Sports
The biting barb that spurred Chelsea Gray and the Aces
CHELSEA GRAY HEARS A’ja Wilson talk. A lot. About trophies. About buckets. About blocks. About boards. But of the millions of words her outspoken teammate has uttered throughout their five seasons and two WNBA championships together as teammates on the Las Vegas Aces, 11 stand out to Gray.
She heard them in June, when nothing was going right for the Aces or Gray or Wilson. Las Vegas, among the preseason favorites to win the 2025 title, was hovering around (or below) .500, and Gray remembers Wilson calling her out.
“There’s no way I should ever have more assists than you,” Gray recalls Wilson telling her.
The words stung.
Through the end of June, the reigning WNBA MVP had out-assisted the “Point Gawd” in six games, and the Aces turned the calendar to July with an 8-8 record. At the time, the 32-year-old Gray, who has filled hours of video with flashy passes over the course of her career, averaged 4.3 assists.
“Our relationship is super honest and raw,” Gray said. “I’ve cried in front of her. She’s cried in front of me.”
From July through the end of the regular season, Gray averaged 7.1 assists, including a season-high 14 in an August game against Dallas when the Aces were in the middle of a 16-game winning streak. In the playoffs, Gray pushed that average up to 7.8, the highest postseason average in her career. She has had 10 assists in three of the Aces’ 10 postseason games so far.
Her response to Wilson’s challenge has helped guide the Aces to a 2-0 series lead over the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA Finals, two wins away from their third championship in four years. Game 3 is Wednesday in Phoenix (8 ET, ESPN).
“It’s that kind of bond that we can have conversations in the middle of the game,” Gray said. “And we understand where we’re coming from.”
GRAY TAKES THE HANDOFF along the sideline and heads to an open spot. She sits down on the bench wielding a marker and a dry-erase board. It’s Game 1 of the Finals and the score is tied 23-23 with 8:49 left in the second quarter. Gray draws up the play she wants so her teammates can see her thoughts.
After the Aces’ 79-76 victory, Gray is quick to clarify that she isn’t using coach Becky Hammon’s personal board. Not even she is that bold. “They have two boards back there,” Gray said. The one she used doesn’t technically belong to Gray. She just happens to be the one who asks an assistant coach for it.
Gray started taking control of the board in huddles and timeouts from time to time when she came to Las Vegas in 2021 after spending her first six seasons in Connecticut and Los Angeles.
She already had built a reputation as a player with extraordinary vision and a high IQ, and she has only built on that since.
“When she takes the clipboard, everybody locks in,” said Aces guard Dana Evans, who had 21 points in the Game 1 win. “We know that she’s about to show valid points. She’s not doing it just to do it.”
For Gray, it’s about helping her teammates see what she or Hammon are talking about. It’s something she has done more frequently this year.
“They have to see it sometimes on the board rather than just saying it,” Gray said. “It’s made me a better player and a better leader, to be able to explain stuff. And people listen. It’s allowed our huddles to be a little bit tighter.”
Ceding some control to Gray is an easy decision for Hammon when the results are buckets. Hammon may call one out of bounds play, but if Gray sees something different, she’s empowered to make a different one.
That was the case during Game 3 of the Aces’ semifinal series against the Indiana Fever. With 3.6 seconds left in the third quarter, the referee handed Gray the ball to inbound from the sideline on their side of half court. Gray recognized that Jackie Young had leverage on her defender, who’d inadvertently given Young a free run to the basket. Young took off, and Gray launched the ball down the court. It dropped into Young’s hands in stride and she laid it in.
“My thing is, I always want them to have an aggressive nature,” Hammon said. “These possessions where it’s like they’re running routes over the top, that’s the kind of pace I want all the time. So when they do it without me saying it, I love it.”
GRAY SNAGS THE BALL out of the air and turns up court. The Aces lead by 17 midway through the fourth quarter of Game 2. As Gray trots toward the Aces’ basket, Young flanks her on the outside. Young gets a step ahead of Mercury guard Kahleah Copper and turns up the speed.
Gray sees the beginning of separation and turns her head away from Young as she drops a perfectly weighted bounce pass past Copper’s outstretched fingers. Young scoops up the ball in stride and lays it in for two of her 32 points on the day. The basket is Gray’s 10th assist, marking her second career Finals game with 10 points and 10 assists. Only three other players have multiple such games in their careers: Alyssa Thomas, Courtney Vandersloot and Sue Bird.
