Chance Gray Returns Home to Ohio Roots With WNBA Draft Selection by Los Angeles Sparks

The dream that started on gym floors in the Cincinnati area became reality for Chance Gray on April 13, when the Los Angeles Sparks selected her with the 24th overall pick in the WNBA Draft.

Gray, a 2022 graduate of Winton Woods High School and former Lakota West star, now heads west to join a Sparks franchise that went 21-23 last season and missed the postseason. She spent her final two collegiate seasons at Ohio State University, where she evolved into one of the Big Ten's most consistent scorers.

This past season alone, Gray started 35 games for the Buckeyes and averaged 14.7 points per contest. Her ability to score from multiple levels and run an offense made her a reliable anchor for Ohio State's attack throughout the campaign.

The path to Draft Day was not a straight line. Before becoming a Buckeye, Gray spent her freshman and sophomore years at the University of Oregon, building her game at the Power Five level before transferring back closer to home. That experience shaped her into a more complete player by the time she arrived in Columbus.

With this selection, Gray became the 21st player in Ohio State history to hear her name called at a WNBA Draft. The Buckeyes have quietly built one of the stronger pipelines to the professional ranks in women's college basketball, and Gray now represents the region at the highest level of the women's game.

The Sparks' draft class also included Ta'Liya Latson from South Carolina, taken with the 20th overall pick, and Kentucky's Amelia Hassett at No. 35. Los Angeles is looking to rebuild after a frustrating 2025 season and add pieces that can contribute immediately.

For Gray, the selection marks both a professional milestone and a homecoming of sorts. Ohio basketball has produced a steady stream of talent over the years, and Gray now represents the region at the highest level of the women's game. Her journey from high school star to Big Ten standout to WNBA draftee reflects the kind of persistence that defines successful professional athletes.

The 2026 WNBA season will give basketball fans in Los Angeles a new reason to watch, and a Cincinnati-area product will be right there on the court trying to make her mark.