Dream Will Be Without Allisha Gray in Game 2, With Her Series Status Unclear
The update: Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray has been ruled out of Game 2 against the New York Liberty on Wednesday. Head coach Karl Smesko announced the news to reporters on Tuesday. Her status after Game 2 is day-to-day.
What Smesko said
Smesko was brief, and his wording left little room for doubt about Wednesday. In his words, “Allisha Gray is out tomorrow … Day to day after that.” He added that he had nothing further to share.
Some details have emerged on the medical side:
- Gray had an X-ray on her hand and an appointment on Tuesday to have it examined.
- No results or diagnosis have been released. Reports describe the injury as both a hand and a finger injury, and the team hasn’t said which structures are involved.
- Her status for Game 3 and beyond is unclear.
Earlier speculation about a dislocation remains unconfirmed.
How the injury unfolded
The injury happened in two stages in Game 1:
- At the 3:59 mark of the first quarter, Gray exited holding her left wrist and hand area.
- She came back early in the second quarter with her ring and pinky fingers taped. Correction to earlier coverage: several reports say she removed the tape soon after checking back in.
- Just before halftime, she dove for a loose ball and appeared to injure the same hand again. She was ruled out for the rest of the game.
- She later returned to the Dream bench during the third quarter with a splint on her finger.
It is her left hand, her shooting hand. She played 11 minutes and scored seven points.
Why her absence matters
Gray has been central to Atlanta’s run:
- She was the Dream’s top scorer this season at 19.0 points per game, and averaged 22.0 per game in the first-round sweep of Washington.
- The Dream reached their first semifinals since 2018.
Can the Dream cope without her?
Game 1 suggests they can, at least for a night. Atlanta rallied in her absence with a 32-15 third-quarter advantage on the way to a 92-82 win. Jordin Canada scored 25 points and DeWanna Bonner added 23 in that game.
Bonner’s arrival looks like important insurance. Atlanta has gone 8-0 since acquiring her in August. ESPN’s outlook also points to Bonner and Isobel Borlase as the players most likely to see more minutes in Gray’s place.
There are risks, though:
- Rhyne Howard shot 5-of-20 in Game 1, and a repeat of that would put real pressure on Atlanta’s scoring.
- New York will have studied how Atlanta won, particularly the 21 turnovers the Dream forced and converted into 32 points. Matching that is not guaranteed.
- The Liberty are facing a 1-0 deficit and will be desperate.
The bigger question: Game 3 and beyond
Smesko’s “day to day” language is the key phrase. It means Gray isn’t ruled out of the series, but it also doesn’t promise a return. An X-ray and an exam were just done, and the Dream haven’t shared the findings. What happens next depends on those results and on how Gray responds over the next few days.
Even if she returns, her effectiveness is uncertain. A shooting-hand injury affecting two fingers could limit her ball handling and touch, so a cleared Gray might not be the one who averaged 19 points.
What to watch
- The official injury report for Wednesday and the days after.
- Any word on the X-ray and exam results.
- Whether Gray is listed as questionable for Game 3.
- Whether she practices or shoots with a splint or tape.
- Howard’s response after a rough Game 1.
Bottom line
Gray is out for Game 2, and the series outlook remains open. The Dream hold a 1-0 lead and have shown depth, which gives them a cushion. If Game 2 goes their way, they can take pressure off the decision. If it doesn’t, the question of when to bring back their leading scorer, and at what level of health, gets harder.
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