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sports Tuesday 17 OcTOber 2023

Chelsea Gray's status for Game 4 of WNBA Finals still unclear after foot injury

By DOUG FEINBERG issues, the team hasn't been
AP Basketball Writer able to do that.
NEW YORK (AP) — Chelsea The Aces have had to rely
Gray's status for Game 4 of heavily on their four stars —
the WNBA Finals is still un- Gray, Wilson, Jackie Young
clear. and Kelsey Plum — this sea-
The Las Vegas Aces guard son. The four have com-
was injured in Game 3 on bined to average 75 of the
Sunday midway through team's 88 points a game in
the fourth quarter. The the playoffs.
Aces canceled an optional Gray's injury is the latest in a
shootaround Monday less long line of distractions that
than an hour before it was the defending champion
supposed to begin. Aces have had to over-
Gray left in the fourth quar- come this season. Before
ter of Las Vegas' 87-73 loss the WNBA's 27th season
to New York with what began, the league inves-
coach Becky Hammon said tigated the team after for-
was probably a foot injury. mer Aces player Dearica
She had to be helped back Hamby said she had been
to the locker room and ap- bullied and manipulated for
peared to be in a lot of being pregnant.
pain. The WNBA suspended Ham-
Gray, who is averaging 15.6 New York Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu, right, defends Las Vegas Aces' Chelsea Gray during the sec- mon for two games and
points and 6.8 assists in the ond half in Game 3 of a WNBA basketball final playoff series, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, in New York. also rescinded the Aces'
playoffs this year, has been Associated Press first-round pick in the 2025
durable throughout her scored 11 points before based on Gray's status. — going down with an in- draft for a different issue —
time with Las Vegas since getting hurt. She was bat- "When someone goes jury. We're all praying for a violation of league rules
joining the team as a free tling Breanna Stewart in the down, someone else will her to be OK and hoping regarding impermissible
agent in 2021, missing only post when she appeared step up," Brondello said. it was nothing too serious. player benefits.
one game. to get injured. Gray came "Our mindset is more about But we're not looking for- Unhappy with the league's
If Gray can't play in Game 4 up hobbling, but remained what we need to do to get ward on that. We just have findings, Hamby then filed a
on Wednesday night, Ham- in the game as play contin- ready for Wednesday. If to focus on ourselves, un- gender discrimination com-
mon has faith in her other ued. She missed a 3-pointer Chelsea plays or she doesn't derstanding they're a great plaint last month against the
guards. on the ensuing possession. play, our preparation won't team with or without her." WNBA and the Aces with
"We (could) do it by com- A few seconds later, Ham- change." The Aces depth was one of the Nevada Equal Rights
mittee," Hammon said af- mon took a timeout to get The Aces had only 13 assists the teams major questions Commission and the Equal
ter the game. "I don't think the guard out of the game. Sunday to 28 by the Liberty, coming into the season. Employment Opportunity
there's any one person that's "I didn't see what hap- who are looking to become Coming off the champion- Commission.
going to step up and fill her pened. I hope she's OK," the first team to rally from an ship last year, Las Vegas "A lot of adversity and pret-
shoes. Everybody steps up Stewart said. 0-2 deficit in the Finals. hoped to increase its depth, ty much my girls have held
and does a little bit more." Liberty coach Sandy Bron- "First, prayers to her," New but because of an injury to their tongues, been profes-
The Aces lead the best-of- dello said New York wouldn't York guard Sabrina Ionescu Candace Parker that has sional the whole time and
five series 2-1. change anything about said of Gray. "As an athlete, sidelined her since late July went about their business,"
The 2022 WNBA Finals MVP getting ready for Game 4 that's your worst nightmare and Riquna Williams' legal Hammon said.q

Kim Ng, MLB’s 1st female GM, is leaving

the Miami Marlins

MIAMI (AP) — Kim Ng is mutual option. that it was the product of
leaving the Miami Mar- "Last week, Bruce and I dis- years of determination and
lins after three seasons as cussed his plan to reshape an honor.
general manager, Marlins the Baseball Operations "When I got into this busi-
chairman and principal department. In our discus- ness, it seemed unlikely a
owner Bruce Sherman an- sions, it became apparent woman would lead a ma-
nounced Monday. that we were not com- jor league team," she said
Ng, 54, became the majors' pletely aligned on what then, "but I am dogged in
highest-ranking woman in that should look like," Ng the pursuit of my goals. My
baseball operations and told the Athletic on Mon- goal is now to bring cham-
the first female GM in the day. "I felt it best to step pionship baseball to Mi- Miami Marlins General Manager Kim Ng speaks with the news
four major North American away. I wish to express my ami." media, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, in Miami.
professional sports leagues sincere gratitude and ap- The Marlins were a dor- Associated Press
in a groundbreaking hire in preciation to the Marlins mant franchise before they
November 2020. family and its fans for my made the postseason dur- Miami reached the playoffs National League Division
The Marlins exercised their time in South Florida. This ing the pandemic-short- that year for the first time Series, but Miami showed
team option for her to re- year was a great step for- ened 2020 season, which since 2003 and swept the flashes of promise and
turn for the 2024 season, ward for the organization." was Year 3 in the rebuilding Chicago Cubs in their Wild brought in Ng at the end of
Sherman said in a state- When the Marlins first hired effort of former CEO Derek Card Series. Atlanta then that season to help surge
ment, but Ng declined her her, Ng said at the time Jeter, who brought in Ng. swept the Marlins in the the club forward.q