Q&A: Allisha Gray on teaming up with Brittney Griner and WNBA's WNBA's mentorship program

USA Today

01-05-2025

Q&A: Allisha Gray on teaming up with Brittney Griner and WNBA's WNBA's mentorship program
Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray's million-watt smile and her warm personality are impossible to miss.
Gray is starting her ninth season in the WNBA and third with the Dream. After winning a championship with coach Dawn Staley in college, she turned her sights to the pro level, stacking the accolades along the way. Gray is a two-time WNBA All-Star and also won Rookie of the Year in 2017. She even did something last season that no other WNBA player has ever done: win the WNBA 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge in the same night.
By Gray's admission, the honors on her resumé are only a small portion of her story. The South Carolina native says that most people don't know the real her. They only know the basketball side, and that if people really knew her story, they would understand just how resilient she's been through every obstacle in her life. It's why she's recently partnered with the WNBA and its Changemaker Collective to be part of VOICEINSPORT (VIS), a platform dedicated to increasing access, visibility and virtual mentorship for young girls.
"I just feel like I can help out a lot of girls and women," Gray told For The Win. "I feel like I'm a positive person. I've been through a lot. I'm pretty sure what they've gone through mentally and physically on the court, I can help them feel comfortable and overcome it."
Ahead of the 2025 WNBA season, For The Win sat down with the Dream star to discuss why mentoring young athletes means so much to her, how it feels to have Brittney Griner as her teammate, and so much more from her packed offseason.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
Why was it important for you to join the WNBA's VIS initiative?
I realized being a woman athlete, it's important to have mentors growing up ...
It's always comfortable having that person you can talk to because you don't always want to talk to your parents about everything. So, it's always good to have that non-biased person that you can talk to, and they keep it real with you.
What was the most underrated part of Unrivaled?
I'll probably say the competitiveness. The competitiveness was very fun. I enjoyed the trash talk and just being competitive and going out there to compete and playing hard every night.Shoot, I done played against everybody so none of them was really a surprise. Somebody that's working on their trash talk that [Courtney Williams] is helping is [Napheesa Collier].
Has it sunk in yet that Brittney Griner joined the Atlanta Dream?
It's cool. I mean, I've known B.G. for quite a while. So, I always had a relationship with her through USA Basketball and stuff like that.
But, I mean, I'll have to see her in training camp, on the same court as me ― on the same side as me ― for me to let it sink in that she's my teammate. I know she's my teammate, but it's just ... I'll feel more settled in when I see her in the uniform. So, that's exciting.
How did it feel being one of the first to own A'ja Wilson's A'One shoes?
That's just the perks of being the best friend of the person of the shoe. You know I'll take my perks, and I really love the shoe. The shoe is very comfortable. You know, I just got little perks, and I love the perks
Are you aware of people calling you adorable, and where does that joy come from?
I'm just a smiling, happy person ... I'm me. I always smiled and cheesed.
Growing up, I was a smiling person. But I am aware of all the "cute" and "adorable" things that people say. It's funny, but yeah. I've always been like this ― a giggly person.
We heard you're a picky eater. What's your food hot take?
I'm a texture person. It is a lot of foods out there that I don't like. I stick with the main food groups of chicken, salmon steak. That's pretty much my three go-to meat-wise.
How would you describe your relationship with Rhyne Howard using a song or food?
Food-wise, I'm going five-star meal ― shoot, to describe our friendship. We have a great friendship. I'll say a good, nice steak at a Michelin-star restaurant.