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Dream Sweep Liberty to Reach WNBA Finals
Confirmed
In Short: The Atlanta Dream secured their first trip to the WNBA Finals since 2013 with a 85-83 victory over the New York Liberty in Game 3.
The Atlanta Dream advanced to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2013 with a 85-83 victory over the New York Liberty in Game 3 of their semifinal series on Friday night.
Reese's hot start helped the Dream hold a seven-point lead after 10 minutes, but the visitors fell behind after getting outscored 50-41 over the next two quarters.
Rhyne Howard and Jordin Canada led the Dream on a fourth-quarter comeback to seal the win.
The Liberty went into the fourth quarter with a two-point lead thanks in part to a trio of three-pointers by Sabrina Ionescu.
The Dream jumped in front early in an extremely physical contest that nearly got out of hand on multiple occasions as the officials let just about everything go.
Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream are off to the 2026 WNBA Finals after ending a historic playoff run for Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty.
Reese, who drained a pair of three-pointers while recording 10 points in a postseason quarter for the first time in her WNBA career, led the Dream with 22 points.
Notably, Angel Reese got in Sabrina Ionescu's face after the Liberty guard delivered a hard foul to Isobel Borlase as payback for what she thought should have been a foul on Borlase.
After Jordin Canada hit a circus shot to give the Dream a four-point advantage with just over a minute to play, Jones responded to cut the deficit to two.
The Liberty then got a few stops and had multiple chances to tie the game but could not.
Reese's tweet last season, 'manifesting the finals,' came true as the Dream secured their first trip to the WNBA Finals since 2013.
Reese said, 'When I came to Atlanta, I knew what I was getting,' referring to her arrival from the Chicago Sky in an offseason trade.
What this adds
The Dream will face the Golden State Valkyries in the Finals, which will begin on Oct. 17.
The Liberty's historic playoff run ended with the loss.
Background
The Atlanta Dream secured their first trip to the WNBA Finals since 2013 with a 85-83 victory over the New York Liberty in Game 3.
The Atlanta Dream have secured their first trip to the WNBA Finals since 2013 after sweeping the New York Liberty in the semifinals.
What's confirmed
- Rhyne Howard and Jordin Canada led the Dream on a fourth-quarter comeback to seal an 85-83 win over Liberty in Friday night's Game 3 of the semifinals.
- After a three-game sweep of the Liberty, the Dream will face the Golden State Valkyries in the Finals, which will begin on Oct. 17.
- NEW YORK -- Angel Reese was sitting at home watching the end of the WNBA Finals last season when she tweeted "manifesting the finals."
What's still developing
- Atlanta then held onto the advantage to close out the elimination win.
- The Liberty were unable to hold on to that advantage long enough to extend their postseason.
- When Ionescu hit a 3-pointer 30 seconds into the final frame to push the Liberty's lead to five, it seemed they might pull away.
- Dream wrap up first WNBA Finals berth since 2013 with sweep of Liberty | ESPN La Crosse 105.5 You are using an outdated browser.
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Sources
- Bleacher Reportlink
- CBS Sportslink
- Espnlink
- Espnlacrosselink
- Hawaii Tribune-Heraldlink
- New York Daily Newslink
- SLAM Onlinelink
- The Brunswick Newslink
- The Messengerlink
- Newyorktheatreguidelink
- Nsflink
- TechCrunchlink
- Foxsportslink
- Smoothradiolink
- The Hollywood Reporterlink
- Thescorelink
- Courtside with Ash — video link