the league’s multifaceted players are “what’s growing the game.”
She continued: “People love me off the court, too. They love me because I am who I am, and I speak on things that a lot of people may be scared to speak on or stand up on. So, [I’m going to] just continue to do that, even on the bad days, even on the days that people may hate me. I’m just going to continue to keep being me.”
Reese recently announced her decision to enter the WNBA draft after a standout college basketball career at Louisiana State University. In an interview with Vogue in April, she mentioned, “I’ve accomplished everything I set out to do in college.” She highlighted her national championship win, being named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, and earning All-American honors as key achievements. “My ultimate goal is to become a professional player and one of the greatest to ever play the game,” she added. “I believe I’m ready for the next step.”
She was selected by the Chicago Sky at the WNBA Draft on April 16, ranking as the No. 7 overall pic. The team’s Tuesday game against the New York Liberty marked one of Reese’s first games with the team before the 2024 WNBA regular season kicks off on May 14.
