USC's Aaliyah Gayles Was Shot Nine Times. Now She’s Eyeing A Comeback
The Lead
Wondery
3.9 • 2.2K Ratings
🗓️ 7 December 2022
⏱️ 23 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Back in March, Aaliyah Gayles -- a talented point guard from Las Vegas -- played in the McDonald's Girls All-American Basketball Game. It was just the latest achievement in her already impressive high school career, which included her being named a top ten national recruit. But just a few weeks after that game, Gayles’s life and promising basketball career changed forever. Today, reporter David Gardner tells us about how she survived a near-fatal shooting, her long journey back to the court, and the mindset that might allow her to realize a lifelong dream.
Read David Gardner's story about Aaliyah Gayles:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/11/07/aaliyah-gayles-usc-basketball/
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey, prime members, you can listen to the lead, add free on Amazon Music. Download the app today. |
| 0:09.0 | Drilla Words is back for another season exclusively on Amazon Music. |
| 0:14.0 | We asked people to bring in three words of meaning and significance to their lives. |
| 0:19.0 | We used that as a springboard for conversation. |
| 0:21.0 | And then at the end of the show, we asked them for a word that they'd be happy never to hear again. |
| 0:26.0 | So that's Drilla Words with made John Bishop and Tony Pitts listen to it every Friday exclusively on Amazon Music. |
| 0:42.0 | Welcome back to the 2022 McDonald's All-American Girls Game. |
| 0:46.0 | One of the 10 whole nights in high school basketball. |
| 0:49.0 | The class of 2022, Janaya Barker, Aliyah Gales, some of the top players in the country on the court here at Winchester Arena in Chicago. |
| 0:59.0 | That was the scene at the McDonald's All-American Girls Basketball game back in March. |
| 1:04.0 | And it was a memorable night for one of the names you heard there, a point guard out of Las Vegas, Aliyah Gales. |
| 1:10.0 | My defense is at a premium of this game as Gales knocks down her first three. Aliyah Gales. Aliyah Gales headed to USC. Massive recruiting win for Lindsey Gottlieb. |
| 1:21.0 | But just a few weeks after that game, Aliyah Gales' life and promising basketball career changed forever. |
| 1:31.0 | You please say four people were injured in a shooting Saturday night at a house party in North Las Vegas. |
| 1:36.0 | And we learned Sunday that victim most seriously injured was Spring Valley High School Girls Basketball Scar Aliyah Gales. |
| 1:43.0 | Gales sustained critical injuries to both of her arms and legs when she was shot ten times. |
| 1:49.0 | Today, we're joined by reporter David Gardner to look at Aliyah Gales' long journey back. |
| 1:54.0 | And the mindset that has her determined to play again for the team she's always dreamed of, USC. |
| 2:00.0 | When people came into her room and they were crying, she would send them back out mercilessly. And it was because she didn't want to feel like she was being pity. |
| 2:09.0 | From Wondery, I'm Tiffany Oshinsky. It's Wednesday, December 7th, and this is The Lead. |
| 2:20.0 | David Gardner, welcome to The Lead. Thank you so much for joining us. |
| 2:24.0 | Thanks for having me. Pleasure to be here. |
... |
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