Without injured Allisha Gray, Dream power to Game 1 semifinals victory over Liberty
ATLANTA — The New York Liberty’s X-factor is their postseason experience. It’s one of the reasons that, despite being the eighth seed in the WNBA playoffs, they swept the No. 1 Minnesota Lynx in the first round. But how much does experience really matter against a youthful team with relentless will? Sunday at State Farm Arena, the answer proved to be it doesn’t as the No. 4 Atlanta Dream — who…
In a nail-biting semifinals Game 1 win over the New York Liberty, the Atlanta Dream demonstrated the value of postseason experience. Despite having just two players with prior experience in the WNBA playoffs, the Dream secured a 92-82 victory, powered by their defensive prowess and gritty play. The Dream, who led the WNBA in forced turnovers per game, outscored the Liberty 32-15 in the third quarter, propelling them to a 14-point advantage into the final ten minutes.
The Dream's core four of Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon, and Angel Reese had never reached this stage before, but they showcased maturity and composure. Reese and Howard, in particular, played like seasoned veterans, contributing significantly to the Dream's success. Jordin Canada and DeWanna Bonner, who stepped up to replace Gray as a starter in the second half, also played pivotal roles.
Bonner finished with 23 points and nine rebounds, while Canada added 25 points and five steals. The Liberty mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, but Atlanta remained unshaken, displaying resilience and adaptability. The Dream, who will host Game 2 on Wednesday, will face a formidable opponent in the New York Liberty, led by Sabrina Ionescu's 27 points, Breanna Stewart's 19 points, and Jonquel Jones' 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
