Q&A with Duke Alumna Chelsea Gray

DURHAM, N.C.—GoDuke.com recently talked with former Duke All-America Chelsea Gray about what she has been up to since graduating from Duke in 2014. Gray, who hails from Manteca, Calif., was injured in each of her final two years with the Blue Devils but is coming off a very successful professional season in Israel. Gray will make her WNBA debut with the Connecticut Sun this summer.

Since graduating from Duke in May of 2014, what have you been up to?

A: Since I've graduated I have been able to do a number of things. I came back to my home state and have enjoyed being able to see my family and close friends more often than usual. I've also been able to have two camps at my Alma Mater, St. Mary's High School. I've always wanted to give back to the community and go back to my hometown and offer young kids an opportunity to learn at a camp. I've also went to Israel to play overseas for about four months.

Update us on when you were cleared to play again, after your knee injury during your senior year?

A: When I got back to California my agent, Allison Galer, sent me to a guy that was known as one of the best physical therapist in the world. His name is Fabrice Gautier. He was amazing. He was teaching me new techniques and ways of getting my knee healthier and stronger that I had never even heard of. I was in awe of him and his staff's ability to make me feel as though my knee was just as capable as my other knee. I got cleared around the month of July to really begin training and I started playing 5-on-5. As the weeks and months passed by, I started to gain a lot more confidence and not second guess myself when I would go up for a rebound, or when I got hit in the air.

How was your experience playing overseas in Israel and what team/league did you play with?

A: My first overseas experience was great. I liked being in Israel more so than I thought I would. I was so nervous, to be countries away from the United States. The fact that I was going to begin playing against professional players brought nerves but excitement also. I loved my team and coach. The league was excellent. There were talented players on every team that I played.

How was the level of play there compared to college?

A: The level kicks up a couple notches when you start playing professionally. Players are bigger, stronger, and faster. You also have to take the time and want to get better on your own a lot more. There's a lot more freedom in the pro's. What you choose to do with that freedom is up to you. In college, you have mandatory weights, or shooting practices. In the pro's, you can just be at home all day after practice. If you want to get better, you have to have the self determination to go get those shots up, or go lift weights.

Was there a big language barrier playing in Israel?

A: You kind of catch on to certain words quicker. All of my teammates knew how to speak English. Grocery shopping was the hardest for me. I love to cook, so I went to the grocery store often. Or if a restaurant only had food menus in Hebrew, you would have to have someone there with you that could explain to you what each thing was.

Did you get a chance to travel much while you were overseas?

A: I had chance to travel a little bit within Israel. I was able to walk around Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, I was able to see the Western Wall and Jesus' tomb. I also went to the Dead Sea and took pictures. The country is beautiful, and I wish I would have gone site seeing a little bit more than I did.

How was the food and what did you like the most? What did you miss the most from the U.S.?

I'm a very picky eater, so I did not venture out to try a lot of different things. But I did like a couple of things that I tried. For example, falafel was something that I would order and eat when a restaurant had it. I missed Chipotle and my mom's fried catfish while I was in Israel.

What kinds of crowds did your team draw for games?

A: The amount of people in the crowd was dependent on the team we played. Some crowds were bigger than others. Overall, people support basketball out in Israel.

Would you travel back there again to play?

A: Yes I would. It was a great environment and atmosphere to play in and be a part of. It was a great first experience overseas.

How excited are you to be able to play for the Connecticut Sun this summer?

A: Excitement doesn't even explain my anticipation for this summer in Connecticut. I'm so blessed and thankful for the opportunity. Connecticut gave me the chance to get myself ready and make sure my knee was taken care of. It's always been a dream of mine to play in the WNBA. Just excited to start to get back to work.

How much better is it now that you are reunited with Elizabeth Williams along with Duke alumna Jasmine Thomas?

A: What are the odds that that's happening? Her athleticism, great hands, and knack for the ball makes Elizabeth so great to play with. In the year that I have been gone, she has improved. So I'm just excited to start working with her again. And Jas was a great player at Duke also. I was a lot younger then, and she helped me grow on and off the court. She has been in the league for a few years now, so her experience at the professional level will be very important for me.

Have you and Elizabeth talked much about playing together again?

A: When I was watching the 2015 WNBA Draft, and it was Connecticut's turn on the clock, I was like pick Elizabeth!! When they did I was like, yayy!!! We texted the day after the draft and was like "Teammates again! Woohoo!" We were cut a little short two years in a row when I got hurt, so I'm just excited to be able to play with her again!

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