Gray’s competitive edge felt at Unrivaled: “I'm here to rip your heart out.”

Allisha Gray defends Kayla McBride in an Unrivaled Game on Jan. 31, 2025. PHOTO: Courtesy of Unrivaled Basketball

By W.G. RAMIREZ

After Allisha Gray swept the WNBA All-Star individual competitions last July by winning the Skills Challenge and the 3-Point Shootout, it was very clear that beyond her trademark smile and southern drawl off the court, there's an on-court assassin always lurking.

"I really just lock in ... when I know something's on the line," Gray said during the post-competition press conference. "But that's just the type of person I am. I take competition very seriously. I'm a very competitive person. I want to win at everything."

Fast forward six months, the mentality is still the same in Miami at Unrivaled, as her Lunar Owls (5-0) remained undefeated after Friday's 75-73 come-from-behind win over the previously unbeaten Laces (4-1). Gray matched her season average by finishing with 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range.

"I practice with Gray every day, so seeing her do it in the game is like second nature because I see her do it in practice all the time," Owls teammate Courtney Williams said after the win. "But I think that's a testament to our whole team. Our practice, to me, feels harder than these games. We go at it at practice, we don't play around."

Just as Gray likes it.

'“My play do all the trash talking for me,” Gray said during her postgame interview on TNT when asked if she does any chirping during the games. “I save my energy because if I'm talking I'm tired, so I just let my play do the talking.”

PHOTO: Courtesy of Unrivaled Basketball

Through five games, Gray is shooting 34 of 72 (47.2%), has never finished with less than 15 points and has scored a season-high 21 points twice.

“It's fun,” said Gray said about playing 3-on-3 basketball. “I mean, you're on an island so you really gotta lock in and just do your thing. I'm just out here showcasing my talent, what I can do. It's a very fun game, intense (and) competitive playing against some of the best players in the world every night. I mean, it's a joy to be here.”

A joy, if that’s what you call what she does to opponents.

"You know when you get in between those lines that nobody's your friend,” Gray said during a recent media availability. “I'm here to rip your heart out."

Rhyne Howard, who is playing for Vinyl, smiled wide when told what Gray had to say.

"It's good that it's getting through to her," Howard said about her Atlanta Dream teammate. "I've been telling her that she can do a lot more of what she does for two years now. I wouldn't say she's (rip) your heart (out) just yet, but she does work hard. She doesn't let anything really get in her way."

Opening the calendar year with a killer mindset shouldn't come as a surprise, though, as Gray did the same in 2024 when she won Athletes Unlimited's title last March by finishing with 6,918 leaderboard points to earn the cash bonus.

"She's pretty steady, level-headed," Howard continued. "So just being able to have her on the court with me (in Atlanta), that helps tremendously. Especially when she's having a good night, because you can't just focus on just one person, you have to focus on her. You can't just not guard her."

Off the court, both Howard and fellow Dream teammate Jordin Canada, chuckled as they described the lighter shade of Gray.

"She's such a joy to be around," Canada said. "She brings this positive energy day in and day out. ... she's very giggly. She's always laughing. She's always smiling. And so that's the type of person you want to be around constantly.

"It just uplifts you 24/7. And so I've had nothing but great things and positive things to say about Lish. I just enjoy being around her."

Howard said since Gray arrived in Atlanta in 2023, after spending the first six seasons of her career in Dallas, their friendship has grown tremendously.

"Being able to not only consider her my best friend, but a sister for life - on and off the court," Howard said. "I can go to her house when she's not there and spend time with her family and that just tells you everything you need to know about her and our relationship off the court."

Nevertheless, Gray continued to set the record straight.

"Off the court, I mean, I can be friendly," she said. "Like any day, I'm human, I like to have fun. But I just know once I get in between those lines, I want my paycheck. Like, this is my job. I'm here to destroy you."