With the WNBA Finals set to begin on Saturday, star Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray is still working her way back from a hand injury. The Dream are returning to the Finals for the first time since 2013, facing the Golden State Valkyries in a highly-anticipated matchup.
Gray told reporters on Friday that she is still considered day-to-day with the injury, but said that her pain and recovery has been good. She had her first full practice on Friday, another indicator of an upward trend.
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"I'll warm up tomorrow and then the medical staff will give me the thumbs up or thumb down. So we'll see," Gray said, via ESPN's Kareem Copeland.
Gray is currently listed as "questionable" to play in Game 1 on the Dream's injury report with a left hand injury.
The Dream lost Gray to the hand injury in Game 1 of the semifinal series against the New York Liberty, with the guard leaving during the first half of the matchup. She then missed the next two games of the three-game sweep.
Earlier this week, Gray told WSBTV's Alison Mastrangelo that she had a minor procedure on her hand, but did not specify what it was. Gray and Atlanta have also kept quiet on the exact nature of the injury, though Gray has been spotted in practice with tape around her left ring and pinky fingers.
In a series that is mostly going to come down to defense, Gray would still be a major presence for the Dream on both ends of the court. Gray led Atlanta in scoring this season, with 19.0 points per game; she finished the regular season seventh in the league in total points. The guard has also averaged 1.4 steals per game, and is a consistent defender on a team that boasts a top-tier defense.
Gray has appeared to be trending toward a return throughout the week, putting up shots with the team on Thursday. Her health, though, will be among the many questions that will define the series. Though Atlanta has proven that they can win without Gray on the court, her presence could be a game-changer.