The Atlanta Dream are in the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2013 with an 85-83 victory over the New York Liberty in Game 3 of their playoff semifinal series.
Angel Reese scored 22 points – 18 in the first half – with 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks in a tough battle with New York’s Jonquel Jones to lead the Dream. Rhyne Howard followed with 21 points and Jordin Canada was the second half catalyst for Atlanta, finishing with 19 points and 11 assists.
Atlanta finished the first quarter with a 25-18 lead but the Liberty fought back fiercely, playing like a team whose season was on the line. Jones battling near the basket with Reese, while Sabrina Ionescu getting flamed by a non-call on a push by Isobel Borlase ignited the Barclays Center crowd.
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The Liberty used that surge to rally back from a 12-point deficit in the third quarter to eventually take the lead after a 17-4 run.
Jones scored 26 points for the Liberty on 11-of-17 shooting from the floor, with 14 rebounds and 3 blocks. Breanna Stewart also finished with 26 points after just 8 points in the first half. Sabrina Ionescu added 12 points, shooting 4 of 11 on 3-pointers.
Stewart made all 13 of his free throws, while grabbing 4 rebounds, dishing out 6 assists and blocking 2 shots. But she missed a baseline jumper that could have tied the score with 9.9 seconds remaining. This is the first time Stewart has been part of a team that was eliminated from the WNBA playoffs.
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The Dream played without Allisha Gray, who sat out with a left finger injury for the second straight game. Gray attended pregame warmups, but determined she couldn’t go. Smesko said the team is cautious ahead of the rest of the playoffs.
The run to the finals continues an impressive two-year turnaround under head coach Karl Smesko, during which the team finished with a 30-14 record in each of the last two seasons.
The Dream await the winner of the other semifinal series between the Las Vegas Aces and Golden State Valkyries for Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. The announcement will take place on Saturday, October 17 at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Follow live updates, highlights and news from the Dream’s Game 3 victory over the Liberty to close out their WNBA Semifinals series:
Yahoo Sports Team
Cassandra Negley
It was a disaster for the end of Liberty’s season. This is the first time Breanna Stewart has been swept in the playoffs. Far too much talent on this roster for it to happen that way, and I would expect a full preview this offseason. Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart stayed to say goodbye to some Dream players. Jones gave a heart emoji as he walked out to big cheers. Stewart followed with a towel on his head.
Yahoo Sports Team
The 2024 WNBA champion sweep is complete
Yahoo Sports Team
Breanna Stewart makes a shot, but can’t make it fall, and they have to foul DeWanna Bonner. She made both free throws for a four-point lead.
Cassandra Negley
Thumbs up here for the announcement that the Liberty will take its reset time.
Yahoo Sports Team
Consecutive turnovers! The Liberty makes a big stop on defense, coughs it up at the other end, and the Dream does the same before a timeout is called.
Cassandra Negley
Some of these possessions will haunt the Liberty. So many chances to tie the score or take the lead, and they couldn’t do it. …
…
…will it come down to a reset delay?
Yahoo Sports Team
Atlanta takes a four-point lead with 1:04 left, and it’s officially time for the Liberty to save their season.
Ian Casselberry
Upon review, DeWanna Bonner will get three free throws while in the middle of shooting a 3-pointer when Rhyne Howard was pushed towards her by Leonie Fiebich.
Bonner made all three free throws to give the Dream an 81-75 lead with 3:15 to play.
Ian Casselberry
DeWanna Bonner takes a shot to the left ankle as Rhyne Howard falls on top of her as she tangles with Leonie Fiebich and knocks her to the ground.
The officials are currently reviewing to determine whether Bonner or Howard was fouled and should make the free throws.
Ian Casselberry
A nice bounce pass from Jordin Canada to Rhyne Howard cutting to the basket results in a basket and a foul.
Howard hits the free throw for a 3-point play to put the Dream ahead 78-73 with 3:48 left in the fourth quarter.
Ian Casselberry
Jordin Canada scores a 3-point basket to give Atlanta the lead again 73-71 with 5:23 left in regulation!
She now has 15 points with 10 assists and currently appears to be the Dream’s best offensive threat.
Ian Casselberry
Four straight points from Rhyne Howard and the Dream lead 71-70 with 7:24 left in the fourth quarter.
Howard has 18 points for Atlanta.
Ian Casselberry
Jonquel Jones grabbed an offensive rebound on a missed 3-pointer from Marine Fauthoux. Léonie Fiebich then found Sabrina Ionescu on the left wing and she made a 3 to give Liberty the advantage 71-66.
Cassandra Negley
This team of officials allows Angel Reese to carry on an incredibly long conversation with them while DeWanna Bonner is at the line, ready to shoot free throws.
Ian Casselberry
The Liberty outscored the Dream by 7 points in the third quarter to take a 68-66 lead heading into the fourth.
Two free throws from Breanna Stewart gave New York the lead. He has 18 points left with 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks. Jonquel Jones leads the Liberty with 22 points.
Angel Reese also has 22 for the Dream, while Rhyne Howard has 14.
Ian Casselberry
The Liberty built its largest lead of the evening at 66-62, but it quickly disappeared on baskets from DeWanna Bonner and Angel Reese.
It’s a 66-66 game with less than a minute left in the third quarter.
Ian Casselberry
Rhyne Howard is called for a body foul on Breanna Stewart in the lane.
Angel Reese came in for a potential block and the Liberty is seeking a review, arguing she committed a hostile act by knocking down Stewart.
After review, the referees determined that Reese’s collision with Stewart was a continuation of his defensive effort. No hostile acts.
Cassandra Negley
Support in the arena for Angel Reese, who received faint cheers during player introductions, disappeared as quickly as a WNBA official when a pool report is requested. (Too early?)
Ian Casselberry
The Dreams don’t move as well on offense. Jordin Canada finds himself stuck in the lane thanks to the excellent defense of Jonquel Jones. But no one moves to the open wing that Canada can pass to and she has to make a contested shot.
Gn sports
