The Atlanta Dream would be thankful to have won the first game of the semifinals against the mighty New York Liberty. However, there is a long road between them and their first WNBA Finals in 13 years, and Game 2 will have head coach Karl Smesko’s side rolling a boulder up a hill. This is because the Dream will not have the services of their top scorer, Allisha Gray, and WNBA writer Cassandra Negley points out that the Dream has their work cut out for them.

“In terms of the Dream, that’s a blow. She’s their leading scorer. Karl Smesko talked about just how important she is in all aspects of the team. And I think for a team like the Dream who have been slowly building towards this, they got Allisha Gray a couple of years ago, and she has talked about the green light she has there. It does feel like it jostles them a little bit.” Negley said on the latest episode of Hoops360 on YouTube.

During the first quarter of Game 1 against the Liberty, Gray injured her left hand, which is her shooting hand. Her return from the locker room was short-lived as she went down for a second time while diving for a loose ball and did not return to the game. Gray could only contribute seven points on 1-of-5 shooting from the field before the injury, but the Dream managed to win 92-82 against the Liberty.

Following the victory, Smesko shared in a Tuesday media availability that Gray will not participate in Game 2. She is currently considered “day-to-day” and also had an X-ray, but Smesko revealed that he has no further information regarding it.

Saying it is a blow for the Dream would be an understatement, considering the current landscape. After all, Allisha Gray is the scoring centerpiece on Smesko’s side. Without her averaging 22 points against the Washington Mystics, the Dream would not have swept them so easily.

However, only time will tell how much of Gray’s presence will be felt in Game 2, because this is the very first time she will miss a game this season. Although the timing is not really the best, Gray’s teammates have revealed that she was in good spirits after her injury.

As for Gray’s teammates, while Smesko chooses to believe that the 31-year-old is not replaceable, he did elaborate that there are others ready to step up in her absence.

“It’s not who you don’t have; it’s how well do the players who are on the floor, how well are they able to execute the game plan, and how well are they able to play? And I expect our team to play really well.” Smesko said.

Losing Gray while trying to protect home court against one of the most experienced sides in the league is a tough ask, but there is also the reward of going 2-0 up and taking complete control of the series. Dream’s Naz Hillmon, a versatile defender, believes that a single player cannot replace your team’s regular-season top scorer and has urged that everyone should pitch in.

“Knowing that Lish will be out, it hurts, it sucks. I know how much she would want to be on the floor with us. We know how much we use her offensively and defensively. But that next woman up mentality is for everybody.”

“Not just the players coming off the bench or whoever’s going to fill in her role, nobody’s going to be able to do what Allisha Gray does. We all know that, but we can all put a little bit more on our plate, and that’s what our mentality is,” Hillmon said.

Thankfully for Dream fans, Smesko’s side has just the player to fill Gray’s role, someone who was signed recently and, funnily enough, for moments such as the one they are currently facing.

Allisha Gray’s absence might bring the best out of DeWanna Bonner

In her 17th and potentially final season in the W, DeWanna Bonner wanted to chase her third championship. That was her main motive for leaving the Phoenix Mercury back in August and choosing the Dream as the franchise to add another chapter to an illustrious story.

And now, the Dream requires Bonner’s impact the most, something which she already provided in Game 1 after Allisha Gray’s unfortunate injury. The win against the Liberty marked the first time Bonner played 30 minutes for the Dream, and she made the most of it.

With 23 points, nine rebounds, and two assists, Bonner showed up when it mattered most. Combined with Jordin Canada, the veterans made up 48 of the Dream’s 92 points, showcasing the franchise’s depth.

While Bonner might not exactly be able to replicate Gray’s scoring aptitude, her clutch three-pointers and fast-break points in crunch time will make a world of difference. And let’s not forget the 39-year-old’s experience factor, as Smesko revealed Bonner’s mindset when the going gets tough.

“She knows when the emotions get ramped up, she can get everybody settled and locked into the next play,” Smesko said.

The Dream host the Liberty in Game 2 at the State Farm Arena, which will be their full-time home starting next season. And in the position they are currently in, nothing would make head coach Karl Smesko’s side feel better than hanging the champions rafter at their new home.