Bird's Eye View with Sue Bird
Episode: Allisha Gray & Chelsea Gray Go In-Depth on the Unrivaled 1-on-1 Tournament
Date: February 20, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Bird’s Eye View dives into an electrifying topic: the behind-the-scenes details, strategies, and emotions of the Unrivaled 1-on-1 Tournament’s final showdown, known as the "Battle of the Grays," featuring Allisha Gray and Chelsea Gray. Hall-of-Famer Sue Bird hosts exclusive, candid conversations with each finalist and then brings them together for an honest, engaging look at how the tournament unfolded, what went into their chess-like approaches, the physical and mental fatigue, and what this high-stakes showcase says about women’s basketball.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tournament Background and Structure (03:40–04:37)

• The Final Stretch: The season is wrapping up with playoffs set to begin February 28th; six teams make the playoffs, with the top two seeds receiving byes.
• Importance of Format: This year’s 1-on-1 tournament separated guards and posts in the brackets, preventing size mismatches and increasing competitiveness.

2. Allisha Gray's Path to the Finals (04:38–23:01)

Mindset and Strategy (04:38–07:24)

• Pressure as Top Seed:
  • "Definitely it's pressure being the number one seed because, I mean, at any point, you lose, it's like an upset." (Allisha Gray, 04:38)
• Adjustments from Last Year: In light of a previous loss to a post player (Aaliyah Edwards), Allisha studied film, contacted other guards for advice, and planned differently for big matchups.

Facing Post Players (05:59–07:47)

• Her Approach:
  • “Have more ball pressure, meet the post as soon as the ref checks the ball… stay on offense as much as possible.” (Allisha Gray, 05:59)
  • “All three-point shots, and if I get stuck, try to pump fake and take a shot...stay on offense.” (06:18)
• Brackets Matter: Allisha credits the new pod system for making the tournament more competitive for guards.

Tournament Run Game-by-Game

• First Round Comeback vs. Saniyah Rivers (08:31–10:58):
  • Down 9–3 as the number one seed:
    • “I'm like, oh snap. Like I'm about to get upset in the first round… Once I got offense, I had to stay on offense 'cause if I was going defense, I was going home for sure.” (Allisha Gray, 09:21)
• Vs. Ray Burrell (10:58–13:59):
  • Strategy: Play more aggressively from the start and keep pressuring the ball.
  • Insights on use of timeouts to manage fatigue.
    • “I try to call timeout when I'm on offense. It gives the opponent rest on defense, but I'd rather that than them on offense and get that extra burst of energy.” (13:59)
• Vs. Aaliyah Boston (14:23–19:10):
  • Aggressive three-point shooting; jumped out to a 9–0 lead.
    • “My plan A was literally just shoot threes...I had no plans of going to the basket.” (15:09)
  • Used fouls strategically to avoid giving up easy baskets but “didn’t want to give her the free throw.”
  • Clutch game-winner at 10–10 tie, then joked:
    • “Thank God I’m not a post player…So glad I’m a guard. They can have that.” (18:04, 18:14)

What 1-on-1 Means to Her & The Game (19:36–22:07)

• “We’re not losing to average people on the street. We’re losing to top players in the league.” (20:46)
• 1-on-1 play showcases individual skills and gives the world a deeper look into WNBA players’ talents.

Post-Tournament Reflection & $50K Plans

• “It’s going to go into savings. I want to get a nice house.” (22:44)

3. Chelsea Gray’s Path to the Championship (25:35–42:51)

Approach to the Tournament (25:35–28:44)

• Cool being ranked #2 seed (“Two is good. One was Paige. I'm good.” 25:38)
• Walkout song, Lil Wayne's "A Milli": “It's like…I'm here type of moment and feel that you have with the song.” (26:00)
• Focused only on the first round after early exits in prior years.

Game-by-Game Journey

• Vs. Natasha Cloud:
  • Down 8–5 in a game to 11:
    • “Here we go again, Chels, get it together…” (29:05)
  • “I just gotta get out of the first round.” (27:05)
• Vs. Jackie Young:
  • Battle between close teammates.
    • “We know each other and we played each other's strengths all the time.” (30:17)
  • “Now you’ve got bragging rights!” (31:33, Sue)
• Vs. Paige Bueckers:
  • Managed tense refereeing; discussed how defending and fouling can act as tactical breathers (33:12–34:59)
• Vs. Kelsey Plum:
  • Down 8–0 but storms back, playing to size advantage and attacking inside.
    • “I couldn't take a...I was down 8–0 and she shoots the ball way too good to give her the ball back. I had to take efficient shots… I was exhausted after that one too.” (37:09–38:14)

1-on-1 as a Pure Point Guard (39:41–40:57)

• Relief in not having to set up teammates:
  • “Going into it, I was like, nah, I'm getting to my spots, I'm going to score. That's all I have to focus on.” (39:41)
  • “Playing one on one...it’s simplified. It’s simple.” (40:57)

Prize Money Plans

• “We went to a nice dinner in Miami…Right now, I'm just kind of chilling, not even touching it. That's in the savings.” (42:14)

4. The Battle of the Grays: Finals Breakdown (45:07–63:31)

Chemistry and Fun Facts (45:16–46:07)

• Revealed fun nicknames—“Ketchup”—because Allisha eats ketchup on her steak.
  • “She called me ketchup because I like to eat ketchup with my steak.” (45:34)

