By 
It is well beyond time to put some respect on Allisha Gray’s name. Actually, should I say Goggle Lish; or Gold Medal Lish? Or the newest addition, All-Star Lish? Gray has been an impact player since being drafted 4th overall by the Wings in 2017 after a successful collegiate career at both North Carolina and South Carolina. She won Rookie of the Year averaging 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. As seasons went along, more players were added to the mix, and it felt like she was put on the back burner as time went on. Whether it be Liz Cambage and Skylar Diggins-Smith, or Arike Ogunbowale, it seemed there was always a player that was more valued. After averaging 11 shot attempts per game her rookie season, the next two she averaged less than eight, and the following two less than 10. If you watched the Wings last season, you could see the inconsistency in the offense, and just the overall confusion of the roster.
Fans had been clamoring for Allisha to find a new team for years. Remember when she won a Gold Medal with the 3×3 team in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and her head coach said she needed to show she could play 5-on-5 basketball? Crazy. So, when Gray requested a trade, people immediately got excited about where she could land, and the potential everyone but the Wings organization could see. The news broke that she would be joining Rhyne Howard and Cheyenne Parker in Atlanta and there was instant excitement.
Fast forward to July 8th, Allisha Gray is averaging a career-high in points, assists, free throw attempts per game, and field goal percentage. She’s narrowly off doing the same in rebounds, so do with that what you will. Gray has always been elite on the defensive end. She has tremendous instincts, whether it be in passing lanes, or timing the offensive player’s move. She’s able to contain anyone on the perimeter defensively with her lateral quickness, and quick hands.
Offensive Jump
Her aggressiveness in getting to the rim and drawing fouls has been especially impressive to me. She’s shooting nearly five more 2-point attempts than she did last season, with nearly a 10% jump in efficiency. Rounding up, she averages six free throw attempts per game, which is top five in the league. She’s attempting fewer three-pointers this season, which is a testament to the freedom and confidence she’s playing with. Her ability to put the ball on the floor and create with more opportunity has been fun to watch. The way Gray has finished through contact with any kind of angle has been incredible, and she’s always been a blur in transition. She’s constantly moving so she scores in many ways, making her dangerous with or without the ball. Not enough players are a threat off the ball, Allisha certainly is. Gray has done a stellar job of creating for others after drawing a second defender this season. That aspect has been important for many reasons, but especially since Aari McDonald and Danielle Robinson went down early this season. The chemistry with Gray, Rhyne, and fellow all-star Parker is continuing to flourish with each game. She’s exhibited the ability to be efficient as the pick-and-roll ball handler and make decisions out of a variety of offensive sets.
https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1661196740169457664?s=20
https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1674960734889844736?s=20
If you follow Allisha Gray off the court, you know just how entertaining and confident she is. She’s an unbelievably easy player to root for; she is finally getting her deserved flowers, and she’s only going to continue to thrive. Watching her as a first or second option, a true focal point of an offense has been fascinating.
By 
