Celebrity Celebrity Belief & Identity Angel Reese Calls Out Critics of Her Met Gala Attendance During WNBA Preseason: 'I’m Not One-Dimensional' "Women don't have to be one-dimensional. They don't have to do one thing," the basketball player said By Danielle Jennings Danielle Jennings Danielle Jennings is a Writer/Reporter at PEOPLE, covering stories in Human Interest and Sports. She joins PEOPLE with over 15 years of experience as a journalist with an expertise in areas including Pop Culture, Politics, Hard News, Fashion, Beauty and Crime. Before joining PEOPLE she was a writer and digital editor at notable media outlets, including ABC News, The Shade Room, Madame Noire, Hello Beautiful and Brit + Co. People Editorial Guidelines Published on May 10, 2024 02:53PM EDT Angel Reese. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Not many people can say they spent their 22nd birthday walking the steps of the Met Gala, but WNBA star Angel Reese certainly can. Although, it seems that her appearance at fashion’s biggest night drew criticism from some who felt she should be focused on her game — and she recently took the time to address them. During a press conference for the Chicago Sky media day on Wednesday, May 8, Reese directly called out critics who took issue with her attending the Met Gala a day before the Sky played against the New York Liberty at Wintrust Arena. (A preseason game that Chicago won 101-53.) "A lot of people told me I shouldn't have went to the Met Gala, that I wasn't going to be focused playing against the runner-ups. And I went to the Met Gala, slayed the Met Gala in New York, came back, slayed against New York. It's what I do," Reese said when asked about the double standards for female athletes in comparison to her male peers. Shaquille O’Neal Reveals the First Thing He Told Angel Reese After the WNBA Draft (Exclusive) Angel Reese. Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Reese added that having layers is important for women and part of growing the WNBA. "I give a lot of confidence to so many different people, knowing I'm not one-dimensional. Women don't have to be one-dimensional. They don't have to do one thing. I think that's what's growing the game,” she said. On May 6, while attending the Met Gala, Reese wore a custom dress from 16Arlington by Marco Capaldo. The sparkly, mint-green gown featured a halter top with a deep V-neck and a sheer, floor-length skirt with feather details around the waist. Her long hair was swept back into a sleek ponytail. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Angel Reese. Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic Angel Reese Is ‘Super Excited’ for Her WNBA Debut and the ‘Impact’ of Her Star-Studded Draft Class The look was completed with a pair of Eva 75 Slingback heels that Stuart Weitzman customized in a seafoam green satin to match Reese's ethereal dress and adorned with over 600 crystals meticulously placed by hand. The Chicago Sky star celebrated her big night on X (formerly known as Twitter), writing, "Training camp in the morning, Met Gala at night, preseason game tomorrow. Just another day in the life for Angel Reese." Close