California Redwoods attackman Chris Gray officially announced his retirement after three years of professional lacrosse.

The second overall pick in the 2022 College Draft scored 36 goals in his first two seasons with the Atlas before being traded to California prior to the 2024 season.

“I started playing when I was in kindergarten,” he said. “Playing my whole life, part of several different teams, you take a step back and reflect on the process and how much of a crazy ride it was. Honestly, it’s just a lot of gratefulness at the end of the day. I was so fortunate to be a part of so many great teams, win different championships, and create lifelong friendships that are created through lacrosse.”

Gray arrived in the PLL with a lot of hype and expectation. On May 2, 2022, his final regular-season game with the University of North Carolina, Gray broke the NCAA Division I career points record (401) last held by Lyle Thompson.

For all of Gray’s success at the college level, he prepared himself for the moment he would make an embarrassing rookie mistake, a “welcome to the league” moment, and he didn’t have to wait long.

In his first professional game, one month after his record-setting college performance, Gray and the Atlas were taking on, coincidentally, the Redwoods. Gray was coming from behind the cage and tried to throw a lefty skip pass that sailed out of bounds. 

The Redwoods defense immediately started trash-talking and chirping at Gray.

“You can’t do anything but laugh at that moment,” he said. “No one cares who you are. You have to prove yourself. That’s something I always appreciated. You have to earn your respect through the sport.”

Gray made up for the mistake quickly.

His first career goal was a snipe that was set up by Jeff Teat. ESPN reporter Quint Kessenich interviewed him between quarters and asked, “How much [of the goal] do you need to see to let it go?”

“Just the corner, really,” Gray confidently replied.

"Just the corner" 😂

So good, @PremierLacrosse put it on a shirt.
Cop yours: https://t.co/ofv19nUIms pic.twitter.com/7tmTgw92Q4

— New York Atlas (@PLLAtlas) June 5, 2022

Gray said he appreciated the opportunity the PLL gives its players to have the platform to be themselves, and that moment also taught him something important about how to carry himself.

“It was funny, I think it was partly funny because half of me was joking,” he said. “It falls back to how I approach the game. I always want to be serious and win, but I think at the end of the day, we have such a cool opportunity to play an amazing sport, so it’s always important to have a smile on your face and not take yourself too seriously.”

Gray put together back-to-back All-Star seasons with at least 34 points in each of them. His performance was stellar enough that the Redwoods traded the fifth pick in the 2024 College Draft – often referred to as the “Greatest Draft” – in exchange for Gray and a third-round pick.

He already knew midfielder Romar Dennis from their days playing with the Atlas together, and he was particularly excited to play with Rob Pannell, someone he watched as a kid and looked up to. He was blown away, however, with the reception he received from the entire team, which he called an extension of the leadership from the sidelines.

“When I was transitioning to the Redwoods this summer, I was welcomed with open arms from the guys,” he said. “Immediately, once the trade news hit, I was able to speak to just about most of the team. I think that speaks to the culture [head coach] Nat [St. Laurent] has established on the Redwoods. From the top down, everybody buys in and embodies that, and I think that’s what makes the group so special.”

Unfortunately, Gray didn’t have as consistent of a year with California. He showed flashes of the All-Star performances of the past two seasons. His first goal with the Redwoods, coincidentally, came against the Atlas and was a precision blast to the top corner. He also was instrumental in the team’s 9-7 victory over the Boston Cannons, leading the team with three goals.

🚨 CHRIS GRAY HAS HIS FIRST GOAL AS A CALIFORNIA REDWOOD🚨

And it was a SNIPE 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/51Ujv5TnIH

— California Redwoods (@PLLRedwoods) June 16, 2024

Gray finished the season with eight goals and 12 total points. 

Despite only playing for one season with California, Gray instantly connected with St. Laurent and his coaching style. Not only was Gray appreciative he got to play for him, he knows their relationship will extend beyond the field now that he is retired.

“One of my favorite things about Nat is how much he cares about and protects his guys,” he said. “He’s always going to be in your corner when you’re on his team. He coaches the same way I like to play, with an attitude and chip on his shoulder. That was something I was able to notice immediately at training camp. Nat’s an amazing coach, and overall, an amazing guy.”

Upon making the decision to retire, Gray couldn’t help but reflect on his journey: the elite players he got to share the field with, the coaches who guided him through every challenge, and the fans who supported him and who, he says, will drive the sport and the league forward.

“The first thing that comes to mind is ‘Thank you,’ but I simply don’t think that is enough to show how appreciative I am of all the support I’ve gotten throughout the years, and the lives you’re able to impact through the sport,” he said. “Lacrosse is such a niche sport, so you have a lot of the same fans showing up to your games, following you your whole career. Just getting to make one person’s day after a game is enough for me.”