Allisha Gray has built an impressive career on the basketball court, but her personal life has also entered a very exciting new chapter.
The Atlanta Dream guard is engaged to Tim Mangum Jr., a school psychologist who has been part of her life for several years. The couple’s relationship eventually led to a romantic proposal on March 29, 2025, when Mangum managed to surprise one of the people who knows him best.
Gray, who is known for her competitive nature and basketball talent, admitted that she was genuinely caught off guard by the proposal. That was no small achievement because Mangum knew his future wife was naturally curious and had a habit of asking plenty of questions.
Instead of arranging a traditional proposal that might have raised suspicion, Mangum created an elaborate fake magazine cover photo shoot. He worked with Gray’s agent and her younger sister to make the plan look completely believable.
The result was a moment Gray will likely never forget.
Who Is Allisha Gray’s Boyfriend Tim Mangum Jr.?
Tim Mangum Jr. is Allisha Gray’s fiancé and a school psychologist. He and Gray met while they were both college students through a connection involving WNBA star A’ja Wilson.
Mangum was already connected to Wilson through a mutual friend, while Wilson and Gray had become close friends during their time at the University of South Carolina.
That connection eventually brought Gray and Mangum into the same social circle.
Their first interactions were not exactly a traditional blind date. Instead, they developed a virtual friendship while Gray was often around Wilson.
Mangum recalled seeing Gray during FaceTime conversations with Wilson. Over time, the two became more familiar with each other, and what started as a friendship eventually developed into a romantic relationship.
It is a pretty interesting beginning to a relationship that later turned into an engagement.
How Allisha Gray and Tim Mangum Met
A’ja Wilson played a major role in bringing Gray and Mangum together.
Gray and Wilson became close during their college days at South Carolina. Meanwhile, one of Wilson’s friends was living with Mangum.
Because Wilson and Mangum were connected through mutual friends, Gray would often be around when Wilson was talking with him.
Mangum said that he and Wilson frequently FaceTimed, and Gray was often in the room because the two basketball players were close friends.
That gave Mangum the chance to get to know Gray before the two officially became a couple.
Gray later explained that Wilson even showed her a picture of Mangum and asked whether she thought he was cute. Gray initially thought Wilson was asking for herself.
Instead, Wilson was apparently playing matchmaker.
That small moment ended up becoming an important part of Gray and Mangum’s story.
A’ja Wilson Helped Bring Them Together
It is hard to tell the story of Allisha Gray and Tim Mangum without mentioning A’ja Wilson.
Wilson and Gray’s friendship began during their college years and continued into their professional basketball careers. Both eventually became prominent figures in the WNBA.
Wilson’s role in Gray’s personal life, however, went beyond friendship.
She helped create the introduction that eventually brought Gray and Mangum together.
Sometimes relationships begin through simple circumstances that do not seem important at the time. In this case, a college friendship and a few conversations over FaceTime eventually led to a serious relationship.
Years later, that connection helped lead to a proposal.
Tim Mangum Planned a Secret Proposal
Mangum knew that proposing to Gray would not be easy.
He described her as someone who asks a lot of questions and is naturally curious. That meant a normal surprise proposal could have been difficult to pull off.
So he decided to create an entire story around a fake photo shoot.
The idea was presented to Gray as a magazine cover shoot involving her younger sister. Gray’s agent reportedly contacted her about taking part in a sibling photo session.
There was one catch.
Gray was told she needed to dress up for the shoot.
At first, she was skeptical.
She questioned why she needed to wear a dress and wondered whether she could still look feminine without one. But when her sister was apparently going to participate and look glamorous, Gray decided she could not let her sibling outdo her.
That reaction played right into Mangum’s plan.
He Even Had to Convince Her to Get Her Nails Done
One of the funniest details about the proposal was Mangum’s effort to get Gray ready without making her suspicious.
Gray apparently does not normally get her nails done, so Mangum needed a believable reason for her to do it.
He used the fake magazine shoot as his explanation.
He told her that she would be appearing on a magazine cover and encouraged her to get her nails done because of the occasion.
The plan worked.
Gray agreed to get ready for the shoot, unaware that she was actually preparing for one of the biggest moments of her life.
Mangum later admitted that he was extremely nervous throughout the process because he knew just how curious she could be.
Gray Realized Something Was Different
When Gray finally arrived at the location, she noticed that things did not look like a normal photo shoot.
She saw rose petals on the ground and began questioning what was happening.
The setup included photos and large marquee letters spelling out “Marry Me.”
At that point, the fake magazine shoot was no longer much of a mystery.
Mangum was waiting for her, ready to ask the question he had been planning for so long.
