The Las Vegas Aces are a win away from a second consecutive WNBA title, but it won't be easy. Since early July, they've been on the journey without their biggest offseason acquisition and their rotation has been decimated further with two more starters going down in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals.
As it takes the floor for Game 4 of the Finals, Las Vegas will still be without future Hall of Famer Candace Parker, who was last in the lineup on July 7. Joining Parker on the inactive list are 2022 WNBA Finals MVP Chelsea Gray and center Kiah Stokes.
Parker, who signed with Las Vegas as a free agent last offseason, started from Day 1 with her new team, posting averages of 9.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists through 18 games.
Parker's importance to the Aces cannot be understated and her absence from the lineup has been impossible to ignore. With two starters down, where is the two-time league MVP? Here is what we know about Parker's absence from the lineup and her potential to return to action.
MORE: WNBA Playoffs bracket 2023: Schedule, TV information, scores
Where is Candace Parker?
Parker has been on the Aces' inactive list since her last game appearance on July 7. On July 25, the franchise announced that Parker had undergone successful surgery on her left foot.
While she hasn't suited up in over three months, Parker has been present on the Las Vegas sideline. She has been spotted on the sideline and appears to be progressing based on her presence at Aces practices.
What is Candace Parker's injury?
As shared by the Aces in July, Parker had been playing with a fracture in her left foot all season.
"Parker has been playing on a fracture all season, but after consulting with doctors, the only option for her to be healthy again and avoid further injury was to have surgery," the team said in its statement.
Parker released a separate statement on Instagram, saying she had been "tolerating the pain" but will now "rehab and work my way towards being healthy as soon as possible."
Candace Parker return date
Las Vegas' announcement did not provide a recovery timeline, only sharing that Parker would be out "indefinitely."
Without Parker, the Aces' rotation consisted of six players. In the wake of the injuries to Gray and Stokes, There were questions of whether or not Parker could return to the lineup to round out the rotation but there has been no indication of an imminent return.
As it stands, Las Vegas will look deeper into its bench to make up for the absences of three key players.
Las Vegas Aces vs New York Liberty schedule
Here is the schedule for Las Vegas' best-of-five series against New York in the 2023 WNBA Finals.
| Date | Game/Result | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Oct. 8 | Aces 99, Liberty 82 | – | – |
| Oct. 11 | Aces 104, Liberty 76 | – | – |
| Oct. 15 | Liberty 87, Aces 73 | – | – |
| Oct. 18 | Game 4 | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
| Oct. 20 | Game 5* | 9 p.m. | ESPN |
*Game 5 if necessary.
WNBA Playoffs 2023: TV channels, live stream
- TV: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU
- Live stream: Sling TV
Basketball fans can watch the WNBA Playoffs on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. The 2023 WNBA Finals will air on ABC and ESPN.
Fans in the United States can watch the WNBA Playoffs and Finals on Sling TV, which is now offering half off your first month! You can stream the sports you love starting at just $20 in your first month with Sling Orange, which includes the ESPN family of networks.
