Chelsea Gray and Dana Evans were featured in the first episode of The Group Chat, sponsored by Sephora. The show uses a podcast-style format, with Unrivaled players answering questions and sharing behind-the-scenes stories.
The Reality of Being a Professional Athlete
The first episode centered on the struggles each player faced on the way to the league. Evans opened the conversation by sharing that one of her biggest hurdles was not being named Ms. Basketball. She said the snub became a turning point for her, and she took it personally as motivation to prove people wrong. As a result, Evans said she still carries a chip on her shoulder to this day.
Then Gray took her turn and explained how tough college was because of recurring injuries. At times, she said, it made her wonder if her career might be over. Still, she pushed through the setbacks, and she said she is proud of how she fought back, especially since so many players deal with similar issues every year. That dedication has paid off, with Gray continuing to dominate in both the WNBA and Unrivaled.
This new format also pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to become a pro. It shows it is not perfect for everyone, and it gives a new perspective for younger athletes and longtime fans.
Now, Unrivaled and WNBA fans are eager to hear more of the love, pressure and struggle their favorite players rarely get to share. The next episode has not been announced yet, so fans are keeping an eye on their feeds to see who is up next.
Jesse Vanderveer is a basketball reporter and writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @JesseVanderveer22
