Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray is listed as day-to-day with a left hand injury heading into Game 1 of the WNBA Finals against the Golden State Valkyries. Gray hurt the hand during Game 1 of the semifinals, where she played just 11 minutes, and underwent a procedure on it before the championship series began, according to ESPN.
Gray said she considers herself day-to-day regarding her availability for the Finals, per ESPN’s report. Sporting News reported that Gray is set to return from the hand injury in time for Game 1.
What The Team And Gray Have Said
No formal designation such as out, doubtful or questionable has been attached to Gray beyond her own day-to-day assessment. The procedure she had on the hand came before the Finals started, but neither source detailed what the surgery or treatment entailed, nor specified the exact nature of the injury.
Sporting News framed Gray’s expected return as significant, noting that if she plays, Atlanta will have “a key offensive contributor for the Finals that Golden State has not faced in the playoffs.” That matters because the Valkyries swept the defending champion Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals without having to game-plan for Gray on the floor.
Who Steps In If Gray Sits
Neither source detailed specific depth chart changes or lineup options the Dream would turn to if Gray is unavailable for Game 1. Atlanta already navigated its semifinal sweep of the New York Liberty with Gray limited to 11 minutes in the series opener, a stretch the team got through while still winning out.
Season Context
The Dream enter the Finals as the No. 4 seed on a 10-game winning streak dating to Aug. 30, sitting at 5-0 in the postseason after sweeping the Liberty in the semifinals, a series that wrapped on Oct. 9. Atlanta’s bench has averaged 16.2 points in the playoffs, well behind Golden State’s league-best 32.3 bench points per game in the postseason. This marks Atlanta’s fourth trip to the WNBA Finals, having previously been swept in 2010, 2011 and 2013.
The Valkyries, debuting in 2025 and reaching the Finals in their second season as a franchise, finished 5-1 in the playoffs and own a 3-0 regular-season sweep of Atlanta, including a July 4 meeting. Both clubs ranked as the league’s top two defenses in the regular season.
What Comes Next
Game 1 of the Finals is set for Chase Center in San Francisco, though the sources differ on the date, with ESPN reporting Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET and Sporting News citing Friday night. Both teams have had extended rest since their semifinal series concluded on Oct. 9, giving Gray extra time to recover before the opener. Her status is expected to be clarified closer to tipoff.
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