Allisha Gray keeps raising the bar for the Atlanta Dream, earning her third WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week honor this season. The star guard also headlines a standout year that already includes Eastern Conference Player of the Month awards for May and June and her third straight All-Star selection.
Gray’s latest Player of the Week stretch came with a bang, posting 21 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists as the shorthanded Dream topped the Chicago Sky and the Phoenix Mercury. Those numbers are part of a season that has Gray posting career-high averages of 18.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. The Dream have outscored opponents by 206 points in Gray’s minutes, underscoring her impact on both ends of the floor.
In the nine games since the All-Star break, with Rhyne Howard and Brittney Griner unavailable for most of them, Gray has elevated her scoring even further, reaching over 20 points per game and helping Atlanta surge to a 7-2 record and inch toward the No. 2 seed in the standings.
Gray’s game is a blend of lethal outside shooting and relentless attacking of the rim. She’s shooting more threes than ever, connecting on better than 40 percent from beyond the arc on more than six attempts per contest, while also driving to the foul line at a career-high rate of 5.6 free throws per game. Her commitment on defense—leveraging size, physicality and smarts to disrupt opponents—helps round out a complete two-way impact, even as she’s urged to cut down on fouling 3-point shooters.
Advanced metrics back up her on-court influence. Basketball Reference places her second in offensive win shares (2.6) and second overall in win shares (5.9). ESPN Analytics pegs her offensive wins above replacement at 3.6, the top mark in the league, and she sits just behind the leaders in total wins above replacement (4.6). In other words, Gray is not just producing points; she’s driving a significant chunk of the Dream’s wins.
All of this comes as Gray has become the focal point of opponents’ scouting reports, thriving in Karl Smesko’s system and working ceaselessly in transition, off screens, and behind the 3-point line. Her nearly constant motion and willingness to attack have kept Atlanta competitive and dangerous, even with star teammates sidelined at times.
Could Gray be the league MVP this season? It’s possible, and she deserves MVP consideration and likely votes. But given the current landscape led by players such as Napheesa Collier, A’ja Wilson and Alyssa Thomas, a unanimous MVP award may be challenging to secure. Still, Gray’s breakout year is a new peak in a nine-year WNBA arc that has shown she’s just getting started.
If you’re building a takeaway, it’s this: Allisha Gray has transformed into one of the league’s most efficient and dynamic players, and the Dream’s playoff push benefits as she continues to grow. Expect her trophy case to grow along with Atlanta’s ceiling.
Summary: Gray’s 2024-25 season is a breakout across scoring, playmaking and efficiency, driving the Dream through a challenging stretch and positioning her as a top MVP candidate while signaling that her best is still ahead.
Additional notes for publication:
– Consider adding a graphic with Gray’s weekly award history this season and her current season averages for visual impact.
– If possible, include a short breakdown of how Gray’s role has evolved with Howard and Griner out, with a focus on lineups and pace.
– A brief sidebar on the implications for the Dream’s playoff positioning could help readers connect the numbers to standings.