Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard have been in the WNBA since they were drafted in 2017 and 2022, respectively (Gray as the fourth overall pick by the Dallas Wings, and Howard as the first overall pick by the Atlanta Dream). The pair have quite a bit of WNBA experience between them, are leaders for their team, and, along with Angel Reese, are All-Stars this season.
Friday's media availability at the Obama Presidential Center offered a rare opportunity: the chance to speak with both Gray and Howard during what is typically a somewhat less guarded appearance. The pair were both in jovial moods ahead of tonight's All-Star Game, when they'll be coached by Cheryl Reeve. But during the regular season, they're coached by Karl Smesko—who is in his second season as a head coach in the WNBA.
Players often get asked how their younger counterparts are doing as they adjust to the W, but aren't as frequently asked about their coaches. Both Gray and Howard had only enthusiastic things to say about Smesko.
"Oh, he's doing great," Gray told High Post Hoops. "He's come around a lot, like, he jokes with us. I feel like he's filled us out good."
Howard had similar feedback: "He's doing a lot better," she said. "He's way more comfortable than he was the first year. I think being able to have that year to just build relationships and gather familiarity... we can talk to him a little bit more."
"And, obviously, he's starting to realize it's more to life than basketball, so we're trying to keep him light-hearted," Howard also said.
Smesko has been a positive addition to the Dream
Smesko, who came to the WNBA after coaching at Florida Gulf University for several years, has been a strong addition to the Dream's franchise. He's also been a steady lighthouse for his team. The Dream has battled through a lot this season after the team's playoff run ended early last year. That's included weathering the increased media and social media scrutiny that was inevitable after Reese surprised everyone and joined the Dream during free agency, something that appears to have only been good for the team.
Atlanta has an interesting battle stretch ahead of them when the WNBA returns to regular play after the All-Star break. The team is in the running to be Eastern Conference Champions, but will need to dig deeply to keep performing at the necessary level. They'll travel to Dallas on July 29 and then host the Seattle Storm on July 31.
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