The Aces had a strong start to their match against the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday. In the first quarter, they went up 29-9, holding their opponents to 9.1% from the field goal range (or 1-10).
Towards the end of the quarter, the Aces managed to easily secure the ball for their next possessions. Chelsea Gray had the ball, and from beyond the 3-point arc, made her shot. That 3-pointer went in.
After another miss from the Mercury, the Aces secured possession once again. The crowd at Michelob Ultra Arena erupted as they moved the ball around, eventually making its way back to Gray. She took another shot from beyond the arc, and when it landed in the basket, the crowd roared with excitement. With those back-to-back 3-pointers, Gray helped the Aces get up by 20 and win the game by 48 points.
It takes a lot to earn a nickname, especially something with “God” or “Gawd” within it. For Gray, the nickname “Point Gawd” comes from years of hard work, determination, and staying healthy.
The ability to call plays and guide the team to a scoring play is no easy feat. To do that while also making sure the ball stays moving is even more impressive. However, Gray’s play-making abilities transcend the typical point-guard requirements.
Gray is known not only for her ability to direct the Aces but also for her unique passes. From behind-the-back passes to no-look passes, Gray’s versatile assists are one of the defining aspects of her game.
And recently, Gray made some history. First, she passed head coach Becky Hammon for all-time franchise assists. Then, she became the third player to hit 4,500 points and 2,000 assists. She tied for most 3-pointers in a game with nine against the Portland Fire in their first matchup in June. Most recently, she scored the eighth most points in franchise history.
“We talk about A’ja [Wilson] not sleeping on her greatness,” Hammon told reporters in their June matchup against the Dallas Wings. “We don’t want to sleep on Chelsea’s greatness either, because what she does is special, and in a way, generational.”
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In the overtime victory against the Chicago Sky, Gray came in clutch with multiple shots in the last two minutes of overtime, including a jumpshot that had an injured Wilson on her feet. She ended the game with 18 points, four rebounds, six assists and two steals.
“If you look at her whole career, that’s just who she is,” veteran Jewell Loyd told reporters after the Aces-Sky match. “I think today in shootaround, we talked about no matter where you are, no matter who’s in the room, you be who you are, and that’s who Chelsea is.”
Despite falling to the Indiana Fever in Sunday night’s showdown, Gray put up a similar stat line with four rebounds, six assists and two steals. She scored 10 points and went 6-6 from the free throw line.
After a few days off, the Aces took on the Portland Fire at the Moda Center on Thursday. Gray played a critical role in their 88-80 win. She had seven assists, which helped Wilson get to 32 points in her return from injury. She also managed eight points in their win.
Gray also played a pivotal role in the 106-58 victory against the Phoenix Mercury. Not only did she score 15 points (including back-to-back 3-pointers), but she also had 11 assists and a rebound, with a plus/minus of +42.
Jackie Young and Stephanie Talbot also had no-look passes in this match, taking inspiration from Gray.
“I think the greatest ability of a great player is to make the ones around you great, and she has that ability in a team sport,” Hammon told reporters after their match against the Mercury. “That’s the ultimate, to me, compliment, is that you raise everybody else’s level. Tonight I was just really proud of the way they shared the ball. 30 assists on 39 field goals is moving the ball, and even more so, it goes to building a process of trust on the offensive end.”
But what does it take to continue to break these records and to maintain a high-performance career? For Gray, it’s about staying healthy. For most of her career, she’s been relatively healthy, only suffering a few injuries. Her most recent setback was a hit to her face during the Commissioner’s Cup Final against the New York Liberty, and even then, she came back out and kept playing.
To stay healthy, Gray highlights the importance of listening to her body. Whether it’s designing a workout schedule around a playing schedule, getting enough sleep, or determining whether to rest and play during games, listening to her physical cues helps Gray stay in shape and allows her to keep hitting milestones.
”Off the court, you know, it takes time to kind of understand your body and how it heals, how you like to perform, and how you feel your best,” Gray told The IX. “Then on the court, when it takes time off, when to go and be on the court, it’s kind of this balancing act, balancing thing that I’ve got to make sure I’m sharp with.”
And when it comes to taking care of her body, Gray knows working out is critical. In fact, building up her strength allows her to take fouls without getting hurt. Gray’s strength played a critical role in her game, allowing her to get to the free throw line. This season, she’s shot 95% from the free throw line, going 40 for 42.
“Man, they’re free, might as well knock them down,” Gray told The IX Sports before the matchup against the Mercury. “It’s just something I really take pride in. If they’re gonna foul me, gotta be able to burn them at the line. It’s just a concentration thing that I’ve always had to focus on for sure.”
To be a professional athlete is no easy feat. To be one that hits multiple milestones in a season is, of course, even more difficult. Not only do athletes have to stay healthy to hit these milestones, but they have to push themselves to reach these accomplishments. For Gray, being surrounded by other strong athletes and maintaining her health have been critical figures in her accomplishments.
“I think it’s just a testament to longevity in my career and the people I’ve been able to play with, and to be able to be relatively healthy for most of my career, so it’s a blessing for sure,” Gray told The IX before their Mercury matchup.
Gray and the Aces are looking to secure their fourth championship in five years, and to go back-to-back once again. Their next competition, against the Toronto Tempo, will be another opportunity for Gray to hit milestones and help move her team towards greatness.
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