Chicago Sky rookie and former LSU women’s basketball star Angel Reese celebrated her 22nd birthday in grand fashion, attending the prestigious Met Gala on Monday. The event, themed “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” provided the perfect backdrop for Reese's special day, which included a memorable encounter with rapper Cardi B.

Cardi B greeted Reese at the event, sharing the moment on her Instagram story with the shoutout, “Say happy birthday to the one and only.” The birthday wishes from one of Reese's favorite artists made the day even more remarkable for the rising WNBA star, who expressed her excitement on social media.

“Wow! God is so good! Being able to play the game I love & live my dream in the fashion world all on my 22nd birthday is a blessing,” Reese said on X, formerly Twitter.

Reese, who was drafted No. 7 by the Sky, made her Met Gala debut in a turquoise sequin gown by British brand 16Arlington, styled by Vogue editor Naomi Elizée. Her outfit drew praise from the WNBA's official X account, highlighting her Met Gala attendance ahead of her preseason game against the New York Liberty on Tuesday.

 

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“Training camp in the morning, Met Gala at night, preseason game tomorrow. Just another day in the life for Angel Reese,” the official WNBA account said in a tweet.

The Met Gala, an annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, attracts A-list celebrities and fashion icons. This year, it featured stars like Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Jessica Parker and Zendaya, as reported via John-John Williams IV of The Baltimore Banner. Reese, known for her fashion sense, was one of the standout athletes at the event, alongside Venus and Serena Williams.

Angel Reese announced WNBA intentions in Vogue magazine

The LSU alumna and NCAA champion has a growing presence in the fashion world, who announced her intention to declare for the WNBA draft in  Vogue, a la Serena Williams, and turning heads at the WNBA Draft in a metallic, hooded gown. In the past she has said she would like to model if she didn’t play basketball.

I’ve always loved fashion and I’ve always loved modeling … being able to play the game that I love … it’s always something I’ve dreamed of,” Reese said, per Anni Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times.

The event was a fitting celebration for Reese, who shared the experience with her 3.1 million Instagram followers. She posted videos of her getting ready and boarding a private jet, documenting her first Met Gala experience. Her birthday celebration continued with a personalized cake, and she thanked her fans and supporters for making the day unforgettable.

Less than 24 hours after the Met Gala, Reese was back in Chicago for practice.

“I have an amazing team … my coaches allowing me to go to something like that,” Reese said. “Obviously I came to practice because that is my priority here … so I came to practice, I had my schedule and everything ready.”