The Atlanta Dream are officially headed to the WNBA Finals, making their first appearance since way back in 2013! They absolutely shut down the New York Liberty with a three-game semifinal sweep on Friday night, punching their ticket with an 85-83 win in Game 3. This team is on a mission, going a perfect 5-0 so far in the playoffs, and you can feel the energy building.
The Dream’s Relentless Drive and a Historic Finals Bid
Talk about a dominant run! The Dream didn’t just win, they swept the Liberty right out of the semifinals. Game 1 saw them take a decisive 92-82 victory, then they fought through an intense Game 2, pulling out a 101-98 overtime win. Finishing it off with that tight 85-83 Game 3 victory shows they can win no matter how close it gets. They are perfect, 5-0 in the playoffs, having already knocked out the Washington Mystics in the first round with a quick 2-0 sweep (92-77 and 93-75). The Dream has never actually won a WNBA championship, so this run feels extra special, and they’re going to fight like crazy for that first title. They’re now waiting to see who they’ll face in the Finals, either the Valkyries or the Aces. The Valkyries were trying for a sweep of their own in Game 3 against the Aces on Friday night, so that series is still hot.
A Groundbreaking Season and the Liberty’s Wild Ride
Let’s be real, this entire 2026 WNBA season has been absolutely groundbreaking, both on and off the court. We saw a contentious, extended labor battle that resulted in historic player raises, bumping the salary cap from $1.5 million in 2025 all the way up to $7 million this year. And in return? The players have absolutely raised the bar every single week. We saw multiple regular-season records fall: Clark became the first player in WNBA history with a 40-point, 10-assist game, Angel Reese broke the single-game rebounding record with a monstrous 26, and Kelsey Mitchell passed A’ja Wilson’s single-season points record. It’s been wild!
Even the Liberty’s journey to the semifinals was epic, even if it ended in a sweep. They came in as the eighth seed and completely shocked everyone by knocking out the top-seeded Lynx in the first round! They’re actually the first No. 8 seed in history to take out a No. 1 seed, winning that series 2-0 (91-75 and 87-71). That’s the kind of stuff you tell your grandkids about.
The 2026 WNBA Finals kick off on October 17. The Dream are on an incredible undefeated run, eyeing their first-ever championship, and you know they’re bringing all that fire to the court. Get ready, because these Finals are going to be absolutely electric!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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