Allisha Gray injury update: Atlanta Dream guard will be out for Game 2

COLLEGE PARK, GA ― Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray has been ruled out for Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals against the New York Liberty after injuring her left hand in Game 1 on Sunday, Oct. 4, at State Farm Arena. “(Allisha Gray is) out tomorrow. … Day to day after that," Dream head coach Karl Smesko

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COLLEGE PARK, GA ― Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray has been ruled out for Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals against the New York Liberty after injuring her left hand in Game 1 on Sunday, Oct. 4, at State Farm Arena.

“(Allisha Gray is) out tomorrow. … Day to day after that," Dream head coach Karl Smesko said at practice on Tuesday, Oct. 6.

Gray had an appointment to have her left ring finger looked at Tuesday. Smesko said he didn't have any other information to share. He did confirm that Gray had an X-ray on her finger. The team later called the injury a "left hand injury."

At the 3:59 mark of the first quarter in Sunday's Game 1, Gray exited holding her left wrist and hand area. Gray was down on the floor for a few moments before being helped up.

She went to the locker room for several minutes before returning to the bench at the 9:09 mark of the second quarter.Gray checked back in at the 8:30 mark of the second quarter with two fingers taped (her ring and pinky) on her left hand. She attempted a field goal but missed it. Once she missed the shot, she took off her tape.

Just before halftime, at the 3:44 mark, Gray was diving for a loose basketball on the floor, trying to secure a possession for Atlanta, when she appeared to injure the same hand again. Gray sat on the court, cradling her hand/fingers before going back to the locker room for a second time.

Gray was later ruled out with a left hand injury just before halftime. She returned to the bench after being ruled out, with her left hand heavily wrapped around her ring and pinky fingers. Within the wrap, Gray had a splint on her ring finger.

"Obviously, I was sad. Just ― you never wanna see your best friend get hurt ... especially with how hard she's been working this year," Howard said about Gray's injury and finishing Game 1 without her teammate.

"Granted, for us, we did get some good news, but I think just moreso (it was) wanting to play for her. We all said in the huddle, 'This one's gonna be for (Allisha Gray). We're gonna continue to play for (Allisha) until she's able to come back and join us.' I think moreso (it was) just about her not being able to do something that she loves really, really (a lot.)"

Grays teammates said that she is in "good spirits" despite the injury and that it's "next woman up" as the Dream face the Liberty on Wednesday. Atlanta is expecting whoever is tapped to help fill the void left by Gray's injury that they will be ready to go. Dream forward Naz Hillmon told reporters Tuesday that it's about staying confident and remaining that way.

"It hurts. It sucks. I know how much she would want to be on the floor. With us, we know ho much we use her offensively and defensively, but the 'next woman up' mentality is for everybody, not just the players coming off the bench or whoever's gonna fill in her role," Hillmon said. "Nobody can do what Allisha Gray does. We all know that. ... We can all put a little bit more on our plate, and that's what our mentality is."

Allisha Gray injury replacements for Game 2 vs. Liberty

With Gray ruled out for Game 2, the question becomes: who steps into the lineup for her? Dream coach Karl Smesko did not get into specifics when asked at Tuesday's practice. However, he did name several players who could see more playing time.

"We'll have to see kinda how the game goes, but (Isobel Borlase), (Shatori Walker-Kimbrough), (Te-Hina Paopao) may get some more rotational minutes depending on how the game plays out. How New York handles their rotations as well will be a factor in it," Smesko said.

Smesko did not mention on if veteran DeWanna Bonner will get the start, but it's worth noting that when Gray exited Game 1, Bonner started the second half. The Dream forward played 30 minutes, finishing with 23 points, nine rebounds and two steals. Smesko praised Bonner postgame for stepping up in Gray's absence.

"She played multiple positions. She guarded people that were MVP's in this league. She moved positions in this game, when she hasn't been practicing at that position, and (was just able to) flow in it just because she has so much basketball experience. She has a sense of what she should do in a play, even if she never ran a play before. And then she just knows where the ball should move and what the next action should be," Smesko said postgame Sunday.

"She has a lot of enthusiasm when she plays, but she also has a calming prescenece about her. She know when the emotions get ramped up she can get everybody settled and locked in to the next play ... she's just been fantastic. She's making a huge difference for us, and we're gonna need more of it going forward.