Gray finished with 10 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 blocks in the Aces’ 91-78 Game 2 win.
“She does so many little things,” Hammon said Sunday. “Her passing is elite, but it’s all the other little things that she’s doing that really helped us win the basketball game.”
A year ago, Gray was working her way back from a fracture in her left foot suffered during the 2023 WNBA Finals. She lacked her usual mobility and power. She couldn’t get the separation she needed for her pinpoint passes, and she couldn’t get the lift she needed to hit her fadeaway jumper. The Aces lost to the eventual champion Liberty in the semifinals.
Gray experienced injuries at the end of her college career at Duke that bled into the beginning of her professional career. A right kneecap fracture sidelined her for the entirety of her 2014 rookie season with Connecticut. But until that foot fracture, she hadn’t been seriously injured as a pro, and she’d never returned midseason before.
She wasn’t herself physically last season, but Gray said that has changed this year. She said she’s in her best shape since the 2023 championship run.
“It really helps our team,” Gray said. “I’m able to play for longer stints at a high level both offensively and defensively.”
Gray, who will play in her 20th WNBA Finals game on Wednesday, the most among active players, is showing why she is the only pure point guard to ever win Finals MVP, which she did in 2022. She is shooting 45% from 3-point range this postseason, up from 37% during the regular season, and her best postseason percentage since that 2022 run. Her hands-on defense is creating additional opportunities and possessions. Gray averaged 1.4 steals in the regular season, but is averaging 2.2 steals in the postseason.
Mercury assistant Kristi Toliver knows how difficult it can be to slow down Gray. Toliver watched her development up close when Gray was the starting point guard in L.A. for the 2016 season, Gray’s first in a Sparks uniform.
“She’s fearless,” Toliver said. “She’s clutch and wants that moment. She wants that smoke.”
What Gray doesn’t want is another game where Wilson can point out her lack of production. If Gray were so inclined, she could rib the co-defensive player of the year about out-blocking her in Game 2. It is, after all, the kind of relationship they have. The kind of relationship champions have.
“She’s always going to be her true self, and it allows you to be your true self,” Wilson said. “I think that has always been our friendship and our bond. She’s calm through the storm. I’m so grateful for her to be our point guard.”
Making bold sporting statements without real repercussions can be fun, and fantasy baseball certainly is fun, so it is time again for us to combine these fun things into one column. Well, really it is two columns, as we get bold separately with the American League and the National League, making myriad predictions and hoping some (or several) may hit. Perhaps not, but at least they should make one think.
For example, a year ago we predicted that Athletics DH Brent Rooker would hit 50 home runs. He did not, but he did not struggle. We predicted Houston Astros RHP Hunter Brown would whiff 200 hitters and make the All-Star team. That did occur. Tampa Bay Rays OF Chandler Simpson very nearly stole 45 bases, but three Chicago White Sox did not hit 25 home runs. Byron Buxton and Mike Trout did play a lot! Grayson Rodriguez and Liam Hendriks did not.
Some (most) of these predictions will look a bit silly in six months, if not sooner. Still, there is a basis for making each of these bold statements, and perhaps it makes you think. Perhaps the player in question has a particular skill — or opportunity — that defies groupthink. Perhaps the statement is not a positive one. Fantasy baseball managers tend to follow rankings and projections but trusting your gut is important, too. Trust yourself. Take a few chances. Perhaps some of these bold picks will look wise in a few months.
With that in mind, let us get bold yet again for the pending season, starting with the American League.
Athletics: Could an Athletic hit 50 home runs this season? With reigning AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz, anything seems possible. Let’s give Rooker 40 blasts. … SS Jacob Wilson trades some contact for pop, hitting .280 with 18 home runs. … RHP Luis Severino can’t be that bad again in home games (6.01 ERA): Overall, he wins 13 games with a 3.80 ERA. … RHP Justin Sterner saves 18 games.
