A hand injury that will not fully heal until the offseason
Allisha Gray's left hand has not recovered completely, yet the Atlanta Dream guard is contributing whatever she can toward the franchise's first championship. The injury occurred during Game 1 of Atlanta's semifinal matchup with the New York Liberty. Gray sat out the last two games of that round before rejoining the lineup for the WNBA Finals, where the Dream hold a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S5]
Through the finals she has scored at a 15-point average, though her efficiency has dropped sharply: she is converting just under 29% of her field-goal attempts and 22% of her tries from beyond the arc. She is also contributing 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Gray told reporters Friday that she wore a black velcro brace on her shooting hand while she spoke.[S1]
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Playing with eight fingers and accepting limits
Gray described the mental adjustment required to compete while injured, saying she has tried to extend patience to herself because she is effectively playing with eight fingers. She acknowledged she is not the fully healthy version of herself who can knock down shots consistently, but argued that self-acceptance lets her find other ways to influence the game. She also said that even a small fraction of her usual self is preferable to none at all.[S1]
There was a scare in Game 3 when Gabby Williams made contact with the injured hand and Gray briefly left the court. She returned a few minutes later and finished the game. The 31-year-old guard noted that the offseason will give the hand time to heal, and she suggested a first WNBA title would feel even better under those circumstances.[S1]
