WNBA Stars Shine at the Met Gala
Sabrina Ionescu approached the Met Gala on Monday with a mix of excitement and anticipation as she prepared for the prestigious event at The Surrey, a high-end hotel on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, alongside her Liberty teammates, Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones. As WNBA champions, the trio, along with Liberty owner Clara Wu Tsai, is no stranger to public attention, yet the Met Gala represents a unique level of celebrity.
The Pinnacle of Fashion
The Met Gala stands as a hallmark of the fashion world, drawing an array of stars from various fields, including fashion, art, sports, and culture. Each year, on the first Monday of May, New York City transforms into a gathering place for A-list celebrities, all converging at the largest art museum in the Americas. The event is notoriously exclusive, with a ticket price soaring to $75,000 for those without an invitation. “You hear about it,” Stewart remarked, reflecting on the significance of their attendance, “and we were able to actually be a part of it.”
A Growing Presence in Women’s Basketball
This year marked the third consecutive Met Gala appearance for WNBA players. Brittney Griner made history in 2023 as the first player from the league to attend the event, just months after her release from a Russian prison, while Angel Reese made her debut at the gala last year. The presence of the Liberty players is seen as a reflection of the increasing visibility of women’s basketball. “Attending the Met Gala signifies that we are entering a space of recognition and that the game is evolving,” Jones stated. “I’m thrilled to be part of the WNBA during this era, where we can engage in such exciting events and gain acknowledgment, showing that female basketball players can access the same spaces as our male counterparts.”
A Day to Remember
The day unfolded like a whirlwind for the trio. They arrived at the hotel around 9 a.m. but did not step onto the blue carpet, which leads to the museum’s iconic entrance, until after 5 p.m. Each athlete donned custom couture outfits crafted by designer Sergio Hudson, with styling by Courtney Mays, embodying the gala’s theme: “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” The experience of walking the carpet was both thrilling and nerve-wracking, with flashing cameras capturing their every move as they paused at designated spots along the way.
Star-Studded Interactions
At the top of the steps, the WNBA stars were welcomed by Pharrell Williams and Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour. Once inside, they explored a new exhibit focused on black dandyism, set to open to the public shortly. The players mingled with other attendees, with Stewart expressing her enthusiasm about meeting icons such as Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, and Wintour. She even invited Anne Hathaway to attend a Liberty game this season. Ionescu, on the other hand, was thrilled to meet Omar Sy, known for his role in Netflix’s “Lupin,” and also encountered Serena Williams and Simone Biles, whom she referred to as “female icons” she has long admired.
A Memorable Evening
Jones engaged in lively conversations with celebrities like Megan Thee Stallion, Zendaya, and Coco Jones. “I was talking to everybody,” Jones shared, recalling her experience. “Honestly, I was walking around the cocktail session just yapping.” The event transitioned to a larger hall for dinner, featuring performances by Usher and Stevie Wonder. Overall, the night was nothing short of extraordinary. “The best part was being able to share this experience with my teammates and Clara,” Ionescu reflected. “It was beautiful from start to finish. I was just happy to be there, surrounded by all the influential people I usually see on TV—actors, musicians, artists, designers—each leaving their mark in their respective fields, which made the evening incredibly special.”
