Dream beat Liberty 101-98 in overtime to take 2-0 WNBA semifinal lead
Atlanta is one win from its first WNBA Finals since 2013 after outlasting New York in Game 2.
What we know
- Atlanta beat New York 101-98 in overtime at State Farm Arena and leads the best-of-series WNBA semifinal 2-0. [1] [2]
- Angel Reese and Jordin Canada each scored 23 points for the Dream; Breanna Stewart scored 35 points with 11 rebounds for the Liberty. [1] [2]
- Game 3 is Friday in New York, according to The Associated Press. [2]
The Atlanta Dream beat the New York Liberty 101-98 in overtime on Wednesday night to go up 2-0 in the WNBA semifinals. The Dream (30-14) are one win from their first WNBA Finals appearance since 2013, according to The Associated Press. [1][2]
Angel Reese led Atlanta with 23 points, and Jordin Canada also scored 23 and had a team-high eight assists. Naz Hillmon had a team-high eight rebounds. Reese scored six of Atlanta's 13 overtime points, AP reported. [1][2]
Breanna Stewart scored 35 points for the Liberty (26-18) and grabbed 11 rebounds. According to AP, 25 of those points came in the first half. Sabrina Ionescu had seven assists. [1][2]
New York trailed 86-80 with under two minutes left in regulation, AP reported. Ionescu hit a deep 3-pointer, and Stewart's layup made it 86-85 after an Atlanta shot clock violation. Reese made two free throws to put the Dream up 88-85, but Marine Fauthoux hit a tying 3-pointer with 10.3 seconds left. Rhyne Howard's floater missed at the regulation buzzer. [2]
The teams traded the lead in overtime. Hillmon's layup with 20.8 seconds left put Atlanta ahead for good, AP reported. After a jump ball and a Liberty possession, Ionescu overthrew a pass. Reese then made two free throws with 4.3 seconds left. [2]
Stewart missed a desperation shot on the final play. According to AP, Stewart said officials told the Liberty they had no reset left, which is why they did not use one to advance the ball. [2]
AP reported that Atlanta played without Allisha Gray, its leading scorer, who was out with a left hand injury. Rookie Izzy Borlase scored 11 points off the bench. [2]
"We're not focused on winning three games straight right now," Stewart said, according to AP. New York hosts Game 3 on Friday. [2]