Aces’ Gray, Stokes both out for Game 4 with foot injuries
NEW YORK >> Chelsea Gray is out at least for Game 4 of the WNBA Finals after suffering an injury to her left foot Sunday.
The Las Vegas Aces star guard was wearing a boot on her foot and had it propped up on a scooter she used to get into practice Tuesday. She was injured in Game 3 on Sunday midway through the fourth quarter.
“It’s painful. I’m waiting for more information, it’s not good,” said Gray, who was going to wait until she got back to Las Vegas for further evaluation.
Las Vegas also will be missing forward Kiah Stokes, who had a boot on her right foot.
“I don’t know exactly, I woke up and my foot was hurting and we’re trying to figure it out from there,” Stokes said.
Game 4 is Wednesday night in New York and Las Vegas leads the best- of-five series 2-1. Game 5 would be on Friday if the Liberty even the series.
“You get to the Finals and you don’t get this time back. So it sucks in that way,” Gray said. “But I’m excited still to win a championship. We do it by committee. We haven’t been whole for a long time. Candace (Parker) has been out ... so we’re kind of built for this moment.”
Gray said that she injured the foot in the fourth quarter of Las Vegas’ 87-73 loss to New York. She tried to shake it off but knew something was wrong when she couldn’t get up and down the court on the next few possessions.
“Obv iously the t iming (stinks),” Gray said. “There’s only a couple games left in our season.”
Gray, who is averaging 15.6 points and 6.8 assists in the playoffs this year, has been durable throughout her time with Las Vegas since joining the team as a free agent in 2021, missing only one game.
“We lost our general,” coach Becky Hammon said. “I don’t think there’s any one person that’s going to step up and fill her shoes.”