Allisha Gray Battles Hand Injury as Atlanta Dream Move Closer to WNBA Championship

ATLANTA, Ga. — Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray continues to play through a left-hand injury as her team prepares for Game 4 of the WNBA Finals against the Golden State Valkyries. Although Gray has returned to the court, she acknowledged Friday that she has not fully recovered. Following Friday's practice, Gray was seen applying ice to her injured hand before putting on a protective brace. She explained that she wears the brace when she is not participating in basketball activities. Gray suffered the injury during Game 1 of Atlanta's semifinal series against the New York Liberty. She subsequently underwent a minor medical procedure that left two scars on her hand. Gray confirmed that no screws were inserted but did not provide additional details about the treatment. The injury forced Gray to miss most of the semifinal series before she returned for the opening game of the WNBA Finals. Atlanta dropped that contest 68-64 to Golden State but has since recovered to take a 2-1 lead in the championship series. Despite playing with limited use of her injured hand, Gray has remained an important part of Atlanta's rotation. Through three Finals games, she is averaging 15 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists. However, her shooting efficiency has declined, as she has connected on just 28.9% of her field-goal attempts and 22.2% of her shots from beyond the arc. Gray has acknowledged the challenges of competing while injured and emphasized the importance of recognizing that she can still contribute in ways beyond scoring. Rather than focusing entirely on her shooting struggles, she has worked to remain effective in other areas of the game.

Her injury also became a concern during Game 3 when Golden State's Gabby Williams made contact with Gray's left hand. Gray briefly left the floor following the incident but returned to action minutes later. While the injury has presented challenges, Gray has continued to compete as Atlanta approaches a potential championship-clinching opportunity.

The Dream enter Saturday's Game 4 with a 2-1 advantage in the series, putting them in position to move one victory closer to securing the WNBA title. With the championship within reach, Gray's ability to contribute despite her injury could remain an important factor in Atlanta's pursuit of the title. Game 4 is scheduled for Saturday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.