There are not many players in the league currently who are battling for what can be their fourth championship ring. But Point Gawd Chelsea Gray is in that elite group and if she accomplishes the three-peat with the Las Vegas Aces, she will become the only active player in the league with four rings. Nevertheless, this is not something she would have imagined after what unfolded during the last year’s Finals, a career-threatening injury. Yet, thanks to her head coach’s unwavering support and encouragement, Gray found the strength to believe in herself and fight for another title.

Recently, the Aces released a poignant short documentary showcasing the comeback journey of their 3x WNBA champ. The Aces guard revealed, “Becky said something to me when I found out that I wasn’t going going to be able to play the game for she was like ‘your wheels might be down but that mind isn’t.'”

While the 31-year-old was grappling with the disappointment of not being able to play in the next game of the Finals, Hammon’s simple yet invaluable advice definitely helped her navigate through her grief and find the strength to persevere. She herself acknowledged Hammon’s attitude and how crucial it is to the team’s overall success.

“I think that – seeing her still have an uplifted spirit and still showing the confidence that she has in the rest of the team, I think that helped lighten the mood a lot,” Gray further added. Well, Gray took her coach’s advice to heart and made her return to the court midway through this season.

While she may not be putting up the same numbers as before, averaging 8.6 points, her experience has proven invaluable for the Aces. Even in Game 1 of the playoffs against the Seattle Storm, the veteran notched 16 crucial points when other star players like A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum struggled. However, this comeback seemed almost unimaginable after what took place almost a year ago.

Chelsea Gray suffered a devastating foot injury against the Liberty

It was last October when the Las Vegas Aces locked horns against the New York Liberty in the Finals. While they started the five-game series with back-to-back wins, they just missed on sweeping their opponents in the third game. However, they still had the chance to claim the title with two more games on the cards, but the major blow came in the fourth quarter.

With a half of the quarter left before the final buzzer, Gray was fiercely defending against the Liberty’s Breanna Stewart in the paint. In a heartbreaking twist of fate, Gray accidentally clipped Stewart’s heel, leading to an awkward landing that resulted in a painful pop in her left foot. While she managed to stay on the court for a few more moments, deep down, she knew something wasn’t right.

When Hammon called a timeout, Gray made the tough decision to sit on the bench, prioritizing her chance to contribute in Game 4 as victory seemed increasingly out of reach in that moment. Unfortunately, her hopes were dashed shortly after when the post-game X-ray revealed the worst possible news. The Aces star had suffered a foot fracture, ruling her out for the rest of the Finals.

“My breath kind of stopped,” said Gray later on while recalling the dreadful moment. All she wanted was to play her heart out and help her team secure their second consecutive championship—a feat the league hadn’t seen in over a decade at that point. Although Gray couldn’t take the court, her teammates rallied in her absence, determined to win the title for her. It was a bittersweet relief for Gray, knowing they had brought home the championship, even if she couldn’t be out there fighting alongside them.

Now almost a year later, as Coach Becky Hammon’s advice reflected that the mind never stops, Gray is back on the court, fighting for what could be her fourth championship ring. With the Aces set to face off in Game 2 against Seattle tonight, Gray will be looking to push her team one step closer to their ultimate goal—a historic three-peat.