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South Carolina’s Allisha Gray, Kaela Davis to enter WNBA Draft

The juniors and former transfers are turning pro.

By Sydney Hunte Updated
Stanford v South Carolina Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

As it turns out, Allisha Gray and Kaela Davis will be going out on top. The junior duo, a big part of South Carolina’s championship run, announced today that they would forgo their senior seasons and declare for the WNBA Draft. The AP broke the news earlier with both players confirming the reports later on social media.

“Usually the hardest thing and the right thing are the same.” I can remember my mom saying that to me when I was younger.. I can also remember thinking it was the stupidest thing I had ever heard. LOL. What I can’t recall is the number of times that lesson has given me the courage to take chances or make tough decisions every one may not always understand or agree with. Today is one of the times. As kid I grew up dreaming of making a Final Four, winning a National Championship, Cutting down the nets. THANK YOU SOUTH CAROLINA! Because of you I just had the opportunity to live out that dream and Now I have the opportunity to pursue another one. Just like winning a national championship..I have also always dreamed of playing in the WNBA. Growing up watching my dad, surrogate Uncles & Sisters Candace & Kelsey… I wanted to follow in their footsteps. Now I have the chance to make that dream a reality too. I don’t feel like I can ever say Thank You enough!! Thank you!! To The University of South Carolina, To Coach Dawn Staley & our entire coaching staff and To all of our awesome support staff. And especially to our fans. Words can’t express how truly, truly grateful I am for your acceptance and most of your SUPPORT. Gamecock Nation is what every fan base in the country should be striving to be. I hope you will always love me as much as I will love you. Thank You! And last but certainly not least…a big thank you to my teammates. I love you guys. What we just accomplished together is ours forever. We made history together. I thank you for supporting me, lifting me and for pushing me to be better everyday. You will forever be my sisters. Thank You! This is such a bittersweet moment for me. I’m so sad to be leaving Columbia, The University, my team & friends. At the same time I’m also really excited to be blessed with the chance to pursue another dream, to keep growing my game as an individual as well as the game of women’s basketball as whole. This is an exciting chapter for me.. and I know I couldn’t have done it without you South Carolina. Thank You. “Forever to Thee”

A post shared by Kaela Davis (@kadie_trey) on

Per WNBA rules, entrants must either turn 22 years old during their draft year or have no college eligibility left. Since both Davis and Gray have turned 22 already, they are indeed eligible to declare for the draft. (That also means we don’t have to worry about A’ja Wilson’s departure since she turns 22 next year).

Davis and Gray’s stock may not be much higher than it is now after helping the Gamecocks clinch their first-ever national championship on Sunday. While a pair of solid senior seasons could see it rise even more, the reverse could happen if they end up getting injured. With that in mind, it’s understandable if they want to make the jump now rather than wait.

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