Baltimore Orioles: 2B Jackson Holliday (hand) makes his season debut in mid-April and still reaches 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. … Two Orioles hit 40 home runs (SS Gunnar Henderson, 1B Pete Alonso). … OF prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. debuts in July. He steals 26 bases. … LHP Trevor Rogers surprisingly is for real: 15 wins, 2.80 ERA, All-Star appearance. … RHP Andrew Kittredge saves more games than Ryan Helsley.
Boston Red Sox: OF star Roman Anthony hits 40 home runs and he is not the primary leadoff hitter for long. … Seven Red Sox hit 20 home runs, including 1B Triston Casas. … LHP Garrett Crochet whiffs 275 hitters and earns the AL Cy Young Award. … RHP Sonny Gray fans 180 hitters for his fifth team, and he wins a career-high 15 games.
Chicago White Sox: New 1B Munetaka Murakami and SS Colson Montgomery each hit 31 home runs, although neither infielder hits above .220. … New 2B Luisangel Acuna steals 28 bases. … Staff ace RHP Shane Smith makes the AL All-Star team again! … RHP prospect David Sandlin debuts in July, and he posts a 3.40 ERA in 12 starts.
Cleveland Guardians: Three Guardians hit 30 home runs, with newcomer 1B Rhys Hoskins joining 3B Jose Ramirez and 1B Kyle Manzardo. … Brittle OF Chase DeLauter, new No. 2 hitter, bats 510 times. … DH David Fry earns his catcher eligibility in June, and he finishes as a top 15 fantasy catcher. … RHP Tanner Bibee makes his first All-Star game. He wins 15 games and strikes out 200.
Detroit Tigers: OF Kerry Carpenter hits 32 home runs, knocks in 99 runs. … Prospect Max Anderson takes the 3B job in late-May, hits .290 over 420 PA. … RHP Justin Verlander wins 13 games with a 3.40 ERA. He starts Game 2 of the playoffs. … RHP Kenley Jansen saves 36 wins, sailing past 500 saves for his career and he retires.
Houston Astros: 1B Christian Walker leads the team with 30 home runs, with OF Yordan Alvarez and 3B Isaac Paredes adding 28. … Year 2 goes better for OF Cam Smith. He hits .270 with 22 home runs. … New RHP Mike Burrows wins 12 games with 160 strikeouts. … RHP Bryan Abreu saves 25 games and makes the All-Star team. Be very careful about LHP Josh Hader.
Kansas City Royals: Four Royals hit 30 home runs, led by slugging OF Jac Caglianone and solid 1B Vinnie Pasquantino with 34. … OF Starling Marte, active leader in stolen bases (and caught stealing), adds 22 steals. … OF Isaac Collins becomes the every-day 2B and posts a .375 OBP with 22 steals. … RHP Stephen Kolek (oblique), not in the Opening Day rotation, still wins 12 games with a 3.40 ERA.
Los Angeles Angels: SS Zach Neto delivers the third 30/30 season in franchise history (Bobby Bonds, Mike Trout). … Healthy OF Josh Lowe rediscovers his 2023 numbers, hitting 22 home runs and stealing 28 bases. … Speaking of health, RHP Grayson Rodriguez posts a 3.50 ERA over 26 starts, with myriad strikeouts. … LHP Drew Pomeranz saves 20 games.
Minnesota Twins: 2B Luke Keaschall scores 90 runs as leadoff hitter, batting .285 with 32 stolen bases. … OF Byron Buxton and 3B Royce Lewis each bat more than 500 times, and each reaches 30 home runs. … RHP Zebby Matthews breaks out with a 3.50 ERA and 170 strikeouts.
New York Yankees: OF Trent Grisham nearly does it again, hitting 30 home runs with 90 walks. … Grisham and C Ben Rice are among six Yankees who reach 30 home runs. … RHP Gerrit Cole (elbow) returns in May, and he wins 14 of his 22 starts with a 3.20 ERA. … LHP Ryan Weathers surprises with a 3.50 ERA in 24 starts.
Seattle Mariners: 2B Brendan Donovan scores 90 runs as leadoff hitter, while adding a .295 batting average. … SS prospect Colt Emerson debuts in May and he hits 15 home runs. … Five Mariners starting pitchers (Bryan Woo, Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Bryce Miller) make at least 28 starts with an ERA better than 3.50.
