The Atlanta Dream are heading back to the WNBA Finals, and this time, they're hoping to finish the job. For the first time in 13 years, Atlanta will have an opportunity to compete for a WNBA championship after completing a three-game sweep of the New York Liberty in the semifinals. Led by Angel Reese and Rhyne Howard, the Dream defeated New York 85-83 Friday night at Barclays Center, securing the franchise's fourth trip to the Finals and its first since 2013.
And after sweeping their first two playoff opponents, Atlanta is entering the championship round with plenty of momentum. Reese continued her impressive postseason run, finishing with a team-high 22 points, while Howard added 21. Jordin Canada also delivered a strong performance with 19 points and 11 assists, helping Atlanta overcome a determined Liberty team fighting to keep its season alive.
The Dream entered Friday's matchup holding a commanding 2-0 series lead following a thrilling overtime victory in Game 2. But eliminating New York on its home floor was never going to be easy. Atlanta came out firing, connecting on five of its first eight attempts from beyond the arc in the opening quarter.
Howard scored 11 points in the period, while Reese added 10, including two 3-pointers, helping the Dream establish an early 25-18 advantage. Reese continued her strong first-half performance, heading into the locker room with 18 points as Atlanta took a 44-39 lead into halftime. But with their season on the line, the Liberty weren't going down without a fight.
Led by Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones, New York came out of the break with a renewed sense of urgency, erasing Atlanta's lead and putting the pressure back on the Dream. The Liberty outscored Atlanta 29-22 in the period, turning a five-point halftime deficit into a 68-66 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Suddenly, the Dream found themselves trailing with their opportunity to complete the sweep hanging in the balance.
But just as they've done throughout the postseason, Atlanta found a way to respond. The Dream tightened their defense in the fourth quarter, holding New York to just 15 points over the final 10 minutes. After falling behind by four early in the period, Atlanta answered with eight consecutive points to regain control.
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