Karl Smesko Takes Atlanta Dream to 1st WNBA Finals Since 2013 After 2 30-Win Seasons

Q: How will Allisha Gray's crucial hand injury impact the Dream's quest for their first WNBA title?

Allisha Gray’s hand injury could be the single biggest factor in whether Atlanta wins its first WNBA title. She is the Dream’s leading scorer, averaging 19.0 points in the regular season and 22.0 points in the first round, and Karl Smesko called her “one of the best players in the W.” Against a Golden State team with the league’s top defense, Atlanta’s margin for error shrinks sharply without her scoring, shot creation and two-way impact. The injury is to Gray’s left shooting hand, and she said she had a minor procedure and is day-to-day. She has missed the past two playoff games, though she was back at practice taking shots with her fingers taped. That suggests she may return at some point in the series, but even if she plays, the question will be how effective she can be as a shooter and ballhandler. Atlanta did prove in the Liberty series that it can survive without her. Jordin Canada, DeWanna Bonner, Angel Reese and others elevated their play, and the Dream swept New York. But asking that group to keep producing at that level against Golden State’s deeper, more disciplined defense is much harder. The Valkyries also swept Atlanta in the regular season. If Gray cannot play, or is clearly limited, the Dream will need near-perfect defense and another collective scoring surge to stay on track. If she returns and is even close to form, Atlanta’s offense becomes far more dangerous and balanced, and its title chances improve significantly.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 16

Atlanta reached its first WNBA Finals since 2013 after Karl Smesko swept the Dream’s first two 2026 playoff opponents, putting the franchise four wins from a title.
Two 30-win seasons into his WNBA move, Smesko said he left FGCU because the pros offered a more equal path to a championship than college basketball.
FGCU had become a Division I power under Smesko, with eight 30-win seasons and 10 NCAA tournament trips, but he never won a national title there.
Saturday’s Game 1 in San Francisco pits second-year coaches Smesko and Natalie Nakase, whose favored Golden State Valkyries went 3-0 against Atlanta in the regular season.

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Fox News2h ago

Karl Smesko Leads Atlanta Dream to WNBA Finals After FGCU Departure

KVUE.com2h ago

Karl Smesko took a bold leap from FGCU to the Atlanta Dream. It paid off with a WNBA Finals run | kvue.com

Newsday19h ago

Karl Smesko took a bold leap from FGCU to the Atlanta Dream. It paid off with a WNBA Finals run - Newsday

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Will Karl Smesko's college-honed 3-point system finally secure him the championship that eluded him at FGCU?

Can Angel Reese's sudden playoff shooting surge dismantle the historic defense of the Golden State Valkyries?

How will Allisha Gray's crucial hand injury impact the Dream's quest for their first WNBA title?

Karl Smesko Takes Atlanta Dream to 1st WNBA Finals Since 2013 After 2 30-Win Seasons

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