Angel Reese attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue) (Cindy Ord/MG24 via Getty Images)

The Met Gala, Vogue’s annual celebration of fearless fashion, was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on Monday night. It’s a big night for fashion and celebrities, which include a number of athletes. Tom Brady, Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook, Simone Biles, Carmelo Anthony and other major sports stars have been invited in the past.

The theme for 2024 was “Garden of Time,” to celebrate the opening of the “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” exhibit at the Met. Let’s see how this year’s chosen athlete-stars (the gala is by invitation only) interpreted that theme.

It seems fitting to start with Angel Reese, the college basketball star who was drafted by the Chicago Sky in late April and is currently one of the biggest stars on the planet. She celebrated her 22nd birthday on Monday by making her Met Gala debut in a stunning low-cut seafoam green gown adorned with an ostrich feather tutu and embroidered tulle.

Angel Reese attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue) (Arturo Holmes/MG24 via Getty Images)
Serena Williams is retired from tennis, but not fashion. She was a goddess swathed in gold lamé.

Serena Williams at the 2024 Met Gala: “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images) (Gilbert Flores via Getty Images)
Her sister Venus Williams was also wearing gold, but her dress was made of sequin paillettes the size of a quarter.

Venus Williams attends the 2024 Costume Institute Benefit for “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images) (Taylor Hill via Getty Images)
Lewis Hamilton looked vaguely like a villain from “The Matrix” in his all-black look, complete with a black coat embossed with flowers.

Lewis Hamilton attending the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala 2024 in New York, USA. Picture date: Monday May 6, 2024. (Photo by Matt Crossick/PA Images via Getty Images) (Matt Crossick – PA Images via Getty Images)
Stefon Diggs looked stylish and comfortable in a double-breasted wide-leg suit made entirely of black sequins.

Stefon Diggs attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue) (Dimitrios Kambouris via Getty Images)
Pro golfer Nelly Korda made her Met Gala debut in a gorgeous dress encrusted with red fabric flowers.

Nelly Korda attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images) (Dia Dipasupil via Getty Images)
Dwyane Wade appeared in a lavender suit next to his wife, Gabrielle Union, who was in a gorgeous fishtail gown with a mermaid-inspired color palette.

Gabrielle Union, left, and Dwyane Wade attend The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating the opening of the “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” exhibition on Monday, May 6, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Odell Beckham Jr. did not disappoint in a cropped blazer embroidered with leaves, vines and birds.

Odell Beckham Jr. attends The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue) (Dimitrios Kambouris via Getty Images)
The most talked-about look of the night came from Ben Simmons. He’s still playing for the Brooklyn Nets (though you’re forgiven if you hadn’t noticed), but since they’re not in the playoffs he was free to attend. He came solo, wearing a black suit and black coat with panels of plaid fabric at the top and a vine down the side. The outfit wasn’t bad, but his literal interpretation of the “Garden of Time” theme involved a clock briefcase.

Ben Simmons at the 2024 Met Gala: “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty Images) (Lexie Moreland via Getty Images)
Ben Simmons carrying a clock briefcase? The jokes made themselves.

Serena Williams Says Getting ‘Ghosted’ by a Guy at Age 20 Inspired Her to Win: ‘I Can Be Vengeful’

“When he ghosted me I used that as an opportunity to say, ‘he’s gonna regret this for the rest of his life,’ Williams said

Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty

Serena Williams
Serena Williams is considered by many to be the greatest tennis player of all time — but even that couldn’t stop her from dealing with getting “ghosted.”

In her newly released ESPN docuseries, Williams opened up about that moment and how it pushed her even harder on the court.

In the second episode of In the Arena: Serena Williams, the tennis icon reveals that when she was 20, a guy she was dating disappeared without explanation. “It was the first relationship that I had ever had, but I was in my 20s, so you know, whatever…and then he ghosts me, I got ghosted,” she said.

Williams continued, adding that she “used” the moment as fuel for her tennis game. “And it wasn’t even that serious, but it was like I used that and I made it way more serious than what it was. So, when he ghosted me, I used that as an opportunity to say, ‘He’s gonna regret this for the rest of his life.’ That was just the motivation I needed, just the excuse I used to go the extra mile.”

“I’m gonna make sure that this person never forgets me. I’m gonna make sure that this person sees me everywhere for the rest of their life. I can be vengeful,” she said.