Becky Hammon Called Her *That*, And It Tells You Everything About Chelsea Gray

Alright, Seattle fam, the WNBA is turning the big 3-0 this season, and ESPN just dropped a bomb: their ranking of the league's top 10 playmakers ever! This isn't just about who racked up the most assists. Nah, this is about the players who made you scream, "Did you *see* that?!" from your couch. It's about that raw magic you couldn't take your eyes off. And trust me, the top spot is held by someone who absolutely deserves the hype, and then some.

The "Point Gawd" Is Unstoppable, Even at 33

Coming in at number one, rocking that "Point Gawd" nickname like it was custom-made for her, is none other than Chelsea Gray. Seriously, this woman is a wizard on the court. She's got that rare combo of being a clutch shooter and a clutch passer, which makes defending her an absolute nightmare. Need a set play executed perfectly? She's got it. Need something out of nothing? Boom, Gray just delivered it with pinpoint precision. The four-time WNBA champ and two-time Olympic gold medalist, who was drafted way back in 2014 by the Connecticut Sun, is now in her 12th WNBA season, her sixth with the Las Vegas Aces after five years with the LA Sparks. She averaged a career-high 7.3 assists in 2023 when the Aces grabbed their second title. Now, at 33, she's still dishing out 6.7 assists per game, alongside 12.0 points. Aces coach Becky Hammon summed it up perfectly, calling Gray "A master chess player. You're playing one move; she's playing four or five moves ahead of you." What a compliment, right?

The Magician Who Inspired the Best

And get this, the Queen herself, Chelsea Gray, grew up idolizing the number two pick on this list: Ticha Penicheiro! Talk about a passing dynasty. Penicheiro spent 12 of her 15 WNBA seasons with the now defunct Sacramento Monarchs, and she was legendary for her "magician-like" passing. She led the league in assists seven different seasons and finished with an incredible 5.7 assists average for her career. The Monarchs might be gone, but their 2005 WNBA championship and stars like Penicheiro live on in history. This native of Portugal was the number two pick in the 1998 WNBA draft out of Old Dominion. Penicheiro was famous for her deceptive no-look passes that would make fans do a double-take, wondering if they even saw it happen. Her teammates, especially Yolanda Griffith, learned quickly to just expect the unexpected from her. Their nine-season connection in Sacramento was just pure art. What a list, right? It just shows you the level of talent we get to witness every single night in this league. Our Storm are out there grinding, too, with a 3-4 record right now, and every game is a battle. We'll be back at it soon, bringing that Emerald City energy! You just know these legends set the bar high, and we're ready for more jaw-dropping plays all season long. Go Storm!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.