“Chelseaaaaa Grayyyyyyyy,” says in-arena host Chet Buchanan as cheers echo throughout the arena.
The “Point gawd” has been a key leader in the Aces turnaround this season and has consistently led the team in assists over the years. In her career, she’s had a total of 1870 assists, with 1063 of them coming with her tenure with the Aces alone.
This season, Gray, who is currently averaging 11.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game, has exemplified her Point Gawd title. As of right now, she’s dished out the second-most dimes she’s ever had in her career, 239 assists (and counting).
Against the Lynx, Gray notched a double-double of 13 points and 10 assists, along with 2 rebounds and played with flair while dishing dimes to Jewell Loyd and Jackie Young, who combined for 26 points.
Gray has shown a strong connection with Jewell Loyd throughout the season. Against the Chicago Sky, Gray’s 5 assists included a behind-the-back pass to Loyd, who sank a 3-pointer. The two have become their own dynamic duo, with Gray having 45 assists to Loyd for 124 points this season.
With this connection going into the post-season, Gray and Loyd are bound to be weapons in this offseason. “I want to make her life as easy as possible whenever,” Gray told reporters after Thursday’s matchup against the Lynx. “So she started to understand that it’s just an adjustment, honestly, playing with me. I always got my head up. I’m trying to put you in the best position possible to be successful.”
Added head coach Becky Hammon: “For Chelsea,” Hammon told reporters after their final matchup against the Chicago Sky, “distributing and scoring, in that order, Chelsea’s ability to guard bigger players, that’s a huge luxury for us. She kind of turns into a point forward when we’re there at the four spot.”
“Having a really unbelievable passer at that four spot is fun offensively,” she added.
The Aces are set for their seventh playoff appearance after a hectic season. Despite the adversity they faced at the beginning of the year, they’ve managed to completely turn things around going into the postseason. Gray brings veteran experience and leadership to the Aces, as well as an impressive resume that includes nine playoff appearances in the past decade.
“It’s easy to lead when we’re winning and everything feels good and everybody’s happy,” Hammon mentioned after Thursday’s matchup against the Lynx. “Watching from a coaching perspective, watching those four [A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, Loyd and Gray] specifically really step into leading when it’s tough, leading through turmoil, leading through failure, has been really fun to watch them grow in that.”
As the season has progressed, Gray also told The IX Basketball that the biggest thing she feels as though she’s improved on has been defense. That’s been evident right from the start of the season, and in the Aces’ first home game between the Chicago Sky, Gray snagged 5 rebounds and had a critical steal in helping the Aces secure their 80-66 win.
“I mean, decision making, knowing where people are going to be in spots defensively,” Gray said at practice when asked about what areas she’s improved on. “Being more engaged, whether I play in the post or other guard, so both ends really.”
The Aces will face the Seattle Storm in the first round of the playoffs.
