The Atlanta Dream are officially heading to the 2026 WNBA Finals, after pulling off a wild sweep against the New York Liberty in the semifinals. It wasn’t just some easy stroll though; the Dream had to fight tooth and nail to seal their spot in the championship series.
Swept, But Far From Easy
Yeah, the Dream swept New York to advance, but don’t let that fool you, this series was no breeze! Game 2 even went to overtime and ended with an officiating controversy, which tells you everything about the intensity. Game 3 didn’t have *that* level of spice, but it was still super tightly contested. Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones were absolutely fantastic for New York, both dropping 26 points, pushing Atlanta to the brink in the fourth quarter. The Liberty were literally just a couple of scores away from forcing a Game 4. But when it mattered most, the Dream absolutely came through down the stretch. Jordin Canada nailed a crucial basket, and veteran DeWanna Bonner kept the Liberty at bay by knocking down two clutch free throws. The Dream walked out of New York with an 85-83 victory, punching their ticket!
Izzy’s Spark and Bonner’s Dream
Dream head coach Karl Smesko was hyped after the game, saying it was “another just outstanding game back and forth,” and he felt “great that we were able to make the last couple plays and that we get to be moving on to the Finals.” He was clearly super proud of how his players competed, pulled together, and held on to win. The Dream ran a super tight rotation in this game, with seven players hitting the floor and six logging the majority of the minutes. Every single player made an impact, but the biggest surprise contributor had to be Isobel Borlase. This Australian rookie came off the bench and was an absolute walking bucket, going 5-for-6 from the field for 10 points! Smesko actually said in the locker room, “I don’t think we win either of the last two games without the production we got from Izzy. She’s grown a lot this year. She’s really built her confidence.” Rhyne Howard dropped 21 points, and Jordin Canada picked up a double-double with 19 points and 11 assists, stepping up huge with Allisha Gray out. DeWanna Bonner also had a double-double, putting up 13 points and 13 rebounds. Her story is amazing, right? She asked for a buyout from the Mercury specifically to compete for a title, and now she’s not just along for the ride, she’s absolutely key to their success and gets her chance in the Finals.
The Dream have earned their shot at the chip, and after battling through such a tough semifinal, you just know they’re gonna bring that same fire to the Finals. Can’t wait to see what they do next!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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