The Atlanta Dream are officially heading to the 2026 WNBA Finals! They just knocked out Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty in a wild 85-83 Game 3 semifinal victory on Friday night, ending what was a historic playoff run for the Liberty. Rhyne Howard and Jordin Canada absolutely went off in the fourth quarter, orchestrating a comeback that sealed the deal for the Dream.
Reese Ignites Early, Tensions Flare Up
From the jump, the Dream came out swinging at Barclays Center, and Angel Reese was the spark. She splashed two three-pointers and poured in 10 points in a single postseason quarter for the first time in her WNBA career. Talk about setting the tone! That early explosion helped Atlanta grab a seven-point lead after the first 10 minutes. But you knew the Liberty weren’t going down easy. They battled back hard, outscoring the Dream 50-41 over the next two quarters, and things got spicy. Reese was right in the middle of it, getting into heated exchanges with both Ionescu and Jonquel Jones late in the first half. You could feel the stakes climbing with every possession.
Ionescu’s Lights-Out Shooting Not Enough for Liberty
New York actually clawed their way to a two-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, thanks in no small part to Sabrina Ionescu. She drained a trio of three-pointers in the third, and then, BAM, she hit her fourth of the night early in the final quarter. That bucket wasn’t just big for the lead; it pushed Ionescu past Kara Lawson for 11th on the WNBA’s all-time postseason three-pointer leaderboard. What a moment for her! The Liberty seemed to have momentum, pushing their advantage even further. Breanna Stewart led the Liberty scoring with 26 points, adding 4 rebounds and 6 assists, while Jonquel Jones matched Stewart’s 26 points and snagged a massive 14 rebounds with 3 assists. But that lead, and all that firepower, couldn’t hold.
Dream Seize Control With Clutch Fourth Quarter Run
This is where the Dream dug deep. With under five minutes left in the fourth, Rhyne Howard and Jordin Canada took over, spearheading a critical 7-0 run that snatched the lead right back from New York. Canada was a force with 19 points, 3 rebounds, and an incredible 11 assists, while Howard dropped 21 points and 2 rebounds. Reese finished with a monster 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists. Once Atlanta got that lead, they clamped down, holding on tight to close out the elimination game. It was a gritty, gutsy performance to send them to their first WNBA Finals since way back in 2013!
The Dream are now off to chase their first-ever WNBA championship! They’ll face either the Golden State Valkyries or the Las Vegas Aces in the Finals. Right now, the Valkyries hold a 2-0 lead in their semifinal series, with the Aces fighting to extend their postseason on Friday in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, the 2024 champion Liberty, after sweeping the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the first round for a historic run, are heading home. What a series!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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