The proposal was intimate and carefully planned, with the setting designed specifically to create a memorable moment for the couple.
Tim Mangum Was Nervous Before the Proposal
Even though Mangum had put together an elaborate plan, he was still very nervous.
He reportedly reached out to Gray’s father shortly before the proposal to ask for advice.
That detail makes the moment feel even more personal.
Planning a proposal is one thing, but actually standing in front of the person you want to marry is another. Mangum had spent days trying to keep everything secret, coordinating with Gray’s agent and sister and making sure the fake photo shoot appeared genuine.
But once Gray finally walked around the corner, his nerves reportedly gave way to emotion.
Seeing her made the reality of the moment sink in.
The Engagement Ring Had a Special Connection
Mangum proposed with a princess-cut diamond ring from Kay Jewelers.
Interestingly, Gray was not completely unfamiliar with the style of ring.
Mangum knew that she liked princess-cut diamonds, and the couple had actually designed a ring together years earlier.
That gave him an important clue when it came time to choose the engagement ring.
Rather than selecting something completely different, he found a ring that looked very similar to the design they had created together.
It was a thoughtful detail because the ring connected their past relationship to their future plans.
Allisha Gray Was Truly Surprised
Gray has admitted that she was very surprised by the proposal.
That is perhaps one of the biggest compliments Mangum could have received after putting so much effort into keeping the secret.
Because Gray is curious and asks questions, Mangum knew he needed to make the setup convincing from beginning to end.
Her agent, sister and Mangum all played their parts.
The fake photo shoot provided just enough of a reason for Gray to dress up and arrive at the location without suspecting what was coming.
Once she saw the rose petals and proposal setup, however, the truth became clear.
Their Relationship Started With Friendship
Gray and Mangum’s relationship did not begin with a dramatic first meeting.
Instead, it grew gradually through mutual friends and repeated interactions.
Their connection through Wilson gave them an opportunity to become familiar with each other before their relationship became romantic.
That friendship-based beginning may have helped them build a strong foundation.
Mangum was able to see Gray in a relaxed environment, while Gray had the chance to get to know him through someone she already trusted.
Over time, their relationship became serious enough that marriage was eventually part of their plans.
Gray’s Basketball Career Adds Another Chapter
While her relationship with Mangum has attracted plenty of attention, Gray continues to have a major presence in professional basketball.
She has established herself as an important WNBA player and has represented the Atlanta Dream.
Her career requires travel, training and a demanding schedule, which makes the couple’s relationship another part of balancing life away from the court.
The timing of their engagement also came just before the start of another WNBA season.
Gray acknowledged that wedding planning might have to take a back seat while basketball takes priority.
For a professional athlete, finding time for a major wedding can be complicated. Between practices, games, travel and offseason commitments, there are only so many free days.
Still, the couple already appeared to agree on what mattered most.
What Kind of Wedding Do They Want?
Gray and Mangum did not appear overly focused on making their wedding about elaborate details.
Instead, Mangum emphasized celebrating their relationship and having the people they love around them.
Food was also clearly an important part of the plan.
For the couple, the ideal celebration seemed to be one where their family and friends could come together and enjoy the occasion.
That approach reflects the way their relationship has developed. The proposal itself involved close family members, including Gray’s sister and father, while their relationship began through a close mutual friend.
Family and friends have been part of their story from the beginning.
Tim Mangum and Allisha Gray’s Next Chapter
The engagement marked a major milestone for Gray and Mangum.
Their relationship began during their college years through mutual connections and eventually grew into a long-term partnership.
Mangum’s proposal also showed how well he understands Gray.
He knew that a simple surprise would probably not work. Instead, he created an entire fake story around a magazine photo shoot, got her sister involved and even convinced her to get her nails done.
It was a complicated plan, but it worked.
Gray arrived expecting a photo session and instead walked into a marriage proposal.
Final Thoughts
Allisha Gray’s boyfriend, Tim Mangum Jr., is now her fiancé after a carefully planned proposal in March 2025.
Mangum works as a school psychologist, and his relationship with Gray began through mutual friends while they were both college students. A’ja Wilson played an especially important role in bringing the two together, with Gray and Mangum first becoming familiar with each other through Wilson.
Years later, Mangum planned a surprise proposal that required plenty of preparation. He worked with Gray’s agent and sister to create the illusion of a magazine photo shoot, convincing Gray to dress up and even get her nails done.
When she arrived, she found rose petals, photos and a marriage proposal waiting for her.
The couple’s story is a reminder that some of the best relationships begin in surprisingly simple ways. What started with college friendships and FaceTime conversations eventually became a serious relationship, and now Gray and Mangum are preparing for married life together.