Contents
- 1 1. Chelsea Gray is from Hayward, California
- 2 2. St Mary’s High School retired Gray’s jersey this year
- 3 3. Played college basketball at Duke University
- 4 4. The first Duke women’s basketball player to play on the U.S. Olympic team
- 5 5. Chosen in the WNBA draft’s opening round.
- 6 6. Ranks 13th in WNBA history in career assists per game
- 7 7. Joined the ACC network as college basketball analyst in 2021
- 8 8. Gray is an activist for African Americans, Women and LGBTQ+
- 9 9. Inspired by 3 WNBA players, Cynthia Cooper, Ticha Penicheiro & Lisa Leslie
- 10 10. Averages 24 ppg, 7.7 apg, 4.3 rpg, 1.2 spg in the 2022 WNBA playoffs
1. Chelsea Gray is from Hayward, California
Chelsea Nichelle Gray was born October 8, 1992 to James and Vickey Gray. She has an older brother named Javon. Gray also has a cousin named Alexis Gray-Lawson. Lawson played college basketball at California and was drafted by the Washington Mystics.
Gray played two sports growing up both soccer and basketball. She felt her love for basketball was stronger than for soccer so she had to make a decision, the right decision. Other than basketball, Gray loves to cook and write poetry. Gray finds writing to be therapeutic.
2. St Mary’s High School retired Gray’s jersey this year
The high school out of Stockton is home to many elite athletes. Gray is one of the most recognized female athletes from St. Mary’s. While attending and playing for the girl’s basketball team, Gray led her team to two state titles in her junior and senior year (2009 & 2010).
In 2010, Gray was named California Miss Basketball. She was chosen as a Gatorade Player of the Year and a finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year Award.
3. Played college basketball at Duke University
From 2010- 2014 Gray played for the blue devils coached by Joanne McCallie. She fractured her knee in February 2013, which cut her junior year short. The injury still affected Gray into her senior year. She only played the first half of her final season. However, she was still drafted.
Nonetheless, Gray had an amazing career at Duke. She helped Duke to two ACC championships, three regular season titles and three NCAA elite eights. Gray received many awards for her achievements including, All-rookie team her freshman year and All-ACC first team honors sophomore and junior year.
In Duke’s record book you can find Gray’s name multiple times. For starters, she is 25th in scoring with 1,210 points, 4th in free throw percentage with 81.4%, 2nd in assists with 545 and 3rd in steals 298.
Gray is the first blue devil to record two triple doubles and holds the school record for assist per game with 5 apg.
4. The first Duke women’s basketball player to play on the U.S. Olympic team
As one of the top point guards and great overall player she is, Gray received the opportunity to play for Team USA in 2018. She has been playing since and doing what she does best. Gray won a gold medal in 2021 with the USA women’s 5×5 team.
5. Chosen in the WNBA draft’s opening round.
The Connecticut Sun selected Gray as the #11 pick in the 2014 draft. Even after being injured throughout her last two years of college she managed to accomplish what most believe is impossible. In 2016, the Suns traded her to the Los Angeles Sparks. While on the Sparks Gray showed the world just a spurt of what she would bring to the league. She won her first WNBA championship with the Sparks in 2016. The same year Gray was traded she was blessed with a ring.
Throughout her WNBA career Gray received multiple honors and many more to go. She was honored in 2017 on the All- WNBA Second Team and All- WNBA First Team in 2019. Gray is also a 4x WNBA All-Star (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021).
6. Ranks 13th in WNBA history in career assists per game
Gray loved to pass since she began playing basketball. In her backyard, she would create her own passing drills even though she had no teammate to pass to. She perfected her passing skills throwing behind the back passes to the pole that held her hoop up.
Growing up Gray watched NBA players Magic Johnson and Jason Williams. Both Johnson and Williams are known for their passing abilities. She watched these players and copied their art of passing, learning the court vision and adding these skills to her game.
Gray is 21st in total assists but her average per game is higher than the players above her on this list. By the end of the career she will be higher up in the rankings and go down in history as the “point gawd” a title she has already received.
7. Joined the ACC network as college basketball analyst in 2021
The Duke star participated in game coverage and a segment called “Ladies Night”. The Atlantic Coast Conference is partnered with ESPN for the sports network. Gray came full circle as Duke is one of the games she covered. Although she never studied broadcasting or any type of communications Gray received the job because of her basketball resume. She clearly knows a lot about the game making it easy for her to talk basketball.
8. Gray is an activist for African Americans, Women and LGBTQ+
Identifying with all groups Gray proudly supports and takes action towards the equality of minorities. Gray uses her position to speak up for her people. She has done speaking events, for example Sparks’ Authenticity Panel for Pride month. Not only does she speak for pride events but she continues to speak of police brutality and the importance of black lives. Gray also serves homeless women and children.
The Chelsea Gray Assist for Equality raised money to mobilize voters. For each assist during the 2020 season Gray donated $50 and she finished with 116 assist. For this program she partnered with Equality California, the largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization. She also partnered with Rock the Vote, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the political power of young people.
Gray and her wife Tipesa Moorer, former California State University Long Beach women’s basketball player, both work to create a better environment for future generations. Bettering each other with intellectual conversations on racism, equality and more, the two plan to become role models.
9. Inspired by 3 WNBA players, Cynthia Cooper, Ticha Penicheiro & Lisa Leslie
As a child Gray hung up the jerseys of all three of these players in her room. She admired each for a different reason. Cooper, is her favorite player because Gray was a huge Houston Comet fan. She claimed to love her game all around. Penicheiro is one of the players she watched along with Magic Johnson and Jason Williams. Gray admired her passing ability. She has had a huge influence on Gray and her game because of the plays Gray mimicked as a kid. Lastly, Leslie is simply a player every female basketball player must give credit to. She paved the way with her dominating skills.
10. Averages 24 ppg, 7.7 apg, 4.3 rpg, 1.2 spg in the 2022 WNBA playoffs
After game four of the 2022 semi finals Gray and the Aces move on to the 2022 WNBA finals. Gray is currently breaking records in the playoffs. She continues to have an amazing post season performance.
Scoring 31 points and dishing out 10 assist Gray became the first player in WNBA history to have 30+ points and 10+ assist in the playoffs. She is the second player in WNBA history to have 20+ points and 10+ assist in two games in the playoffs.
In the playoffs Gray’s field goal percentage is 62% which is the highest ever in the post season for a guard. Gray has made 22 threes this postseason tying her head coach Becky Hammon’s record for most in franchise history. She is currently ranked 9th in history.
With 46 assist in the 2022 playoffs Gray breaks Hammon’s record (41 in 2008 with San Antonio). She now has the most assist in a single postseason in franchise history.
