Angel Reese posted 22 points, nine rebounds and two blocks as the Atlanta Dream swept their WNBA semifinal series in three games with an 85-83 win over the host New York Liberty on Friday night.
The Dream, who have never won a league title, are headed to the WNBA Finals for the fourth time in franchise history and the first time since 2013.
“When I came to Atlanta, I knew what I was getting,” Reese said of her arrival from the Chicago Sky in an offseason trade. “This team has poured so much into me. We poured into each other. This is my moment. I’m supposed to be here, and I’m just so grateful.
“Kudos to New York — hell of a team, hell of a year, great vets. But I’m proud of our team. Atlanta, we’re going to the Finals, baby.”
Fourth-seeded Atlanta will face second-seeded Golden State in the Finals, beginning with Game 1 on Oct. 17 in San Francisco. The Valkyries eliminated the defending-champion, third-seeded Las Vegas Aces with an 87-77 overtime win in Game 3 on Friday.
Atlanta made its final 20 free throws and 22 of 24 overall, including two by DeWanna Bonner with 6.2 seconds left that gave the Dream a four-point lead.
The Dream also got 21 points from Rhyne Howard, 19 points and a game-high 11 assists from point guard Jordin Canada and 13 points along with a team-high 13 rebounds from Bonner.
“Finally, we take a little sigh of relief,” Howard said. “Our defense, man, whatever is happening on the other end, our defense never fails us, and we showed that throughout this series and throughout this season.”
Eighth-seeded New York was led by Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart, who each scored 26 points. Jones added game highs in rebounds (14) and blocks (three). Sabrina Ionescu had 12 points on 4-for-12 shooting as the only other Liberty player in double figures.
It wasn’t enough for New York, which won the league title in 2024, the Commissioner’s Cup earlier this season and upset the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the first round of the playoffs.
“I’m in a little bit of disbelief,” Jones said. “I believed in our fight to be able to claw back and change the series. We weren’t looking too far ahead, but I was fully expecting we would force this to a Game 5 in Atlanta playing for an opportunity to get back to the Finals.”
Atlanta led 25-18 at the end of a first quarter that featured 5-of-8 3-point shooting for the Dream. New York made just 2 of 7 shots from deep in the first. Reese and Jones, the starting centers, scored 10 and nine points, respectively, over the opening 10 minutes.
Play got chippy in the second quarter as Atlanta’s Isobel Borlase appeared to get away with an offensive foul on Ionescu. On the next play, Ionescu fouled Borlase. Reese then yelled at Ionescu all the way downcourt but was not assessed a technical foul.
Later in the quarter, Jones blocked a Reese shot. After the ball went out of bounds, Jones kept walking toward Reese, who backed up but continued to talk. Both players were issued technical fouls.
At halftime, Atlanta led 44-39 as Reese led all scorers with 18 points on 6-for-11 shooting, including 2-for-3 from deep. Jones led New York with 13 points.
In the third quarter, New York put together a 17-4 run to grab a 56-55 lead on a Jones tip-in. It was the hosts’ first lead since 2-0, and by the end of the third, the Liberty had a 68-66 advantage.
The game was tight throughout the fourth quarter, but New York made some key mistakes late, including a turnover by Ionescu with 24.2 seconds left. In addition, Stewart missed a short bank shot with 9.9 seconds left that could have tied the score.
“We were happy with our looks,” Stewart said. “We had a lot of good looks. I missed a bunny to tie the game, which really sucks.
“Atlanta is a tough team. Tons of credit to them for making it tough on us every night. Good luck to them in the Finals.”
–Field Level Media
