Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes are out for Game 4 of the WNBA finals
The GIST: The No. 1 Las Vegas Aces (up 2-1) can clinch their second consecutive WNBA Championship tonight, but they’ll need to persevere through injuries and a raucous Big Apple crowd to take down the No. 2 NY Liberty at Barclays.
- And as the superteams fight for the trophy, a
hot new bombshell entered the villanew head coach signed a record-setting deal with the Phoenix Mercury.
Game 4 preview: As you read, Chelsea Gray and her scooter will be on the sidelines for tonight’s game, along with her teammate, Kiah Stokes. Both are nursing foot injuries, putting Las Vegas down two starters and leaving 2023 Sixth Player of the Year Alysha Clark and WNBA rookie Cayla George likely to step in.
- Now, the suddenly back-in-it Libs have a prime opportunity to finally hit their offensive groove. With Gray on the sidelines, watch for NY's league MVP Breanna Stewart to exploit that newfound defensive hole in her quest to force this series to a fifth and final game. It all goes down tonight at 8 p.m. ET.
Phoenix Mercury ink highest-paid coach in the W: As Mercury owner Mat Ishbia’s franchise overhaul continues, former Orlando Magic assistant coach Nate Tibbetts will lead the squad. According to ESPN, the move will make Tibbetts the highest-paid coach in the WNBA, despite having no previous head coaching experience in the W or connection to the league.
- While Tibbetts’ salary — which will reportedly top $1M — could lead to greater payroll parity for future coaches, the Minnesota Lynx Napheesa Collier was quick to point out that this man will make nearly four times as much as the highest-earning WNBA players.
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