BROOKLYN, NY (October 17, 2023)—The Las Vegas Aces will once again look to close out their second-straight WNBA Championship, Wednesday, but they will have to do it without their Point Gawd, Chelsea Gray, and starting center, Kiah Stokes. The 2022 Finals MVP and a 5-time All-Star, Gray injured her left foot with less than 5 minutes remaining in Las Vegas’ 87-73 Game 3 loss Sunday. Stokes injured her right foot, and both are listed as out for Game 4.
Las Vegas trailed 67-61 when Courtney Vandersloot passed the ball into the paint to Breanna Stewart whose back was to the basket. Gray was defending behind Stewart, and Alysha Clark came from the right baseline to double-team the two-time MVP. Clark dislodged the ball from Stewart’s hands, and Kelsey Plum dove to the floor to secure the turnover.
Just prior to Clark’s arrival, however, Gray’s left foot appeared to get caught under Stewart’s left foot, and when the pair separated, Gray came up limping. She remained on the court for each team’s subsequent possession, but with 4:15 to go, Aces Head Coach Becky Hammon called time out, and Gray made her way to the locker room where she stayed for the remainder of the game.
It was still a 7-point game with 3:38 to go, but the Liberty went on an 8-0 run over the next 1:16 to effectively end the game. Stokes logged 18 minutes in the loss, grabbing 9 rebounds. She was the team’s second leading rebounder during the regular season (5.8) and the playoffs (6.7).
With two starters on the sidelines, the Aces reserves will have to step up to play a larger role in the Finals. Through the first 3 games of the series, the Core Four of Gray, Plum, A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young scored 242 of the team’s 276 points. 2023 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year Alysha Clark has accounted for 24 of the remaining 34 points, while Stokes scored 8, and the remaining bench players have combined for 2.
Game 4 of the WNBA Finals is set to tip at 5 pm PT on Wednesday, October 18. If necessary, Game 5 will be played Friday in Las Vegas at Michelob ULTRA Arena beginning at 6 pm. Both games will air on ESPN.