Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images
Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray became the first WNBA player to win the Skills Challenge and 3-Point Contest in a single year on Friday in Phoenix.
WNBA @WNBA
What a night for Allisha Gray 👏
She wins both the 2024 @kiausa Skills Challenge and the 2024 WNBA STARRY 3-PT Contest!#KiaSkills | @starrylemonlime | #Starry3PT pic.twitter.com/kCm0evfD0a
WNBA @WNBA
It’s all love from the Atlanta Dream 🥹@starrylemonlime | #Starry3PT pic.twitter.com/db7Nd6enKV
Gray first took down the Skills Challenge, defeating Phoenix Mercury wing Sophia Cunningham in the finals of the five-player competition. She clocked in a time of 32.1 seconds, good enough to best Cunningham’s 34.5-second mark.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Alisha Gray clocks in a time 32.1 seconds in the Final Round of the Skills Challenge to win it 🏆
Gray also had the best time in the first round.
WNBA @WNBA
OH MY ALLISHA GRAY 🤯
The Atlanta Dream guard goes off in the 1st round of the Kia Skills Challenge for a time of 31.2 seconds!@Kia | #SkillsChallenge | ESPN pic.twitter.com/edX9VmPuaV
Gray then held off a great charge from New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones to defeat her challenger, 22-21 in the 3-Point Contest finals.
WNBA @WNBA
Allisha Gray drops 22 PTS in the Final Round of the WNBA STARRY® 3-Point Contest to be crowned this year’s CHAMPION 🏆@starrylemonlime | #Starry3PT pic.twitter.com/sdoGxhDWNN
WNBA @WNBA
THE MOMENT.
Allisha Gray becomes the first player in WNBA History to win both the Kia Skills Challenge and the WNBA STARRY® 3-Point Contest in the same year 🔥 pic.twitter.com/07GC5sKbij
Jones found herself down to just one moneyball left on the final rack down 22-21. A make would have given her the 23-22 win, but the shot hit the side rim, giving Gray the sweep.
Gray scored 23 in the first round to advance to the finals from the five-player first round. Jones dropped 25 points to lead the way.
Gray became just the third player in WNBA history to win both contests. San Antonio Silver Stars guard (and now Las Vegas Aces head coach) Becky Hammon was the first (2007 3-Point, 2009 Skills), and Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu was the second (2022 Skills, 2023 3-Point).
But now Gray has done it all in one year. And she won a $110,000 bonus ($55,000 apiece for winning each contest) courtesy of Aflac. Couple that with her additional $5,150 prize winnings from the WNBA for the victories, and Gray earned herself a great night.
Arielle (Ari) Chambers @ariivory
$110,000 in less than 2 hours >>> https://t.co/IUoCJT34jL
The seven-year veteran, who joined the WNBA in 2017 after a fantastic collegiate career at South Carolina, has averaged 15.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists this year. She’s firmly in her prime now having made her second straight All-Star Game this season.
And now she’s receiving great praise for her fantastic efforts, including her ex-college head coach Dawn Staley and former college teammate A’ja Wilson.
dawnstaley @dawnstaley
Lish with the sweep! @WNBA champ of the skills challenge and the 3pt challenge. When “it’s a possibility” becomes a reality! I see you @Graytness_15!! @aflac one check please! 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/XMY8MfkgBg
A’ja Wilson @_ajawilson22
I’m so happy for Lish man OMG! I’m not paying for another dinner my friend a shootah pic.twitter.com/DYylTgVcm3
Chris Williamson @CWilliamson44
How Allisha Gray finna walk into all the All-Star parties this weekend after winning both competitions lol : pic.twitter.com/AgFXdcZImr
Jessica @jessicawinslow
ALLISHA GRAY pic.twitter.com/4S5xLBOmsk
Cam💫 @CamReacts__
Remember when they said SC players couldn’t shoot and that Dawn didn’t develop shooters…
Allisha Gray 3pt contest champion!!
Vanshay Murdock 🎥🎥 @VanshayM
Allisha Gray going home with A LOT of money💰💰 #WNBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/FP6g6SjiPP
Gray will now represent the WNBA All-Stars when they take on the USA Women’s National Team on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
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