Allisha Gray cleared for Dream’s WNBA Finals opener after hand injury

Allisha Gray was upgraded from questionable to available for the Atlanta Dream’s WNBA Finals opener against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center in San Francisco on October 17, USA TODAY Sports reported. The guard is expected to return to Atlanta’s starting lineup after missing two semifinal games with a left-hand injury, giving the Dream back their leading regular-season scorer for Game 1.

Gray’s hand injury and return to practice

Gray injured the ring finger on her shooting hand and missed the final two games of Atlanta’s semifinal series against New York, according to the Guardian. USA TODAY Sports reported that she had undergone a minor procedure on her left hand. Gray did not disclose exactly what the procedure involved or when it took place.

What Smesko said about Gray’s playing time

Dream coach Karl Smesko said Gray would have no preset restrictions, but her playing time would depend largely on how her hand felt, USA TODAY Sports reported. During Saturday’s pregame availability, Smesko said her recovery was trending in the right direction and that difficulty using the hand during the game would be the potential limit, according to the Guardian.

Gray told reporters she had ‘no concerns’ about playing, according to USA TODAY Sports. She said she would stay off the court if she could not help her team. The pregame clearance establishes her availability; her minutes and how her hand responds in the opener will be determined during play.

Gray averaged 19.0 points per game during the regular season, the most on Atlanta’s roster, the Guardian reported. Her return comes as the Dream make their first Finals appearance in 13 years, facing Golden State in a best-of-seven series. The Dream reached the championship round after a semifinal sweep of New York.