The availability of Atlanta Dream All-Star guard Allisha Gray is up in the air ahead of Game 1 of the 2026 WNBA Finals against the Golden State Valkyries.
Following practice on Thursday, Oct. 15, Gray said she remains "day-to-day" with a left hand injury that she suffered in Game 1 of the Dream's semifinal series win over the New York Liberty on Oct. 4. The four-time All-Star said she's trending in the right direction after undergoing a minor procedure on her injured hand, but the Dream's medical team will have the final say on whether or not she suits up for Saturday's contest.
"Progress has been great, so we're heading in the right direction," Gray told reporters. "Just more so relying on the medical staff. They'll know what's best for me...
So it's just taking it day by day, just me getting comfortable, being able to handle the physicality of practice and stuff, which has been feeling well."
The 6-foot guard was a limited participant in Thursday's practice in San Francisco. She participated in shooting drills with black tape holding her left ring finger and pinky finger together. She also appeared to have a bandaid on her left middle finger.
"As long as I can shoot, I'm good," Gray added. "Hopefully I get some good news where I am able to play Saturday."
Gray suffered the left hand injury in Game 1 of the Dream's WNBA playoff semifinals series against the New York Liberty on Sunday, Oct. 4. Gray first exited the game holding her left wrist and hand area with 3:59 remaining in the first quarter before returning to the bench at the 9:09 mark of the second quarter with her ring finger and pinky taped. With 3:44 remaining in the first half, Gray dove for a loose ball and appeared to injure the same hand. She left the game and was ruled out before halftime.
"I actually injured it on the first (play)," Gray clarified on Thursday. "Me coming back out was just my competitive nature of not wanting to sit out, but it was just a point where I couldn't play anymore, so I knew that I wasn't able to help my tear anymore, so it was best for me to sit down."
The injury kept Gray out of Game 2 and Game 3 of the semifinal series over the Liberty, which the Dream swept to punch their ticket to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2013.
On Tuesday, Gray revealed she underwent a "minor procedure" on her left hand. Although she didn't disclose the specific procedure, or when she had it, Gray said "everything is put together and fixed. I'm good to go."
Here’s Allisha Gray talking about her injury and the progress made since it happened against the Liberty in the semifinals.
— Meghan L. Hall (@ItsMeghanLHall) October 15, 2026
Last video is where she confirms she’s waiting on the Dream medical staff to clear her. https://t.co/imGynOqVbl pic.twitter.com/jOClrgtrsO
The Dream eagerly await the return of Gray, who is averaging 17 points and 1.7 rebounds across three postseason games.
"If we just swept New York with no (Allisha Gray), just imagine what it's going to be like when we bring her back and she's got extra rest," Rhyne Howard said. "She's got an extra week of rest under her belt. The shot's looking good, so it shouldn't be no question about that. But I think once we bring her back, then it's going to be even more unstoppable for us."
Allisha Gray injury update
Dream guard Allisha Gray is "day-to-day" with a left hand injury.
What happened to Allisha Gray?
At the 3:59 mark of the first quarter in Game 1 of a semifinal playoff series, 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.
Allisha Gray 2026 stats
Regular season per-game averages
- Points: 19
- Rebounds: 3.5
- Assists: 2.6
- Steals: 1.4
- Blocks: 0.4
- Field goal percentage: 46.3
- 3-point pecentage: 33.9
Postseason per-game averages
- Points: 17
- Rebounds: 1.7
- Assists: 1.0
- Steals: 2.0
- Blocks: 0.3
- Field goal percentage: 43.6
- 3-point percentage: 38.5
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Allisha Gray injury update: Dream All-Star remains 'day-to-day' ahead of WNBA Finals
