The Pro Athletes Expected To Attend The 2025 Met Gala

The 2025 Met Gala is billed as fashion’s biggest night, with invitations going to A-listers in business, politics, entertainment and sports. Each year, the mega-watt guest list features pro athletes, including a few glam GOATS.

This year, Serena Williams, Angel Reese, Simone Biles and Lewis Hamilton are expected to be among the pro athletes attending the Met Gala, which gets underway at 6 p.m. with red carpet arrivals on Vogue’s website and its YouTube Channel.

LeBron James was set to serve as honorary chairman but bowed out of the event due to a knee injury. The Los Angeles Lakers star said his wife Savannah James would still attend.

Hamilton will co-chair along with Academy Award nominated actor Colman Domingo, rapper A$AP Rocky, and music producer Pharrell Williams. Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour will also serve as co-chair.

The Met Gala is a fundraiser for the Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The theme for the 2025 Met Gala is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” a shout out to Black Dandyism, a term explored in Monica Miller’s book “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.”

The exhibit will focus on Black style, with emphasis on menswear from the 18th Century to modern attire. Few do black Dandyism like some African American athletes who arrive for game-day as if it were a runway.

Celebrity stylist Courtney May dresses athletes for high-profile events and told ABC News that outfitting professional athletes comes with unique challenges. May had to enlist a Los Angeles shoemaker to design custom-sized 18 shoes to match a metallic Calvin Klein suite made for 6’9″ WNBA star Brittany Griner to attend the 2023 Met Gala, shortly after being released from a Russian prison.

Which athletes will show up at the 2025 Met Gala? There are always surprises but the following are some of the professional athletes you can expect to see at the 2025 Met Gala:

Formula One Driver: Lewis Hamilton

At the 2024 Met Gala, Hamilton wore custom Burberry. This year, Hamilton aims to surprise. Although Wintour’s influence and opinion weigh heavily on the event, she insists she doesn’t know what everybody will wear.

In an interview with ABC’s Good Morning America, Wintour said although she had not seen what Hamilton will be wearing, she’s not concerned about his style. “I trust Lewis. He knows what’s doing,” Wintour said.

Hamilton is not afraid of color or pattern. So expect the unexpected to be exquisite.

Olympics Legend: Simone Biles

Simone Biles performs in uniforms glittering with body bling. But the Met Gala is next level, even for an often bedazzled gymnast.

Biles, fresh off “Ridders Up” duties at the Kentucky Derby, hinted to People that she might be standing taller than usual at the Met Gala. “I’ll have to wear very high heels,” Biles said.

Biles also told People that she and her husband, Chicago Bears Safety Jonathan Owens, are not working with the same designer.

Olympics Medalist: Sha’Carri Richardson

Count on sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson wearing something a bit racy. Not since Florence Griffith Joyner (Flo-Jo) has a track star drawn as much attention to her sprinting attire. Richardson first attended a Met Gala in 2021, when she wore a black and red bustier leather gown by designer Theophilio, accessorized by her signature nails in red, black, gold, and white.

WNBA Forward: Angel Reese

WNBA star Angel Reese is part of the host committee and returns to the Met Gala after making her debut in 2024. Last year, Reese arrived in a low-plunging gown less than 24 hours before her first preseason game in the WNBA. The Bayou Barbie who rose to fame playing for LSU, teased that (via social media) she would be wearing designer Thom Browne.

LSU Basketball Star: Flau’jae Johnson

LSU basketball star and rapper Flau’Jae Johnson attended a pre-Gala party hosted by music producer BabyFace and Oscar-nominated actress Taraji P Henson. A newbie a the Met Gala, expect Johnson to bring Hip Hop flare to Dandyism.

Tennis Legend: Serena Williams

Williams is a veteran of the Met Gala. She served as co-chair in 2019, when the theme was “Camp: Notes on Fashion.”

Williams walked the Met Gala stairs twice during pregnancy, once when carrying her first child, daughter Olympia Ohanian and two years ago when pregnant with daughter Adira.

It’s no secret that Wintour loves tennis and is friends with Federer and the Williams sister. Federer served as Met Gala co-chair in 2023. Naomi Osaka was co-chair in 2021.

NFL Quarterback: Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson and his wife, Ciara, are regulars at the Met Gala. This year, Wilson and Ciara went with classic black-tie tailoring. Ciara’s dress was designed by LaQuan Smith.

NBA Hall Of Famer: Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Wade and his wife Gabrielle Union opted for classic black and white. Wade’s ensemble featured a be-jeweled vest. Union wore a full-length sleek black gown with a an elegant white train.

Former NFL Quarterback and Activist: Colin Kaepernick

Colin Kaepernick looked super fly with his 70s style afro. The former NFL quarterback wore a pink satin-lined cape over a checkered maroon suit.

Super Bowl MVP: Jalen Hurts

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts made his Met Gala debut accompanied by his wife, Bry Burrows. Hurts wore a black velvet Burberry suit and his wife wore a beaded gown.

Seven-time Grand Slam Champion: Venus Williams

Venus Williams is part of TNT Sports coverage of the upcoming French Open and she arrived at the Met Gala in Roland Garros green. An Ambassador for French label Lacoste, Venus looked ready to hit the courts in that tennis dress.

Other tennis stars who have attended the Met Gala include Maria Sharapova, Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez.