WNBA finals star player, Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces, will sit out Game 4 and potentially beyond, due to a foot injury sustained during the closing stages of Game 3. The athlete, known for her ability to steer the team from the guard position, arrived for Tuesday’s practice session donned in a boot, with her foot perched on a scooter, indicating a troublesome prognosis.
“This is definitely a painful moment,” Chelsea Gray admitted, “I can’t confirm the extent of the injury until further assessment in Las Vegas.”
Gray wasn’t the only Aces player nursing an injury. Forward Kiah Stokes too had her foot in a boot. “I’m unsure of the circumstances,” Stokes admitted. “I woke up with pain, and now we’re working on identifying the cause.”
The fourth match, set against the backdrop of the New York skyline, sees the Aces with a 2-1 lead in this best-of-five finals series. A drawn series would lead to a deciding Game 5 scheduled for Friday.
Gray expressed mixed emotions about the situation. “Yes, it’s disappointing – reaching the finals happens rarely. Yet my spirits remain high for a championship victory. Our squad has displayed an impressive resilience, dealing with multiple absences this season. We are simulacrum of our circumstances,” she said.
Gray’s injury occurred during an unfortunate 87-73 loss to New York. Despite her attempts to continue, successive possessions exposed the severity of the situation, rendering her unable to participate further.
Sharing her thoughts on the loss of Gray and Stokes, coach Becky Hammon lamented, “We’ve lost our general. It’s impossible for a single player to fill her shoes.”
In their absence, reserve players Sydney Colson and Cayla George will be called upon to fill the void. Ahead of this season, one of the team’s major concerns was establishing a well-rounded player depth. However, this goal was sidelined due to the injuries of Candace Parker and Riquna Williams’ legally-induced booth discussions.
Despite the obstacles, the team retained their competitive spirit, with Gray, A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, and Kelsey Plum contributing an average of 75 out of 88 points per game during these playoffs.
Off the court, the Aces confronted a string of challenges, including a league investigation instigated by former player Dearica Hamby’s claims of bullying and manipulation. The WNBA responded by suspending Hammon for two games and rescinding a first-round pick from the Aces in the 2025 draft. The ensuing discontent led Hamby to file a gender discrimination complaint against the WNBA and the Aces with the Nevada Equal Rights Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunity.
Despite this adversity, Hammon remained optimistic. “These young women have navigated the adversity with professionalism and have maintained their focus throughout,” she said.
