Dream star Allisha Gray exits playoff win with hand injury, status uncertain for Game 2

Allisha Gray exited Sunday's WNBA playoffs semifinal Game 1 with a left hand injury, according to justwomenssports.com, leaving her status for Game 2 uncertain.

The injury happened in the first quarter at State Farm Arena while Gray closed out on a Sabrina Ionescu layup. She hurt her pinky and ring fingers on her shooting hand and came up clutching it immediately.

Trainers taped the two fingers together in the locker room, and Gray checked back in during the second period. The return didn't last. She visibly struggled to grip the ball, missing badly on a three-point attempt before tearing off the tape on the court. Just before halftime, Gray went down again while appearing to re-injure the same hand, and the Dream ruled her out for the remainder of the game.

Despite losing a key offensive player, Atlanta beat the New York Liberty 92-82 to take the opener. The severity of Gray's injury and any timeline for her return are not confirmed, per justwomenssports.com.

HOW THE INJURY UNFOLDED

Trainers taped the two fingers together in the locker room, and Gray checked back in during the second period. The return didn't last. She visibly struggled to grip the ball, missing badly on a three-point attempt before tearing off the tape on the court.

Just before halftime, Gray went down again while appearing to re-injure the same hand, according to justwomenssports.com. Whether it was a true re-injury is not confirmed. She headed back to the locker room and was ruled out for the remainder of the game.

The Dream did not specify the nature or severity of the injury beyond the initial damage to her pinky and ring fingers. Atlanta leaned on its depth to close out the 92-82 win, but Gray's absence loomed over the final two quarters as she watched from the sideline.

GRAY'S ROLE AND IMPACT