Atlanta Dream Sweeps Liberty to Reach WNBA Finals

Atlanta secured its first WNBA Finals appearance since 2013 by defeating the New York Liberty 85-83 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Friday, completing a three-game sweep of the best-of-five semifinal series. Angel Reese led the Dream with 22 points, while Rhyne Howard added 21 to help Atlanta advance despite a determined late-season fightback from the defending champions.

The victory sends Atlanta to the championship series for the fourth time in franchise history. According to the series results reported by The Guardian, the Dream will seek their first WNBA title after losing their previous Finals appearances in 2010, 2011 and 2013.

Jordin Canada contributed 19 points and 11 assists, while DeWanna Bonner recorded 13 points and 13 rebounds. Australian reserve Isobel Borlase added 10 points, making five of her six field-goal attempts. Atlanta also overcame the absence of Allisha Gray, who missed her second consecutive game because of a left-hand injury.

Atlanta established an early advantage by making five of eight three-point attempts in the opening quarter. Howard scored 11 points and Reese added 10 in the period, helping the visitors take a 25-18 lead. Reese had accumulated 18 points by halftime as the Dream carried a 44-39 advantage into the break.

New York responded after halftime, with Breanna Stewart scoring 10 points in the third quarter and Jonquel Jones adding nine. The Liberty shot 58.8% from the field during the period, outscoring Atlanta 29-22 to move ahead 68-66 entering the fourth quarter.

Atlanta regained control defensively in the final period, limiting New York to 15 points. The Liberty converted five of 15 shots during the closing 10 minutes, including one of seven attempts from three-point range, while the Dream scored 19 points to secure the win.

Stewart and Jones each finished with 26 points for New York. Jones also collected 14 rebounds and blocked three shots, while Sabrina Ionescu recorded 12 points on four-of-12 shooting. The loss extended the Liberty's losing streak against Atlanta to six games, including regular-season matchups.

The defeat ended New York's campaign after the Liberty entered Game 3 facing elimination. Before the decisive matchup, Ionescu had acknowledged her role in the team's 101-98 overtime loss in Game 2 on Wednesday, when a late turnover contributed to Atlanta's victory.

Ionescu accepted responsibility for the earlier defeat when addressing the team's performance.

"It was my fault."

She had also publicly acknowledged her shortcomings following the overtime game.

"This loss is on me," Ionescu said. "I got to take it on the chin and I got to be better."

Before Game 3, Ionescu had stressed that New York still intended to fight despite trailing 0-2 in the series. No team had ever overcome that deficit in a best-of-five WNBA playoff series, according to the Yahoo Sports report.

"The mentality is just that it's not over," Ionescu said.

Her earlier struggles came after an injury-disrupted season that included a left-foot injury and a persistent back issue. In Game 2, she finished with 10 points on three-of-eight shooting, four rebounds, seven assists and two turnovers.

One pivotal moment came with 10 seconds remaining in overtime, when Ionescu had possession with Atlanta leading by one. As Dream defenders closed in, she passed the ball across the court and out of bounds instead of attempting a shot.

Ionescu described the turnover and her decision-making after the game.

"It was a bad pass, that's on me," Ionescu said. "That's one that I need to be able to make a better pass or finish … I wasn't in a great rhythm. I didn't get a lot of shots up to be able to feel confident taking it and I'm gonna beat myself up for it, for sure. That's a shot I should take and at least just put it up on the rim but it is what it is and gotta go back home and try and turn it around."

Despite the difficult moment, Ionescu had entered the series after scoring 27 points on 50% shooting in Game 1. She also reflected on the need to respond to setbacks throughout a professional career.

"[Bouncing back is] what I've done my whole career."

She expanded on her approach to handling difficult moments in competition.

"You're gonna win, you're gonna lose, you're gonna hit a game-winner, you're gonna turn it over. It's just part of sports. And if it was easy, everyone would be doing it. So I think for me, it's just having kind of the mentality of knowing in these moments they're gonna prepare me for what's to come."

Atlanta will face either the Golden State Valkyries or the Las Vegas Aces in the Finals. Golden State entered Friday with a 2-0 lead in its best-of-five semifinal series against the defending champions. The 2026 Finals are scheduled to begin Saturday, October 17, with Atlanta's potential home games set for October 22, October 24 and October 29.