When the WNBA semifinals resume Wednesday, all eyes will be on who won't be on the court. Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray has already been ruled out of Game 2 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) against the New York Liberty after hurting a finger in Sunday's opening game. And the Las Vegas Aces' depth is going to be seriously tested as three-time WNBA champion Jewell Loyd is listed as doubtful with a left leg injury for Game 2 (9:30 p.m. ET) against the Golden State Valkyries. Dana Evans (right knee) and Steph Talbot (left leg) are also questionable for Las Vegas. The No. 2 seed Valkyries and 4-seed Dream lead their respective best-of-five series 1-0 and host Wednesday's games.
ESPN breaks down what Gray's absence and the uncertainty surrounding Loyd, Talbot and Evans mean for Atlanta and Las Vegas. De Wanna Bonner would make sense to enter the starting lineup for Atlanta: She started the second half on Sunday after Gray was ruled out, playing 18 of the final 20 minutes. Still, surviving one game without Gray is different from surviving the bulk of a series without her, let alone against a team as tough as New York. Gray was Atlanta's leading scorer in the regular season (19.0 PPG) and in the playoffs (22.0) up until her injury.
This is a big concern for the Aces. Loyd isn't the high-volume scorer she was for many years, but she can still be an effective offensive weapon and defender. In Game 3 of the first round, the Aces beat Indiana by 11 -- the nucleus of that victory came from contributions up and down the roster.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing