In SELF’s Sleeping With… collection, we ask individuals from completely different profession paths, backgrounds, and levels of life how they make sleep magic occur.
Together with her third consecutive WNBA All-Star look quick approaching, you may suppose that Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Grey can be battling a case of nerves. Not solely is the stage an enormous one, however she’ll additionally must comply with up her über-impressive displaying 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 an incredible feeling,” she tells SELF by way of Zoom main as much as 2025’s huge recreation, which can 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 recreation. Actually, 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 she or he’s the primary Dream participant to begin in an All-Star Recreation 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 strain 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 nicely 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 finest once I don’t overthink, as a result of if you are likely to overthink, it impacts different components of your recreation,” she says. “So for me, I simply let it go in a single ear and out the opposite.”
Whereas, positive, it could 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 stepping into…to have enjoyable,” she says. With just a few days to go till tip-off, SELF caught up with Grey to ask how she preps for mattress after an extended day, since a great night time’s sleep is vital 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 follow, I come house, take a pleasant, sizzling bathe, heat up my meal—we get meals on the health club, so what I eat relies on 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 advertisements interrupting my movies.