Finals – Strategy and Execution

• Allisha’s Game Plan:
  • “Ball pressure. She makes difficult shots, but I guess, like, try to force into difficult shots.” (46:33)
  • “My whole strategy is hoping that she missed shots. I mean, she's such a great shot maker.” (47:01)
• Chelsea’s Game Plan:
  • Avoid giving Allisha open threes, try to force her off the line, “gotta at least put the ball on the ground.” (47:40)

Game-by-Game Finals Recap

• Game One: Allisha jumps to 7–0 shutout—unique for such a close matchup.
  • “I won the first game 7–0, but for me it was like still staying humble… it's the best of three, so anything can happen.” (49:18)
• Game Two: Chelsea bounces back, drills consecutive threes, forces a Game 3.
  • “I was okay...I was even keel. I was fine. I got back on the court with two minutes left just to see some go through the net because I had missed some.” (50:17)
• Game Three:
  • Allisha takes a 6–0 lead in a race to 7.
    • “I was feeling good…I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think I had it in the bag…The biggest thing was to stay on offense…” (52:31)
  • Chelsea battles back to 6–4, with both players visibly exhausted.
    • “Oh shit, I’m about to get 7–0’d for game three…Just get one on the board, just start there.” (53:11)

Fatigue Sets In

• Both describe a “point of no return” with exhaustion:
  • Allisha: “I got in the paint and I ain’t even jumping around. I just started turning around and shooting off. Flat foot. I had no more legs.” (54:50)
  • Chelsea: “There was an O-board and she rushed to it. I looked and said, ‘Just pray she don’t make this.’” (55:10)
  • On their hunched-over moment: “I was like, you got a timeout? I ain’t got no—OK, we’re not gonna go to half court till you ready…Ok, let's go.” (55:59)
• Strategy to buy time between check-ups, especially for Chels:
  • “I wanted my seven seconds to start as soon as I catch the ball…that was definitely my strategy, a time to catch my breath.” (56:21)

The Final Play

• Allisha slips, Chelsea recovers for an open shot and clinches the $200,000.
  • Allisha: “Once I tried going for the ball and I slipped, she was wide open. I was like oh yeah, that's GG’s. That’s game.” (60:06)
  • Chelsea: “The first thing in my mind…wasn’t like ‘200K’—that came like 10 seconds later. I was like, ‘this is over.’ I was so exhausted, I couldn't move.” (61:30)

Aftermath

• Both truly spent, Allisha: “I went to locker room and just laid out on the floor. Flatlined.” (62:31)
• Chelsea: “I couldn’t move for like two days after.” (62:39)
• “Who knew that one on one weight is fre… My body done for.” (Chelsea, 62:57)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sue Bird (Host):
  • “Every basketball player watching knew what you guys were feeling.” (13:04, 59:16)
• Allisha Gray:
  • “Thank God I’m not a post player…So glad I’m a guard. They can have that.” (18:04, 18:14)
  • “My whole strategy is hoping that she missed shots.” (47:01)
  • “Like I said, I lost to the point God. Like, I didn’t just lose to an average Joe on the street. I lost to a great player.” (60:06)
• Chelsea Gray:
  • “Guards rule the world anyways. That’s just my opinion.” (28:09)
  • “You just go into your stuff, you have seven seconds, go get a bucket. ... It’s simplified. It’s simple.” (40:57)
  • “We both were kind of going for it… I shot it and it felt great.” (61:30)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Unrivaled Playoff Structure: 03:41–04:37
• Allisha Gray’s First Round Strategy: 04:38–10:58
• Game Plan against post players: 05:59–07:47, 14:23–19:10
• Timeout/Fatigue Strategy: 13:59, 33:54, 54:50
• Chelsea Gray's Tournament Reflection: 25:35–28:44
• Chelsea on Playing 1-on-1 as a PG: 39:41–40:57
• Finals Strategy, Game 3, Fatigue and Closing: 45:16–63:31

The Episode’s Tone and Takeaways

The conversation is casual, honest, and playful, featuring banter, strategic insights, and a real look into the physical and mental grind of high-level 1-on-1 basketball. Sue Bird draws out both competitors’ personalities and respect for each other, unwrapping not only their approaches but also the entertainment and growth of the women's game.

This episode is a must for anyone interested in what makes WNBA stars elite, both as athletes and as thinkers of the game. You don’t just get highlights—you get the context, inner battles, chess matches, and raw exhaustion that happen behind the scenes.

Summary Table

| Segment | Allisha Gray Key Point | Chelsea Gray Key Point | Notable Quotes/Stage | |------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------| | Mindset & Pressure | Studied past matchups, focused on threes, film study | Just wanted to get out of round one, "Guards rule the world" | 04:38–07:24, 28:09 | | Combating Post Players | Neutralized size with pressure & shooting | Grateful for pod system, easier guard matchups | 05:59–07:47, 28:09 | | Game-by-game Run | Survived comeback, focused on staying on offense | Fought back from multiple deficits, attacked paint when down | 09:21, 37:09–38:14 | | Finals Strategy | Force Chelsea into tough shots, “Hope she misses” | Deny Allisha the three-point line, force inside | 46:33–48:10 | | Finals Fatigue | “Had no legs, had to rest whenever possible” | “We played four games back to back, no downtime to recover” | 54:50, 59:00 | | Final Play & Aftermath | Slipped, gave up open shot, accepted loss with respect | Relief it was over, couldn’t move for two days after | 60:06, 62:39 |

For fans and newcomers alike, this episode is an inside look at the psyche, skillset, and soul of elite women's basketball.