Allisha Gray Day-To-Day After Hand Procedure Ahead Of WNBA Finals

Allisha Gray had a minor procedure on her left hand and is day-to-day, the Atlanta Dream guard told WSB-TV's Alison Mastrangelo on Tuesday.

Gray would not say what the procedure was or whether it was surgery. She went through shooting drills at Gateway Center on Tuesday with her left ring finger and pinky taped together, WSB-TV reported.

The Dream play the Golden State Valkyries in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday. Gray has not played since Game 1 of the semifinals.

Gray was hurt on a deflection in the first quarter of that game against the New York Liberty on Oct. 4, played 11 minutes, and finished with 7 points on 1-of-5 shooting. Atlanta won 92-82 without her in the second half, and DeWanna Bonner scored 23 points in 30 minutes.

Gray was not at practice two days later. Dream coach Karl Smesko said that day he expected her to be with the team for Game 2.

"Allisha's out tomorrow," Smesko said, according to The Associated Press. "She had an appointment today and is day-to-day after that. She's had an X-ray on her finger, but I don't have any more information to give regarding it."

Game 2 on Oct. 7 was the first game Gray missed this season. She appeared in all 44 regular-season games and led Atlanta in scoring at 19.0 points per game, along with 3.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.4 steals.

In the first-round sweep of the Washington Mystics, she scored 22 points in each game.

Gray watched Game 2 from the bench with a brace on her hand, ESPN reported. Naz Hillmon's layup with 20.8 seconds left in overtime gave the Dream a 101-98 win.

Before Game 3 on Oct. 9 at Barclays Center, Gray went through the open portion of shootaround and a pregame workout with the last two fingers of her shooting hand taped, ESPN reported. Smesko said he got no other information beyond the decision.

"They came back and said Lish was out today," Smesko explained before the game, according to The AP. "She's making good progress since her injury. In the interest of caution, they ruled her out for today."

Atlanta won 85-83 to finish a three-game sweep.

Angel Reese had 22 points and 9 rebounds in the clincher. Rhyne Howard scored 21 points. Jordin Canada added 19 points and 11 assists, and Bonner had 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Gray is a four-time All-Star and the 2017 WNBA Rookie of the Year. Atlanta acquired her from the Dallas Wings on Jan. 21, 2023, for the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 draft and a 2025 first-round pick. She played high school basketball at Washington County High School in Sandersville, Ga.

The Dream went 30-14 in the regular season, matching the franchise record for wins they set in 2025. They are 5-0 in the playoffs.

This is Atlanta's fourth Finals appearance and first since 2013. The Dream were swept by the Seattle Storm in 2010 and by the Minnesota Lynx in 2011 and 2013.

Golden State is in its second season. The Valkyries beat the Dallas Wings in three games in the first round and swept the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals, closing that series with an 87-77 overtime win.

Earlier Tuesday, the WNBA announced that Games 3 and 4 will move from Gateway Center Arena to State Farm Arena, the home of the Atlanta Hawks. Gateway seats 3,500 for basketball.

Game 3 moved up a day to Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 8 p.m. ET on USA Network and CNBC. Game 4 is Saturday, Oct. 24, at 1 p.m. ET on NBC. The Hawks open their home schedule against the Houston Rockets in the same building that night at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Game 1 is Saturday at Chase Center, with tip-off at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Game 2 is Monday at 8 p.m. ET on USA Network.