The Atlanta Dream are heading to the WNBA Finals for the first time in 13 years.
Atlanta punched its ticket to the championship round Friday night, defeating the New York Liberty 85-83 in Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals to complete a three-game sweep. The fourth-seeded Dream have been one of the postseason’s biggest stories, winning all five of their playoff games and putting themselves four victories away from the first championship in franchise history.
The series-clinching victory was anything but easy. Despite building an early advantage, Atlanta had to withstand a second-half rally from New York before making the critical plays down the stretch to secure the win.
Angel Reese led the way with 22 points and nine rebounds, while Rhyne Howard added 21 points. Jordin Canada contributed 19 points and 11 assists, and veteran forward DeWanna Bonner delivered 13 points and 13 rebounds. Rookie Isobel Borlase also provided a valuable spark off the bench with 10 points.
The balanced effort proved crucial as Atlanta continued to navigate the absence of leading scorer Allisha Gray, who missed the final two games of the series with a finger injury.
Atlanta came out firing in Game 3, taking a 25-18 lead after the first quarter and carrying a 44-39 advantage into halftime. The Dream extended their lead to 12 points early in the third quarter, putting the Liberty in a difficult position.
New York responded with a run of its own, however, turning the momentum around and taking a 68-66 lead into the fourth quarter. With the season on the line, the Liberty made Atlanta work for every possession.
The Dream answered with an eight-point run early in the fourth, holding New York without a field goal for more than six minutes as the game entered its decisive stretch.
Atlanta appeared to have some breathing room with a four-point advantage late, but the Liberty refused to go quietly. Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones each finished with 26 points, keeping New York within striking distance until the final seconds.
With the Dream clinging to an 83-81 lead, New York had an opportunity to force a different ending. Stewart missed a contested layup with nine seconds remaining, and Bonner stepped to the free-throw line moments later, knocking down both attempts to make it a two-possession game.
A last-second putback by Stewart brought the Liberty within two, but Atlanta had done enough to close out the 85-83 victory and celebrate a long-awaited return to the Finals.
The win also continued an impressive postseason run for head coach Karl Smesko’s squad, which has shown the ability to execute under pressure even when key contributors are unavailable.
Atlanta’s run to the Finals is particularly significant given the franchise’s history. The Dream last reached the championship round in 2013, when they made their third Finals appearance in four seasons. Atlanta also reached the Finals in 2010 and 2011, but the franchise has yet to capture a WNBA championship.
Now, more than a decade later, the Dream have another opportunity to change that history.
Reese’s arrival has given Atlanta another dynamic presence on both ends of the floor, while Howard continues to provide an important scoring threat. Canada’s playmaking and Bonner’s veteran leadership have also helped the Dream navigate the pressure of postseason basketball.
Perhaps most importantly, Atlanta has demonstrated that it can win close games without relying on a single player to carry the entire load. With Gray’s status a key storyline heading into the Finals, that collective approach could prove vital.
Atlanta’s next challenge will be the Golden State Valkyries, who swept the defending champion Las Vegas Aces in their semifinal series to reach the Finals for the first time in franchise history. Golden State accomplished the feat in just its second season as a WNBA franchise, setting up a compelling matchup between two teams looking to win their first championship.
The best-of-seven series begins Saturday, October 17, at Chase Center in San Francisco. The Dream will host Games 3 and 4 in Atlanta on October 22 and 24, giving local fans the opportunity to see the franchise compete on the biggest stage in women’s basketball.
Golden State’s defensive intensity and depth will present a significant test for Atlanta, particularly against a team that has already eliminated the defending champions without dropping a game in the semifinals.
After sweeping the Liberty and remaining unbeaten through five postseason games, the Dream have given themselves a chance to accomplish something the franchise has pursued for years.
Atlanta is back in the Finals. Now, the Dream will try to finish the job.
Image Courtesy: Brett Davis-Imagn
