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Liberty’s Chris DeMarco expects Dream to play ‘same brand’ of basketball even without Allisha Gray

The Atlanta Dream’s second-round series against the New York Liberty enters a pivotal Game 3 in New York without star forward Allisha Gray, who left Game 2 with a left-hand injury and remains day-to-day. Despite Gray’s absence—she managed just seven points in 11 minutes across the first two games—the Dream’s high-octane style has thrived, with veteran DeWanna Bonner stepping into a larger role.

Bonner, the WNBA’s most experienced postseason player (102 playoff games entering this series), delivered 23 points, nine rebounds, and two assists in Game 2 after Gray’s early exit, including a halftime speech that fueled a historic third quarter. The Dream forced 21 turnovers in Game 1, converting 32 of them into points—a playoff record—while Bonner’s aggressive play led to two steals and 16 points off turnovers in the third quarter, tying another playoff record.

Liberty coach Chris DeMarco expects the Dream to maintain their fast-paced, pressure-heavy approach even without Gray, noting that the team’s identity won’t change despite the lineup adjustments. With Bonner’s leadership and a deeper bench ready to contribute, the Dream’s resilience could be the deciding factor in this series.

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