--- title: "Atlanta Dream Secures WNBA Finals Spot with Sweep" url: https://newscentral.site/atlanta-dream-secures-wnba-finals-spot-with-sweep/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Sports" published: 2026-10-10T04:24:54.000Z updated: 2026-10-10T06:33:38.597Z id: b924a41e-1db9-4d68-b374-f254989a664d source: "CBS Sports \n https://www.cbssports.com/wnba/news/dream-liberty-angel-reese-wnba-finals/" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/atlanta-dream-secures-wnba-finals-spot-with-sweep/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Atlanta Dream Secures WNBA Finals Spot with Sweep The Atlanta Dream has secured their spot in the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2013 after sweeping the New York Liberty in three games. This achievement comes on the heels of an intense Game 3 victory, where they edged out the Liberty with a final score of 85-83. The highly physical contest was marked by a series of hard fouls and confrontations between players. Notably, Angel Reese clashed with Sabrina Ionescu after she felt that Ionescu had committed a foul on Isobel Borlase in an attempt to even the score. Later, both Reese and Jonquel Jones received technicals for their involvement in an altercation under the basket. The Dream initially took control of the game early on, establishing a significant lead. However, the Liberty responded swiftly, reclaiming the advantage and taking it into the fourth quarter. Ionescu's timely three-pointer at the start of the final frame put the Liberty up by five points, suggesting they might pull away from the competition. The game ultimately became a back-and-forth affair as both teams fought for dominance down the stretch. Despite the intense physicality on display, the officials allowed most of the hard fouls to stand, contributing to the contentious atmosphere throughout the contest. The Dream's victory was sealed when DeWanna Bonner sank her free throws, putting an end to any hopes of a comeback by the Liberty. Jordin Canada had played a pivotal role in securing this win for Atlanta, displaying incredible skill with 19 points and 11 assists, while also impressively keeping his turnovers at zero. Angel Reese contributed significantly as well, scoring 22 points and pulling down nine rebounds. Sabrina Ionescu's crucial turnover proved costly for the Liberty, coming at a critical juncture in the game. This was not an isolated incident, as she had previously made a similar mistake in Game 2, highlighting the pressure heaped on her to deliver under intense circumstances. Breanna Stewart also struggled to make an impact, unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities and ultimately contributing just 26 points to the Liberty's tally. The Atlanta Dream's impressive sweep of the New York Liberty can be attributed to their dominance on the margins. In crucial categories such as turnovers, offensive rebounds, and fastbreak points, the Dream outperformed the Liberty by significant margins. The team forced 19 more turnovers than their opponents, resulting in a substantial 41-point advantage from these opportunities. They also secured nine more offensive rebounds and scored 26 more points on the break. The Dream's ability to control the pace of the game was a key factor in their success. By forcing turnovers and dominating the glass, they took 33 more field goal attempts and 11 more free throw attempts than the Liberty. This allowed them to compensate for their lower shooting efficiency from the floor. Despite some initial concerns about Angel Reese's postseason performance, she played a crucial role down the stretch of the regular season. However, in Game 1 of the Dream's first-round series against the Mystics, she struggled with her shot, going 4 for 15 from the field. Since her initial struggles in Game 1 of the first-round series against the Mystics, Angel Reese has been on a tear for the Dream. In three games against the Liberty, she averaged an impressive 20.7 points per game while also contributing significantly on the defensive end. Reese's performance was marked by a strong showing on both ends of the floor, with her averaging 2.3 blocks and 2 steals per game. She shot at a rate of 47.7% from the field, making her one of the top scorers for the Dream in the series. Her rebounding numbers were also notable, as she secured an average of 7.7 rebounds per contest. Reese's ability to grab offensive rebounds was particularly crucial, with her collecting 14 of the team's 29 such boards throughout the series. This allowed the Dream to maintain a significant advantage on the margins and control the pace of play. On the defensive side, Reese proved to be a major disruptor, both in terms of her on-ball defense and her ability to impact the game off the ball. Reese's overall numbers for the series were impressive, with 22 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks in one particularly standout performance. Meanwhile, the Liberty struggled to match the Dream's intensity, despite having a player like Gray who had led his team in scoring during the regular season. The Atlanta Dream's Jordin Canada has emerged as a key player in their WNBA Finals bid, delivering outstanding performances throughout the series against the Liberty. In contrast to her regular season numbers, where she had scored 19 or more points just once, Canada achieved this feat in all three games against the Liberty. Canada's impressive play extended beyond scoring, with notable contributions on defense and ball control. Her stellar defense saw her take nearly perfect care of the ball, committing only six turnovers in 110 minutes played throughout the series. This level of performance was a significant improvement from her regular season record. In terms of statistics, Canada averaged an impressive 22.3 points per game, along with 7.7 assists and two steals, all while maintaining a high field goal percentage. She led the team in multiple categories, including scoring, assists, steals, and field goal percentage, highlighting her significant impact on the court. Canada's finishing at the rim was particularly noteworthy, as she converted 13 of 17 shots (76.5%) from close range throughout the series. This efficiency at the basket is even more impressive when considering the size disadvantage the Dream faced against the Liberty's larger players. Despite being outmatched in terms of physical presence, Canada managed to dominate on the margins and assert her dominance over the competition. Her ability to finish effectively around the rim allowed her to excel despite facing a size disadvantage. In comparison to other playoff performers, Canada's efficiency at the rim is particularly notable, especially considering she is not an elite big. Among players who have attempted at least 20 shots from close range in the postseason, only a few have been more effective than Canada. DeWanna Bonner emerged as a key contributor for the Atlanta Dream in their postseason run. The veteran forward averaged 15.3 points per game and led her team in rebounding with an average of 8.3 boards per contest. Her addition to the roster came late in August, after she was waived by the Phoenix Mercury. Bonner's shooting from beyond the arc was a significant improvement for the Dream, as she combined with teammates Canada and Isobel Borlase to shoot 48.4% from three-point range over Games 2 and 3. In contrast, their regular season percentages were significantly lower: 29.2%, 27.9%, and 32.4% respectively. --- Source: [CBS Sports]( https://www.cbssports.com/wnba/news/dream-liberty-angel-reese-wnba-finals/ ) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/atlanta-dream-secures-wnba-finals-spot-with-sweep/