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“Now You’re Able to See Us”: Chelsea Gray Reflects on the Olympics and Looks Ahead to Women’s Basketball

 

Chelsea Gray has accomplished nearly everything there is in basketball.

The Las Vegas Aces star boasts three WNBA championships, a Finals MVP title, four All-Star selections, and multiple All-WNBA honors. Following Team USA’s victory in Paris, she can now add “two-time Olympic gold medalist” to her impressive resume.

Gray clinched her first gold medal in Tokyo three years ago, but COVID-19 restrictions prevented her family from traveling to see her play. This year, however, her loved ones were in the stands at Paris’ Bercy Arena, cheering as she and her teammates secured an eighth consecutive Olympic title for the US.

“My son witnessing that was incredible,” Gray shared with CNN Sport. “Achieving my dream and seeing young kids look at the Olympics and see someone who looks like them reaching the highest level possible—it’s an amazing feeling. Being one of 12 on that team is something I’ll never take for granted.”

She continued, “Moments like these are irreplaceable. Having my parents, younger brother, and wife there made all the hard work feel worthwhile.”

“Wow, This Really Just Happened”

Heading into the women’s gold medal game on August 11, Team USA was riding a 60-game Olympic winning streak dating back to the 1992 Barcelona Games. That streak was tested as the game unfolded.

Facing them was a motivated French team, inspired by their male counterparts' narrow loss to LeBron James' US squad in the men’s final. The French, buoyed by a passionate home crowd, even built a 10-point lead in the third quarter against a star-studded US lineup featuring A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Diana Taurasi.

Despite trailing, Team USA rallied to take a two-point lead into the final period. The game remained tightly contested until the very end. With three seconds left, Kahleah Copper sank two clutch free throws to give the US a 67-64 lead. France’s Gabby Williams then launched a deep three-pointer at the buzzer, but her foot was on the line, and the shot counted for just two points.

Gray admitted the final moments were a mix of joy and relief. “It was an intense final minute, with huge plays being made. I knew Williams’ shot was a two from where I was,” she said. “It was an exciting feeling of ‘Wow, this really just happened,’ and I’m a two-time gold medalist.”

Team USA’s Legacy and the Quest for a WNBA Three-Peat

The victory marked Team USA’s record-extending eighth consecutive Olympic gold. “I think it’s time to talk about it,” Gray said of considering the US women’s team as the greatest basketball dynasty. “It’s worth discussing while it’s still happening.”

Returning to WNBA play quickly after the Olympics, Gray and her Aces are focused on continuing their success. The WNBA season resumed just days after the gold medal game, and adapting to domestic play from international competition is a challenge.

“As athletes, especially in the WNBA, we’re professional compartmentalizers,” Gray explained. “We shift our focus and chemistry between teams and games.”

The Aces are vying for their third consecutive championship, a feat only previously achieved by the Houston Comets from 1997 to 2000. “Winning the first championship was hard, the second was even tougher, and now the challenge is even greater,” Gray noted.

Currently sitting at 18-12 with a star-studded roster, including Gray’s US teammates Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, and two-time MVP A’ja Wilson, the Aces are determined to secure a three-peat.

The Growing Spotlight on Women’s Basketball

The popularity of women’s sports, including basketball, is on the rise. Serena Williams recently highlighted this surge, and the WNBA has seen record viewership and attendance this season.

“The visibility is crucial,” Gray said. “People can see us now; it’s easier to find and follow women’s basketball, and the audience is growing.”

Much of the current attention is focused on the 2024 rookie class, led by No. 1 pick Caitlin Clark, whose debut attracted the largest WNBA audience in two decades. Other standout rookies like Angel Reese and Cameron Brink have also contributed to the league’s growing popularity.

Gray emphasizes the importance of acknowledging those who paved the way. “The rise in viewership is also thanks to the players who came before,” she said.

With the WNBA expanding to 14 teams, including the Golden State Valkyries in 2025 and a Toronto team in 2026, Gray is thrilled. “Having a team in the Bay Area is something I’ve hoped for since I was young,” she said. “Now, kids in that area will have a WNBA team right in their backyard.”

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