WNBA All-Star Allisha Grey Shares the Quirky Behavior That Helps Her Loosen up Earlier than Mattress

In SELF’s Sleeping With… sequence, we ask folks from totally different profession paths, backgrounds, and levels of life how they make sleep magic occur.

Along with her third consecutive WNBA All-Star look quick approaching, you would possibly assume that Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Grey can be battling a case of nerves. Not solely is the stage a large one, however she’ll additionally should comply with up her über-impressive exhibiting eventually yr’s All-Star Weekend, the place she turned the primary hooper to win each the WNBA Abilities Problem and the 3-Level Contest in the identical season. “For me to win each of ’em, I imply, it was a tremendous feeling,” she tells SELF through Zoom main as much as 2025’s massive sport, which will probably be held on July 19. “It was cool to make historical past. That was only a nice accomplishment in my profession.”

In one other milestone, this yr marks the primary time Grey has earned a beginning nod for the All-Star sport. In reality, she’s solely the second participant within the historical past of the Atlanta Dream to be named an All-Star in three straight seasons, and he or she’s the primary Dream participant to start out in an All-Star Sport since 2018. “Simply being an All-Star is an honor inside itself, however this season, being an All-Star starter, that’s much more thrilling,” she says.

So sure, the stress is on—however in some way, Grey is chilling. Overthinking, she reveals, is one thing her dad taught her to keep away from (“Simply play free,” she says), and that recommendation has clearly served her properly all through her profession (as accolades like her 2017 Rookie of the Yr title, her Olympic gold medal in 3×3 basketball, and her soon-to-be three All-Star appearances present). “I’m at my greatest after I don’t overthink, as a result of if you are likely to overthink, it impacts different elements of your sport,” she says. “So for me, I simply let it go in a single ear and out the opposite.”

Whereas, certain, it will be good to tug off a victory (to not point out win both or each the Abilities Problem and 3-Level Contest once more), her major mission for the 2025 All-Star Weekend is fairly down-to-earth: “I’m simply getting into…to have enjoyable,” she says. With a number of days to go till tip-off, SELF caught up with Grey to ask how she preps for mattress after a protracted day, since an excellent evening’s sleep is essential to a high-powered on-court efficiency. Beneath, you’ll discover all the small print.

I’ll begin by kicking again with a present or two.

After observe, I come house, take a pleasant, sizzling bathe, heat up my meal—we get meals on the fitness center, so what I eat is determined by regardless of the chef makes that day—and sit down. I’m normally house by 4 p.m. Relying on how I’m feeling, both I’m watching YouTube movies or I’m on Hulu or Netflix. I’m heavy on YouTube. I really like YouTube. That’s most likely my favourite factor to be on. I’m so into YouTube that I’ve YouTube Premium as a result of I don’t just like the adverts interrupting my movies.