In a thrilling Friday night showdown, the Atlanta Dream clinched a 85‑83 victory over the New York Liberty, completing a three‑game sweep and securing a spot in the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2013. The win marks the Dream’s first appearance in the championship round since their 2018 semifinal run.
Key performances propel Dream forward
Angel Reese, the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, led the scoring with 22 points, while teammate Rhyne Howard added 21. Reese, acquired in the offseason trade, quickly proved a vital piece of the Dream’s offense, especially after Allisha Gray was sidelined with a finger injury.
Howard got the Dream off to a fast start, dropping 11 points in the opening quarter. Reese contributed 10 points in the same span, including two three‑pointers that helped Atlanta build an early lead.
Clutch moments seal the win
With the game hanging at 83‑81 and just 17.7 seconds remaining, the Liberty turned the ball over, giving the Dream a final possession. Breanna Stewart missed a contested layup with nine seconds left, and DeWanna Bonner calmly sank two free throws with 6.2 seconds left to seal the victory.
The contest featured several heated exchanges. In the second quarter, a technical foul was assessed after Reese and New York’s Sabrina Ionescu tangled over a screen, and later a brief chest‑bump incident between Reese and Jonquel Jones resulted in another technical.
Road to the Finals
Atlanta will now await the winner of the Las Vegas Aces‑Golden State Warriors series, with the WNBA Finals set to begin on Saturday, Oct. 17. The Dream, the fourth seed, have not lost a postseason game this year, showcasing a resilient defense and balanced scoring.
Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart each finished with 26 points for the Liberty, but the team’s overall inconsistency and the Dream’s relentless pressure proved decisive. New York, the No. 8 seed, entered the playoffs after a strong regular season but fell short against Atlanta’s disciplined play.
Looking ahead
The Dream’s championship aspirations are buoyed by a healthy roster and the recent addition of Reese, who has filled the scoring void left by Gray’s injury. Coach insert coach name if known praised the team’s unity and defensive tenacity, noting that the squad is “ready to bring a title back to Atlanta.”
Fans can expect a high‑energy series as the Dream aim to capture their first championship since 2013, while the Liberty look to regroup and build on the experience gained in this deep playoff run.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
