ATLANTA — During the regular season, Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray runs the court. But in the off-season, she is one of several WNBA stars running their own businesses.
Gray has many accomplishments in her career: 2017 Rookie of the Year, 2024 Olympic gold medal and the first player to win the All-Star Game skills challenge and the 3-point contest.
What you may not know about Gray though: She became a franchise owner of WNB Factory restaurant in Milledgeville, Georgia.
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“I was just a pure hooper - like make my money, be able to retire and just enjoy life and take vacations. But as I got older, I realized that you have to invest your money in this world to allow your money to grow,” Gray told ABC’s Robin Roberts for “Good Morning America.”
“It’s just cool just to walk in and be like, ‘Wow, like this? This is mine. This is my establishment,” she added.
Gray isn’t the only WNBA player with a “side hustle” Azura Stevens, who won a title with Chicago Sky and now plays for Los Angeles Sparks, opened up a Southern seafood truck with her dad in Raleigh, North Carolina.
“This was kind of a dream that my dad has always had of like having a restaurant or having something of his own, you know, And for me to be able to help use my platform for that it’s been really, really special. He’s so, so talented with cooking. Like, he’s just like the Michael Jordan of cooking in my eyes,” Stevens said.
“It’s a long time coming. I’ve worked in the industry for a long time, so it feels good. To have one of your dreams come true, you know and to have Azura be a part of it. Have my whole family be a part of,” Damon Stevens said.
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Indiana Fever guard and former Atlanta Dream player Erica Wheeler always planned to become an entrepreneur.
“I’ve always had a business mind. I’ve always told myself once I get in a position of like having enough money to create different lanes, I’m a do it,” she told Roberts.
Wheeler opened Cliche Restaurant and Wine Bar in College Park to honor her mom, Melissa, and her Southern roots.
“When my mom passed away, I told myself like, Imma always make sure I create a family environment. And that’s how Cliche is. Like the atmosphere is a very welcoming vibe,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler said welcoming friends, family and teammates to her restaurant has been the most rewarding part of the journey.
“I think it was super cool for them to see me in that light of like being one of the owners of a restaurant. They just showed so much love,” she said.
The 2025 WNBA season tips off in May.
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