By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | October 5, 2026
The Atlanta Dream opened their WNBA semifinal series in emphatic fashion Sunday afternoon, riding a dominant second-half defensive effort to a 92-82 victory over the New York Liberty at State Farm Arena.
For much of the first half, Atlanta struggled to find its rhythm offensively and trailed 40-37 at the break. But the Dream once again proved why they have become one of the league’s hottest teams, turning a close contest into a commanding lead with a suffocating third-quarter performance that changed the course of the game.
“We knew the first three minutes would be really important,” said guard Jordin Canada, who delivered one of the most impressive postseason performances of her career despite battling foul trouble for much of the game.
Atlanta forced 21 turnovers and converted them into 32 points, tying the WNBA postseason record for most points scored off turnovers in a playoff game. The Dream’s relentless defensive pressure produced 14 steals and four blocked shots, overwhelming the Liberty throughout the second half.
The Starting Five of Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon, and Angel Reese improved to 3-0 in postseason play together, continuing to establish themselves as one of the league’s most effective lineups.
Canada led the charge with a game-high 25 points while adding four assists, five steals, one block, and a rebound. Her fifth steal tied the record for most steals in a postseason game, and her ninth point of the evening marked the 200th postseason point of her career.
“She’s the head of the snake on offense and defense,” veteran forward DeWanna Bonner said following the victory.
Bonner provided a massive spark off the bench, scoring 23 points and grabbing nine rebounds. The scoring total set a new personal high for Bonner in postseason play with Atlanta. Her energy proved pivotal during the Dream’s decisive third-quarter run.
The Dream bench contributed 27 points overall, providing valuable depth after a concerning injury scare involving Allisha Gray. The All-Star guard exited in the second quarter with a hand injury and did not return. Despite losing one of their top scorers, Atlanta responded by elevating its defensive intensity and sharing the offensive load.
Howard once again demonstrated her versatility, finishing with 16 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and a steal while taking on additional ball-handling responsibilities. Reese added another standout postseason performance with 17 points, seven rebounds, two assists, four steals, and three blocks.
The forward delivered one of the game’s biggest baskets when she converted a hook shot late in the fourth quarter to halt a Liberty rally and extend Atlanta’s lead.
Meanwhile, Hillmon impacted the game beyond the box score, contributing four rebounds, four assists, and a steal while helping anchor Atlanta’s defensive schemes.
The Dream’s third-quarter explosion ultimately decided the contest. After entering the half down three points, Atlanta opened the third period with a 13-0 run fueled by aggressive defense and transition scoring opportunities. The Dream outscored New York 32-15 during the quarter, turning nine Liberty turnovers into 16 points.
Despite several late pushes by New York, Atlanta repeatedly answered in clutch moments. Canada punctuated the victory with a corner three-pointer and a late layup that effectively sealed the win.
With the triumph, Atlanta improved its all-time playoff record against New York to 3-2 and seized a 1-0 advantage in the best-of-five semifinal series.
“It’s great to be up 1-0,” Dream head coach Karl Smesko said. “But there’s still a lot of work to be done.”
The Dream will look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead when they host Game 2 on Wednesday night at State Farm Arena.
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