Atlanta Survives a Playoff Classic: Dream Outlast Liberty in Overtime

ATLANTA — Some games give you a winner. Others give you a night people will be talking about long after the final buzzer. Wednesday's WNBA semifinal Game 2 was the latter.

The Atlanta Dream outlasted the New York Liberty 101–98 in overtime to take a 2–0 series lead. With stars trading big shots, role players answering under pressure and the lead constantly in play, Atlanta had to earn every bit of it.

Stars showed up. So did everybody else.

Angel Reese and Jordin Canada scored 23 points apiece for the Dream. Canada also handed out eight assists, while Reese added seven rebounds and scored six points in overtime. Rhyne Howard supplied 18 points, Naz Hillmon had 12 and Isobel Borlase contributed 11. Atlanta was missing leading scorer Allisha Gray because of a finger injury, making that balanced production particularly important.

New York answered with an extraordinary performance from Breanna Stewart: 35 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, including 25 points before halftime. Jonquel Jones added 21, and Marine Fauthoux delivered 20 off the bench. Neither team wanted to blink.

A finish worthy of the stage

With Atlanta up 88–85 late in regulation, rookie Fauthoux buried the tying three with about 10 seconds left. Howard nearly won it at the buzzer, but her attempt missed and the game went to overtime.

The extra period produced another set of huge moments. Hillmon finished a go-ahead layup with 20.8 seconds left. Following a late New York turnover, Reese stepped to the line and sank two free throws with 4.3 seconds remaining. Stewart's final desperation attempt missed, and Atlanta finally had its win.

Beyond the final score

Both teams made 12 three-pointers, but Atlanta won the turnover battle, committing nine turnovers to New York's 17. The Dream also converted 21 of 23 free throws, compared with 16 of 23 for the Liberty. Those possessions and points mattered in a game decided by three.

For Moonman21 Sports, there is an added Baltimore connection: Reese's path from St. Frances Academy to Atlanta now includes one of the defining performances of the Dream's postseason.

New York heads home for Friday's Game 3 needing a win to stay alive. Atlanta is one victory away from its first WNBA Finals appearance since 2013. The series may be 2–0, but Game 2 was anything but comfortable.