A historic Friday for the Atlanta guard.
It was a career and legendary night for Atlanta Dream player Allisha Gray at the All-Star Skills Challenge. Gray became the first player in WNBA history to win the Skills Challenge and 3-Point Contest in the same season.
Gray’s earnings from winning both competitions totaled $115,150. Winning each contest was major for Gray as she is having one of her better seasons. The 6-foot-0 guard out of South Carolina is currently averaging 15.5 points per game for the Dream this season.
Gray entered the skills competition as a favorite because of her dribbling and quickness when she has the ball in her hands. Gray is also known for her versatility and basketball IQ, and so she quickly set the pace in the initial rounds. Her ball-handling was fluid, her passes were pinpoint, and her shooting was on target.
In the final round, Gray faced a tough battle against Sophie Cunningham, but she managed to outshine her with her speed and accuracy. Gray defeated Cunningham in the final round with a time of 32.1 seconds to Cunningham’s 34.5 seconds. Gray’s final run was nearly flawless. She navigated the dribbling obstacles with ease, delivered crisp passes through tight targets, and sunk her three-point shot with confidence.
The 3-point contest, traditionally dominated by WNBA stars, saw Gray competing against some of the best sharpshooters in the game. Her participation alone was a testament to the evolving recognition of WNBA players’ skills. However, it was her performance that truly captivated audiences and left an indelible mark on the event.
Gray has been great shooting 3-pointers for the Dream this season as she is averaging 36% on the season. With a steely focus and impeccable form, Gray navigated through the rounds, displaying a consistent and impressive shooting rhythm. Her ability to maintain composure under pressure was evident as she battled through fatigue and the pressure of winning both events. Gray was very excited about winning both events and she plan on investing the money as well.
“It was very cool, and now I’m glad I accepted the call when they ask me to participate in both of them. It’s another 55K in my pocket, so I was excited about that. I was a little bit fatigued from the skills challenge, but I was able to lock in because I knew another 55K was on the line. With the extra 110K, I’m definitely going to invest my money some and I’m definitely excited about that,” said Gray.