Youth Voices Rising: Zoey Gray Talks Perseverance in Sports With WVSU Coach Women’s Basketball Coach Whitney Bays

This story is part of Youth Voices Rising, a Black By God narrative change project supported by The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation and produced in partnership with the Norman Jordan African American Arts and Heritage Academy at West Virginia State University.

During Black By God’s Youth Voices Rising camp, Zoey Gray was assigned to the sports category, where she interviewed Whitney Bays, head women’s basketball coach at West Virginia State University, about setbacks, perseverance and finding ways to keep contributing to the game.

As a multisport high school athlete in West Virginia, Gray brought her own connection to sports to the conversation.

Bays described a basketball journey that included injuries and getting cut from teams. Their conversation explored what happens when an athlete’s plans change—and how those experiences can shape what comes next.

Gray asked how those challenges made Bays feel and what she learned from them. Bays explained that making a difference doesn’t always depend on being the person playing.

“You can still have an impact on things even if you’re not fully hands-on,” Bays said.

That perspective connected her experiences as a player with her work as a coach. Her role in basketball has changed, but she continues to contribute to the sport.

For Youth Voices Rising, Gray brought a young athlete’s questions to a conversation about the parts of sports that go beyond wins and losses. She asked about the challenges Bays faced and the lessons she learned along the way.

Gray asked what advice she would give someone standing in the room that day, Bays offered a direct response:

“Don’t quit. Whatever your dream is, whatever you’re passionate about, don’t give up.”