In 2023, Brittney Griner made history as the first WNBA player to attend the Met Gala after her release from a Russian prison, impressively dressed in a champagne-colored Calvin Klein ensemble crafted by Courtney Mays, a stylist revered in sports fashion.

Mays, known for her work with renowned athletes, explains the added challenges when designing for the physicality and dimensions of professional athletes like Griner, who stands at an impressive 6-foot-9. The Met Gala further complicates this process by imposing guidelines from Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who offers a curated list of designers for guests to choose from.

Mays reflected on her experience, stating, “It was a learning experience for me. I had a voice in that world, in a way, but also when Anna says: ‘I want you to wear this,’ you kind of have to go along with it.”

The fitting process for Griner took three weeks of intensive collaboration, including custom shoe designs by George Esquivel for her size 18 feet.

As sports gain prominence at the Met Gala, this year sees Lewis Hamilton, a star in Formula 1, co-chairing the event, while LeBron James takes on the honorary chair role. Other notable attendees include Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky and Olympic athletes Simone Biles and Sha’Carri Richardson.

Hamilton expressed his excitement, saying, “It’s a privilege to be able to continue to do stuff with fashion. It’s fun…” and later, Wintour remarked to “Good Morning America” about her anticipation for the designs, expressing trust in Hamilton’s choices.

The gala celebrates the launch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s spring costume exhibit titled “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” and aims for greater representation of athletes, particularly from the Black community, in fashion.

Mays emphasized the importance of diversity in style, looking to highlight all forms of representation at the event.

This coverage is affiliated with the Associated Press.