Angel Reese leads the Dream into the semifinals against the Liberty as her breakout season rolls on
The Dream won two of their three regular-season games against the Liberty by double digits
The opening semifinal showdown of the 30th WNBA playoffs is officially locked in, featuring the Atlanta Dream clashing with the New York Liberty , with Game 1 scheduled in Atlanta on Sunday, October 4.
The Dream punched their ticket by dispatching the Washington Mystics 93-75 in Game 2, completing a commanding first-round sweep following an identical 92-77 blowout victory in Game 1. By advancing, the Dream successfully snapped a frustrating franchise skid of three consecutive seasons suffering opening-round playoff exits, powered by a masterclass team effort where all five starters scored in double figures.
Guard Allisha Gray led the offensive charge with 22 points and 4 steals , while veteran floor general Jordin Canada orchestrated the attack brilliantly, recording a stellar double-double with 19 points and 11 assists.
Angel Reese Pushes Atlanta Dream Into WNBA Semifinals
Throughout the opening-round sweep, the Dream completely controlled the tempo, showcasing why the blockbuster trade bringing AP Defensive Player of the Year Angel Reese from Chicago to Atlanta was a complete win.
In the series-clinching Game 2, Reese anchored the interior with 15 points and 7 rebounds , registering a game-high plus-minus of +26 , the highest plus-minus by any center through their first two playoff games in league history.
This postseason impact justifies the steep price Atlanta paid, surrendering their 2027 and 2028 first-round draft picks to acquire the star forward and rescue a veteran roster that had stalled out in the first round for three straight years.
Reese is coming off a legendary regular season where she appeared in 43 of 44 games , averaging 16.4 points and 12.1 rebounds per game , while permanently etching her name into the WNBA record books by shattering the single-season mark with 32 double-doubles , claiming her third consecutive rebounding title in as many professional seasons, hauling in a league-high 521 total rebounds , and snagging a jaw-dropping 26 rebounds in a single contest.
The upcoming semifinal series against New York promises to be an absolute thriller, as the Liberty are fresh off sweeping the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx behind a star-studded veteran core featuring Breanna Stewart , Sabrina Ionescu , and Jonquel Jones .
If Atlanta's starting five can maintain this ferocious defensive intensity and high-octane execution, the Dream could very well advance to their first WNBA Finals appearance since 2013, establishing themselves as the team to beat moving forward.
