WNBA Star Allisha Gray Launches Signature Nike Goggles

What started as protection from a painful eye poke became one of the most recognizable looks in women's basketball.

Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray accidentally got poked in the eye during training camp for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The injury hurt so badly that she decided to wear protective goggles during the Games.

The U.S. team won gold in 3x3 basketball, and Gray never took the goggles off. "If I don't have my goggles, I don't feel right," she tells Women's Health.

The aggressive guard drives hard to the basket and fights for rebounds in the paint, where eye injuries happen often. As someone who wears prescription contacts, she also loves not worrying about losing a lens during intense play.

Three years ago, Nike approached Gray about designing her own signature goggles. She worked closely with their vision team to create fog-proof, humidity-proof lenses strong enough to handle the physical demands of professional basketball.

"With this year's lenses, we finally got it right," Gray says. The specs feature advanced technology that lets her play entire games without adjustment.

The goggles have become so iconic that fans struggled to recognize her without them. "It's kind of cool how the goggles have become my identity," she says.

Why This Inspires

Earlier this week, the Atlanta Dream hosted "Goggle Lish Night," gifting protective eyewear to every fan in attendance. The entire arena wore goggles in support of their star player, and her new Nike Flyfree Shield lenses sold out almost immediately after launch.

Gray's success comes after years of feeling overlooked despite being a four-time All-Star and 2017 WNBA Rookie of the Year. Nike also released a "Slept On" edition of the A'Two sneaker in her honor, featuring her career accomplishments woven into the fabric inside the shoe.

"Throughout my career, I've kind of flown under the radar," Gray says. "When the time presents itself, I feel like I've stepped up and performed."

She credits consistency as the most underrated part of her game. Even on off nights when shots aren't falling, she focuses on defense and doing whatever helps her team win.

Looking beyond basketball, the self-proclaimed Lego expert already has her sights set on designing golf gear next. But for now, she's savoring the moment as the world finally recognizes what she's been building all along.