{"id":132483,"date":"2025-09-10T00:28:07","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T00:28:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/132483\/"},"modified":"2025-09-10T00:28:07","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T00:28:07","slug":"allisha-gray-opens-up-about-getting-traded-to-atlanta-dream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/132483\/","title":{"rendered":"Allisha Gray Opens Up About Getting Traded to Atlanta Dream"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_cc77mhk1e\">When Atlanta Dream General Manager Dan Padover <a class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_ksj615\" href=\"https:\/\/dream.wnba.com\/news\/atlanta-dream-land-allisha-gray#:~:text=%E2%80%9CAdding%20Allisha%20Gray%20is%20a,the%20prime%20of%20her%20career.\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">described acquiring<\/a> star guard Allisha Gray back in 2023, he noted it as a &#8220;huge step for our organization.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_1uyrjmxpt\">Just two years later, the Atlanta Dream have set the regular season franchise record in wins with Gray and her co-star Rhyne Howard leading the way. <\/p>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">HISTORY MADE!! \ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n<p>Karl Smesko has earned his 29th win of the season \u2014 the most ever by a first-year head coach in WNBA history.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/DoItForTheDream?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">#DoItForTheDream<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/COY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">#COY<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/dI78ShDGE6\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/dI78ShDGE6<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AtlantaDream\/status\/1965250109345599663?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">September 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_bva4p0gd8\">Padover <a class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_ksj615\" href=\"https:\/\/dream.wnba.com\/news\/atlanta-dream-land-allisha-gray#:~:text=The%20intensity%20in%20her%20style,perennial%20contender%20in%20this%20league.%E2%80%9D\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">didn&#8217;t stop there<\/a>, calling Gray &#8220;one of the best two-way guards in the world.&#8221; Gray has certainly lived up to that comment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_2ivo3s328\">In 2023, Gray&#8217;s first year with the Dream, <a class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_ksj615\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wnba.com\/player\/1628277\/allisha-gray\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">she averaged<\/a> 17.1 points per game and was named a WNBA All-Star for the first time in her career. Since then, she has followed it up with two more elite seasons. <\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_zdq6fx12w\">The Dream&#8217;s superstar guard never averaged over 13.3 points per game in her six seasons with the Dallas Wings, and now, in three seasons with Atlanta, she has averaged 17.1 points in 2023, 15.6 points in 2024, and <a class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_ksj615\" href=\"https:\/\/www.statmuse.com\/wnba\/player\/allisha-gray-316\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">18.6 points in 2025<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">FUN STAT: Allisha Gray is the first guard in WNBA history to win Player of the Month three times in a single season! \u2728 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/FlTjFnOxCW\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/FlTjFnOxCW<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 I talk hoops \ud83c\udfc0 (@trendyhoopstars) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/trendyhoopstars\/status\/1963280821990920298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">September 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_5vhrxn2sz\">While Gray did win Rookie of the Year for the Wings in 2017, her best season as a professional has been in 2025, leading the Dream to a top-three seed in the WNBA. <\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_feaqb9v2n\">When speaking on what Atlanta has meant to her career, <a class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_ksj615\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/nWKNS-r1QjI?si=VQy8Ve9OWC-v4aIq\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Gray said<\/a>, &#8220;coming to Atlanta is probably one of the best things that happened to my career&#8230;I always had goals of being an All-Star, being one of the top guards&#8230;I just knew if I can get to the right place and the right system it&#8217;ll allow me to be one of the top players in the league.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_6bsu27lby\">First-year head coach Karl Smesko has seen Gray thrive in his new offensive system in 2025, and Gray <a class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_ksj615\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=jl003URQ5N8\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">even praised him<\/a> for putting her in the &#8220;right spot&#8221; and for allowing her to be an &#8220;efficient player.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_tkgw6wwns\">It is no surprise that the turning point for the Atlanta Dream came when they traded for Gray in 2023. It has led to a significant turnaround for the organization alongside Howard, Brionna Jones, and Brittney Griner. <\/p>\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The Atlanta Dream season awards campaign box just came in \ud83d\udc40 They\u2019re campaigning for:<\/p>\n<p>Naz Hillmon: MIP &amp; 6th Player of the Year<br \/>Allisha Gray: MVP <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ZfMjCKASNx\" rel=\"nofollow\">pic.twitter.com\/ZfMjCKASNx<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Khristina Williams (@Khristina) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Khristina\/status\/1965119622405034494?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">September 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_p1xuk4r8t\">Gray&#8217;s leadership role and two-way presence alongside fellow star Rhyne Howard are the key drivers for Atlanta&#8217;s success, including its eventual playoff success as well. <\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_l93hh8d2b\">With the Dream slated to be a top seed in the playoffs, it is not out of the question that they can make <a class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_ksj615\" href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/wnba\/dream\/news\/atlanta-dream-announce-allisha-gray-s-injury-status-vs-sun\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">a deep playoff run<\/a>, especially with the play of Gray, Howard, Jones, and Griner. <\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_wz8ht0qbd\"><a class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_ksj615\" href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/wnba\/dream\/news\/wnba-announces-award-for-atlanta-dream-star-rhyne-howard\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">WNBA Announces Award for Atlanta Dream Star Rhyne Howard<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_5zqtf785v\"><a class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_ksj615\" href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/wnba\/dream\/news\/atlanta-dream-star-allisha-gray-makes-history-vs-las-vegas-aces\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Atlanta Dream Star Allisha Gray Makes History vs Las Vegas Aces<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_mxvz7o-o_O-style_12bse5w-o_O-style_6s3kpz\" data-mm-id=\"_6o7k3wyle\"><a class=\"tagStyle_16dbupz-o_O-style_ksj615\" href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/wnba\/dream\/news\/atlanta-dream-make-final-allisha-gray-decision-for-sparks-game\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Atlanta Dream Make Final Allisha Gray Decision for Sparks Game<\/a><\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When Atlanta Dream General Manager Dan Padover described acquiring star guard Allisha Gray back in 2023, he noted&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":132484,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[629],"tags":[49,48,82,630],"class_list":{"0":"post-132483","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wnba","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-sports","11":"tag-wnba"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132483","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=132483"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132483\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/132484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=132483"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=132483"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=132483"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}