Every year on the first Monday in May, the fashion and pop culture world`s attention turns to New York City for the Met Gala. This annual fundraising event draws together major figures from film, music, and, increasingly, sports.
At last year`s Met Gala, notable athletes included Stefon Diggs, Ben Simmons, Angel Reese, Lewis Hamilton, Venus Williams, and Nelly Korda, alongside former pros like Dwyane Wade, Maria Sharapova, and Serena Williams, who all made striking appearances.
Athletes have attended the event since the early 2000s, but their presence has grown significantly over time. They have evolved considerably from early appearances like former NFL player Jason Sehorn`s simple tuxedo in 2003 or Tom Brady`s black velvet look in 2006. Now, regulars such as Serena Williams, Wade, Odell Beckham Jr., Russell Westbrook, Naomi Osaka, and others are often recognized among the best-dressed attendees.
This increased attendance has also led to deeper involvement.
In February, it was announced that a select group of athletes would be part of this year`s Met Gala committee for the theme `Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.` LeBron James holds an honorary chair position, Lewis Hamilton is a co-chair, and Angel Reese, Sha`Carri Richardson, Simone Biles, and her husband, Jonathan Owens, are on this year`s host committee.
As we look forward to the 2025 Met Gala, let`s revisit some of the most memorable outfits worn by sports stars throughout the years.
2024
Lewis Hamilton truly embraced the `The Garden of Time` dress code for the 2024 Met Gala. He used his all-black Burberry ensemble to pay tribute to John Ystumllyn, one of the first Black gardeners in the U.K.
Upon closer inspection, floral designs adorn his coat, while a poem inspired by Ystumllyn`s life, `The Gardener` by Alex Wharton, is stitched inside. His gold, thorn necklace, paired with the look, represented “the pain through that slavery trade time,” as he shared with Vogue.
NBA star Ben Simmons perfectly embodied the `Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion` theme for the 2024 Met. His Thom Browne-designed outfit featured an oversized tartan coat, completed with a clock briefcase.
Angel Reese garnered significant attention not only for her distinctive outfit but also for her packed schedule over 24 hours. Reese began that Monday morning at training camp with the Chicago Sky, attended the Met Gala in the evening, and played in a preseason game the next day. The WNBA star maximized her busy day, looking chic in a custom sequined, seafoam green gown by 16Arlington.
2023
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is well-known for his bold fashion choices, both on and off the court. For the `Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty` theme, Gilgeous-Alexander wore a Thom Browne ensemble featuring a layered matching cardigan set over a tuxedo shirt and pants, finished with a classic black bow tie.
“You just want to get it right,” Gilgeous-Alexander commented to GQ about the outfit. “We spent a lot of time here today, but I`ve spent that time before. It`s not like I haven`t thought that much about an outfit [in the past].”
Dwyane Wade has been a frequent attendee at the Met Gala alongside his wife, actress Gabrielle Union. His 2023 look, however, was particularly well-received. The three-time NBA champion donned an all-black Prada suit, accessorized with jewelry from Tiffany & Co. He told GQ that his outfit was “giving a little Django.”
The 2023 Met Gala held special significance for WNBA star Brittney Griner, taking place just months after her release from Russian imprisonment in December 2022. Griner marked the occasion in a custom head-to-toe Calvin Klein outfit. Her monochromatic beige look included a sheer top beneath a matching coat and pants.
2022
Chloe Kim made a memorable debut at the 2022 Met Gala. The three-time Olympic gold medalist snowboarder impressed in a white Giambattista Valli Couture ball gown adorned with red feathers.
Speaking about her gown at the event, Kim shared with ExtraTV: “I just wanted to do a beautiful, big ball gown, and [Valli] is king of the ball gown, so I just had to and I was so excited when I saw this dress.”
Caroline Wozniacki and David Lee attended the 2022 Met Gala together. Tennis star Wozniacki wore a striking blue cutout dress by Christian Siriano with voluminous baby blue sleeves. Retired NBA All-Star Lee accompanied his wife in a classic black tuxedo.
2021
Naomi Osaka paid a beautiful tribute to her Haitian and Japanese heritage with her 2021 look. She collaborated with designer Nicolas Ghesquière and her sister Mari Osaka on the custom Louis Vuitton gown.
Her dress featured a patterned design in purple, blue, silver, and pink, accented by a red belt and a black ruffled cape. Hairstylist Marty Harper stated in a press release that Osaka`s hairstyle was inspired by “Haitian school girl style and Onna-Musha warriors of Japan.”
Serena Williams is known for taking fashion risks at the Met Gala. At the 2021 event, she wore a silver lace bodysuit by Gucci, topped with an ombre feather cape.
The retired tennis icon told E! News at the event that her look was “superhero-inspired.”
The 2021 Met Gala was truly memorable, showcasing many iconic looks, including this outstanding one from Simone Biles. Her 88-pound, three-piece ensemble, designed by Beckett Fogg and Piotrek Panszczyk, was inspired by showgirl Josephine Baker. The seven-time gold medalist`s dress was intricately hand-embellished with Swarovski crystals.
Choosing the most iconic Met Gala look for NBA star Russell Westbrook is challenging, but his 2021 appearance deserves recognition for his extra effort in dyeing his hair for the event. Westbrook wore a navy blue Ralph Lauren tuxedo and complemented the look with white stars dyed into his blue hair.
2019
Odell Beckham Jr.`s Met Gala style constantly evolves, but his 2019 look stands out as his boldest. Following the year`s theme, `Camp: Notes on Fashion,` he donned a sleeveless Thom Browne tuxedo jacket paired with a kilt.
“I told them no off the rip,” the former NFL receiver recalled about wearing the kilt. “I was like, `There`s no chance I`m wearing that. On the way here I was like, `Can you make sure they bring it just in case? I might just do it just to do it.`”
2018
Tom Brady is a familiar face at the Met Gala, having attended over a dozen times since 2006. While the seven-time Super Bowl champion has had many great outfits, his 2018 look was perhaps the most discussed. Brady`s attire aligned with the theme `Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.`
He wore a custom black Versace suit jacket featuring unique gold detailing that matched his then-wife Gisele Bündchen`s dress. Brady revealed at the event that Bündchen chose his coordinating outfit and only showed it to him in the car en route.
Shaun White first attended the Met Gala in 2014 in a classic black tuxedo. For the 2018 event, White decided to make a bolder statement. The three-time Olympic gold medalist snowboarder impressed in an embroidered green and gold jacket by Etro, paired with matching green pants.
2016
Maria Sharapova served a striking look in this red cutout dress. The retired tennis star collaborated with Colombian designer Juan Carlos Obando on the design. She also paired the dress with a bold gold earring, fitting the theme `Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology.`
“I love the feel of a simple, beautiful, altered slip dress, and this felt like a new take on a classic,” Sharapova told Vogue. “This was the very first dress I tried on, but it was black. We wanted it to be more vibrant, and [Obando`s] red palette really popped.”
2014
Dressed by Ralph Lauren, David Beckham wore a dinner blazer with black pants and a matching bow tie to complete his look. This outfit received considerable attention for how perfectly the retired soccer star coordinated it with his wife Victoria Beckham`s cream dress.
