South Carolina Legend Allisha Gray Set to Defend Her 3-Point and Skills Challenge Crowns During WNBA All-Star Weekend Showdown

Allisha Gray is returning to the spotlight of WNBA All-Star Weekend, not just as a participant, but as a reigning champion determined to defend her hard-earned titles. The former South Carolina Gamecock and current Atlanta Dream guard is once again set to compete in both the 3-point contest and the skills challenge, aiming to retain the crowns she claimed in spectacular fashion last year.

Gray’s invitation back to the dual competitions is not just ceremonial—it’s a recognition of excellence, consistency, and charisma that transcends box scores. Her 2024 All-Star Weekend performance in Las Vegas elevated her status in the league and reminded basketball fans everywhere of the quiet dominance she’s built since leaving Columbia. Now, in Phoenix for the 2025 WNBA All-Star festivities, Gray is ready to put on another clinic.

It’s been a long journey for Gray since her days at South Carolina, where she helped deliver Dawn Staley’s program its first national championship in 2017. Her calm under pressure, elite perimeter shooting, and two-way play have aged like fine wine in the pros. She’s become a standard-bearer for consistency, a player who can carry a team with her offense or smother an opponent’s best guard on defense. Still, even with all that, her back-to-back appearance in these fan-favorite All-Star events represents something more than stats—it symbolizes the respect she’s earned among her peers and the league at large.

Gray’s participation in both events is an impressive feat, considering the demanding skillsets required for each. The 3-point contest is a sprint against the clock, where muscle memory meets mental poise. It’s about rhythm, timing, and balance. Gray’s shooting mechanics are elite; her quick release and textbook follow-through make her a legitimate threat to repeat as champion. In last year’s contest, she put on a laser show, nailing shot after shot from beyond the arc with the calm demeanor of someone shooting in an empty gym. That steely presence has become her signature.

But the skills challenge is where Gray truly separated herself from the pack. Often perceived as a playground-style exhibition, the event is deceptively demanding. It tests passing precision, ball handling, speed, and shooting—all while under immense time pressure. Gray’s ability to combine finesse with control, speed with awareness, was on full display. She didn’t just win; she dominated, finishing each obstacle with calculated precision and competitive fire that turned heads.

Now, she’s back, and the field is hungry. The WNBA has never been more stacked with guard talent. Sabrina Ionescu, Arike Ogunbowale, Jewell Loyd, and Kelsey Plum—all dangerous from deep—will be looking to take the 3-point crown. The skills challenge will feature young stars like Caitlin Clark and veterans like Chelsea Gray, who understand the nuance of the event and won’t go down without a fight.

But Allisha Gray’s mindset remains the same. For her, it’s never about the noise. It’s about execution. It’s about staying composed. And it’s about showing young girls watching from the stands—or from home—that greatness is born not just from flash, but from hard work and quiet confidence.

“I’m just going out there to have fun, compete, and represent,” Gray said in a recent media session. “Being able to come back and defend both titles is an honor. I don’t take it for granted.”

The South Carolina connection still runs deep in Gray’s DNA. Even years after her college days, she frequently credits Coach Dawn Staley and the culture at USC for molding her into the competitor she is today. That 2017 title team set a standard for Gamecock greatness, and Gray remains one of its most decorated ambassadors on the pro stage. The same grit that helped her earn Final Four honors has followed her through a WNBA Rookie of the Year award in 2017, Olympic gold with the 3×3 team in 2021, and now, back-to-back All-Star selections.

Off the court, Gray has also embraced her role as a mentor and role model. She’s passionate about promoting women’s sports and continues to inspire young athletes through clinics, camps, and social media engagement. Her commitment to empowering the next generation goes hand-in-hand with her on-court excellence.

This year’s All-Star festivities, hosted by the Phoenix Mercury, promise to be a celebration of the league’s present and future. The energy is electric. Fans are pouring in from all corners of the country to witness the biggest names in women’s basketball go head-to-head in events designed to spotlight individual brilliance. And when Allisha Gray takes the floor, she’ll be carrying not just the pride of Atlanta, but the enduring legacy of the garnet and black.

Teammates and coaches around the league have marveled at how Gray maintains her composure in high-pressure moments. Whether it’s draining a contested three with a hand in her face or threading a no-look pass in the final seconds of a drill, she performs with a poise that’s hard to teach and even harder to rattle.

“She’s just a pro,” said Dream head coach Tanisha Wright. “The way she prepares, the way she shows up, the way she competes—Allisha is the kind of player every coach wants on their team.”

That preparation is what sets Gray apart. Her offseason training routine is meticulous, filled with shooting reps, conditioning, and mental focus. She’s spoken openly about the importance of visualization and confidence in high-leverage moments. That mindset was on full display last year when she stepped up to the final rack of the 3-point contest needing five points to win—and coolly sank four of five.

Now, the pressure is doubled. Repeating in one event is rare. Repeating in both is nearly unheard of. But if anyone can defy that history, it’s Gray.

Her story also underscores how talent from South Carolina continues to shape the WNBA. Alongside legends like A’ja Wilson, Tiffany Mitchell, and Destanni Henderson, Gray helped solidify USC’s reputation as a breeding ground for elite professional talent. Her return to All-Star Weekend is a reminder that South Carolina doesn’t just produce stars—it produces champions.

For Gray, the goal isn’t attention or headlines—it’s execution. It’s staying in the moment. It’s giving her best. Whether or not she leaves Phoenix with two more trophies, her impact is already felt.

Still, don’t bet against her.

The 3-point contest and skills challenge are built for competitors who understand pace, pressure, and performance. Gray has proven she’s elite in all three. If she brings her signature rhythm and calm demeanor once again, the competition will have its hands full.

And for the fans, especially those who’ve followed her journey from Columbia to the WNBA, it’s another chance to witness a masterclass in consistency, character, and clutch performance.

As All-Star Saturday approaches, one thing is certain—when Allisha Gray steps onto that stage, she’s not just representing Atlanta or the WNBA. She’s representing an entire legacy. One built on winning. One built on pride. And one that just might add two more chapters to an already remarkable story.