On Monday in New York, the stars were out on the floral carpet for the 2025 Met Gala, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Several athletes joined the parade of celebrities in bespoke fashions.
The theme of the event is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” in line with the new exhibit at the Met’s Costume Institute. In line with the theme, the gala’s dress code is “Tailored for You.”
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As one of the event’s co-chairs, British racer Lewis Hamilton showed up earlier than many and showed out, wearing a well-tailored cream suit with a matching hat.
(Photo by Michael Buckner/Penske Media via Getty Images)
(Michael Buckner via Getty Images)
Monday’s event was missing one notable face, with LeBron James announcing that he would not be able to attend due to a knee injury he sustained during the NBA playoffs. James was an honorary chair for the event; his wife Savannah will still be in attendance.
But plenty of other athletes had a chance to enter the world of high fashion. Simone Biles and her husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens, were spotted at the Carlyle Hotel before making their way to the museum. Biles wore a short blue dress with a striking collar, flower details and a long train, while Owens wore a white suit with embroidered details and fringed cuffs.
(Photo by Lanna Apiskuh/WWD via Getty Images)
(WWD via Getty Images)
Chicago Sky star Angel Reese, who made her Met Gala debut last year, leveled up this year. The 22-year-old forward wore a sleek, stunning black-and-white outfit, with everything from the collar details to the slicked back hair keeping with the event’s theme.
Serena Williams, a Met Gala veteran, wore a stunning satin dress with a sheer panel and a 1920s-style updo.
Venus Williams went green for her outfit, with a polo-style collared shirt, a high-low tennis skirt and a dramatic overcoat — with plenty of sparkle.
Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, Met Gala regulars, were spotted on the red carpet in stylish black-and-white garb. The couple’s complementary outfits included a classy sequined vest for Wade, and a matching satin headpiece on Union.
The Met Gala also had a pair of WNBA champions in attendance, with New York Liberty stars Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu gracing the carpet with their fits. Stewart’s jaunty curl, Ionescu’s diamond jewelry and Jones’ sky-high hairdo were all eye-catching looks from the reigning champs. Clara Wu Tsai, co-owner of the team, joined the three WNBA stars in attending.
Colin Kaepernick went with red plaid for the event, wearing a suit with a matching cape and a diamond bird pin on his lapel. His partner Nessa Diab went with an all black outfit, with a cropped down cover-up and a corset peaking out of the bottom.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 05: (L-R) Nessa and Colin Kaepernick attend the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
(Dimitrios Kambouris via Getty Images)
LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson also made an appearance, showing up to her first Met Gala with a show-stopping black-and-white dress.
True to form, Spike Lee couldn’t let his New York Knicks fandom rest for even one night. Though the director opted for the Met Gala instead of the Knicks’ playoff game in Boston, he showed up at the event with a black suit, jazzed up with a special Knicks hat and matching orange glasses.
Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson went for a bold look at the event: The 25-year-old receiver showed out for the event with a tastefully tailored gray suit.
Justin Jefferson (center) poses with fashion designers Dao-Yi Chow (L) and Maxwell Osborne (R) at the Met Gala. (Photo by Savion Washington/Getty Images)
(Savion Washington via Getty Images)
Otherwise, it was a quieter night for the representatives from the NFL: Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley opted for a more basic outfit, wearing a simple black tuxedo and bow tie.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow also kept it relatively simple, with a slate-colored double-breasted suit alongside some shades and Gucci sneakers.