Kelsey Plum is ready to go as Aces' PG with Chelsea Gray out - ESPN

NEW YORK — Las Vegas Aces forward A'ja Wilson had just scored 40 points — which was a career high at the time — and become the eighth player in WNBA history to have 40 points and 10 rebounds in a game.

But immediately after the August victory, Wilson made a point to tell guard Kelsey Plum how proud she was of her.

«You talk about growth?» Wilson said after Plum had 19 points, 10 assists and shot 70% from the field. «That is growth. Every day she's coming in and getting better.

»We joke around with her about not passing the basketball. But she shows us every day she's worked on that aspect of her game. We don't get to do the things we do if she's not attacking and dishing the ball."

Two months later, Plum might need to have some of the most important minutes of her career in a playmaking role. The Aces hold a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five WNBA Finals heading into Wednesday's Game 4 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN App) against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center.

Aces coach Becky Hammon said Tuesday starting point guard Chelsea Gray will miss Game 4 with a foot injury. She left Sunday's 87-73 Game 3 loss in the fourth quarter. Hammon said Gray is questionable for a possible Game 5 on Friday, and added that center Kiah Stokes will also miss Game 4.

Plum and Jackie Young, who've started alongside Gray the last three seasons for Las Vegas, might have to handle point guard duties instead. The Aces canceled their optional shooting session Monday, so they weren't available to meet with media. But Aces coach Becky Hammon talked Sunday about how they could rely on Plum, Young and reserves Kierstan Bell and Sydney Colson if Gray was out.

For Plum, who led the Aces with 29 points Sunday, it's a task she has prepared for throughout her