Atlanta Dream Sweep New York Liberty to Advance to WNBA Finals
- The Atlanta Dream secured an 85-83 victory over the New York Liberty on Friday night, completing a three-game sweep to advance to the WNBA Finals for the first...
- The Dream maintained their undefeated postseason record by holding off a late New York push.
- The victory marks a notable turnaround for the franchise, which had not reached the semifinals since 2018.
The Atlanta Dream secured an 85-83 victory over the New York Liberty on Friday night, completing a three-game sweep to advance to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2013. Angel Reese led the fourth-seeded Dream with 22 points, while Rhyne Howard contributed 21 points in the postseason-clinching win.
Atlanta Dream Sweep New York Liberty in Semifinals
The Dream maintained their undefeated postseason record by holding off a late New York push. Atlanta led 83-81 with 17.7 seconds remaining following a turnover, leaving the Liberty with one final possession. Breanna Stewart missed a contested layup with nine seconds left, and DeWanna Bonner secured the outcome by sinking two free throws with 6.2 seconds on the clock.
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The victory marks a notable turnaround for the franchise, which had not reached the semifinals since 2018. The Dream will now attempt to capture the organization’s first WNBA championship in history. Rhyne Howard established an early offensive rhythm for Atlanta by scoring 11 points in the first quarter, while Reese added 10 points in the opening period, including two 3-pointers.
Allisha Gray Sits Out as Reese Bolsters Defense
Atlanta played without leading scorer Allisha Gray, who was sidelined due to a finger injury sustained in Game 1. Gray warmed up prior to Friday’s contest but was ruled out about an hour before tip-off, spending the game on the bench cheering for her teammates while wearing a Howard jersey.
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Reese arrived in Atlanta during the offseason via trade following a Defensive Player of the Year campaign, filling an essential role during the team’s playoff run. Her arrival addressed previous weaknesses for the Dream, and she demonstrated composure at the free-throw line and a relentless motor during tight postseason minutes.
New York Season Ends Following Physical Series
The loss concluded a challenging campaign for the Liberty, who returned most of the core from their championship roster of two years ago. Under first-year coach Chris DeMarco, the team finished as the eighth seed before eliminating the top-seeded Minnesota in the opening round. Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart each scored 26 points for New York in the finale.
Tensions flared during the second quarter when Sabrina Ionescu was called for an offensive screen against Isobel Borlase, leading to a verbal exchange between Ionescu and Reese. Minutes later, Jones blocked a shot by Reese, resulting in both players receiving technical fouls after a brief chest-to-chest confrontation.
Ticket Availability and Schedule for the WNBA Finals
Tickets are currently available for all potential games of the 2026 WNBA Finals, which are scheduled to begin on Saturday, Oct. 17. The Dream will await the conclusion of the series between the Las Vegas Aces and the Golden State Valkyries to determine their championship opponent.
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Game 3 of the finals is set for Thursday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m. ET in Atlanta. Depending on the matchup, ticket prices vary, with initial prices for Game 3 starting at $257 for series against Golden State.