The Atlanta Dream stomped the No. 8 New York Liberty 92-82 in Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals on Sunday, but what really went down was an absolute defensive masterclass, one that showcased a player Seattle fans know all too well: Jordin Canada. This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement about what this Dream team, fueled by a newly crowned Defensive Player of the Year, is capable of.
Angel Reese Just Spilled The Tea On DPOY
Okay, so Angel Reese just snagged Defensive Player of the Year this month, and she accepted that trophy in front of her home crowd on Sunday. But get this: she’s already talking about engraving the names of her teammates, Jordin Canada and Rhyne Howard, right onto that bad boy. Reese has been saying for weeks that any of the three league leaders in steals were worthy, and after what we saw in Game 1, it’s impossible to argue. She put it plain and simple post-game: “Defensive Player of the Year is in Atlanta for a reason.” And honestly, after seeing the third-quarter suffocation of two former MVPs and an all-WNBA guard, nobody’s disagreeing. Canada, who won two titles right here in Seattle with legends like Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird in her first and third seasons, is clearly a massive part of that “reason.”
The Third-Quarter Shutdown That Changed Everything
The Liberty came out swinging, even leading 40-37 at the half, shooting a better 43.8% compared to the Dream’s 34.3%. They were finding a groove, with Breanna Stewart hitting mid-range shots and Pauline Astier driving hard. But then something clicked. Veteran DeWanna Bonner, a rare late-season acquisition and one of the best midseason signings of the decade, lit into her young, inexperienced roster. Reese, Howard, and Allisha Gray (who only played 10:47 due to a hand injury) are all in their first semifinals, while Bonner was playing her 101st postseason game. Whatever Bonner said, it worked.
Canada shared the basics: they needed a second-half surge, and it kicked off in the first three minutes of the third quarter. “It started defensively with our energy,” Canada said. “We were able to get stops and get out in transition, which is what we do best, and from there we were able to separate a little bit and finish off.” That’s the bread and butter right there. The Dream snatched balls out of bellies and smacked shots out of the air. Reese denied Sabrina Ionescu at the rim with a staredown in the second quarter, and in one insane third-quarter sequence, Canada played “swiper” three times in a row. They locked the Liberty out of the paint, forcing bad shots. The result? Nine turnovers forced in that frame alone, leading to 16 points for the Dream, while the Liberty only managed 15 points as a team. New York shot a dismal 1 of 7 from inside the arc, and Jones and Stewart combined for a shocking 1 of 4. Meanwhile, the Dream pounded the paint 18-2, won in transition 11-0, and cleaned up on second chances 5-0. That’s how you shut a team down.
Canada, Reese, and Howard Show Out
This defensive effort was a team game, but some individual stats jump off the page. Jordin Canada, despite admitting “I might have been a little bit too handsy” and getting into early foul trouble, finished with a team-high five steals, 25 points, and even a block. Angel Reese wasn’t far behind with four steals, three blocks, 17 points, and seven rebounds. Rhyne Howard dropped 16 points and dished out a team-high eight assists. And DeWanna Bonner, the seasoned vet, added 23 points.
This was Game 1 of the semifinals, folks. The Dream just showed the entire league that defense, particularly with this level of intensity and a player like our former Seattle champ Jordin Canada leading the charge, can absolutely suffocate even the best offenses. Can they keep this defensive fire burning for the rest of the series? You know Seattle will be watching!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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