Tampa Bay Rays: An improved 3B Junior Caminero hits .280 with 50 home runs, and he ends up second in MVP voting. … OF Jonny DeLuca stays healthy enough to steal 30 bases, while OF Chandler Simpson steals 62 bases. … RHP Brody Hopkins debuts in July and dominates with a 2.80 ERA in 14 starts. … RHP Griffin Jax saves 28 wins.
Texas Rangers: OF Wyatt Langford stays healthy enough to appear in 152 games, reaching 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases. Ian Kinsler was the last Ranger to reach 30/30 (2011). … 1B Jake Burger and DH Joc Pederson bounce back and each delivers 28 home runs. … RHP Nathan Eovaldi leads the staff with a 2.80 ERA in 26 starts and makes his third All-Star team.
Toronto Blue Jays: OF George Springer nearly does it again, hitting .280 with 28 home runs and 96 runs scored. … New 3B Kazuma Okamoto hits cleanup, protecting 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and he hits 28 home runs. … RHP Dylan Cease makes his first All-Star team, posts a 3.36 ERA. … RHP Louis Varland leads the team with 22 saves.
Lionel Messi drew high praise from President Donald Trump as the Argentine superstar and his Inter Miami team were honoured at the White House on Thursday for winning the MLS Cup last year.
The president said: “It’s my distinct privilege to say what no American president has ever had the chance to say before: ‘Welcome to the White House, Lionel Messi.'”
Trump went on to reveal the affection his 19-year-old son Barron has for Messi.
“My son said, ‘Dad, you know who’s going to be there today?’ I said, ‘No, I got a lot of things going on today,'” Trump said. “He said ‘Messi!’ He’s a big fan of yours. He thinks you’re just a great person. And I think you got to meet a little while ago. So he’s a big soccer fan, but he’s a tremendous fan of yours. And a gentleman named Ronaldo. Cristiano is great. You’re great.”
Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi’s longtime rival in European soccer, attended a White House event with Trump last year.
Regarding Messi’s impact on Inter Miami, Trump said: “This guy won. There was tremendous fanfare, and he won. Leo, you came in and won. It’s hard to do. … You came in and won with all that pressure.”
Wading into the area of soccer history, Trump said to Messi, “You may be better than Pele,” and he asked those in attendance, “Who’s better?”
Trump said of the Inter Miami squad: “What a group of people. We could have a lot of fun with these guys. You can imagine how they celebrate.”
The president singled out Rodrigo De Paul, an Argentine midfielder who scored the go-ahead goal in the Herons’ 3-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS Cup final.
“Where the hell is Rodrigo?” Trump asked, causing De Paul to blush.
The president added: “Do you have any bad-looking players? I like the bad-looking players much better.”
Messi gave Trump a pink signed Inter Miami soccer ball, and club co-owner Jorge Mas and coach Javier Mascherano presented the president with a team jersey and a watch.
Mas said: “It’s our aspiration to continue breaking barriers and putting no limits, to making sure Major League Soccer and Inter Miami are considered among the elite in global football.”
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board has demanded a public apology from a journalist over what it described as “agenda-driven fake news” targeting the character of Pakistan’s national cricketers.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the PCB strongly condemned the broadcast of unverified allegations against a Pakistan player, calling the report baseless and unacceptable.
PCB Warns of Legal Action
The cricket board said the reporter responsible for the news must issue a public apology immediately, warning that failure to do so could lead to strict legal action.
“Agenda-driven fake news targeting the character of our players is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” the PCB said.
The board added that it would take all necessary steps to address what it termed malicious reporting if the apology is not issued promptly.
Controversy Over Report
The controversy began after a local media outlet aired a report alleging that a Pakistani cricketer had been involved in inappropriate behaviour at a hotel, claiming that staff had filed a complaint with team management.
The report also suggested that the player had violated the team’s code of conduct and was fined following a preliminary internal review.
Allegations Denied
However, the PCB dismissed the claims as false and misleading, stating that the news lacked verification.
A representative of the player, Mirza, also rejected the allegations in a social media statement and announced plans to pursue legal action against the media outlet.
He criticised the broadcast as “cheap journalism”, stressing that no media organisation should air unverified reports about national athletes.
The PCB reiterated its commitment to protecting the reputation and dignity of Pakistan’s cricketers against what it described as irresponsible reporting.
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