Angel Reese shined in her postseason debut, scoring 23 points as the Atlanta Dream defeated the New York Liberty 101-98 in Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals on Wednesday night. The victory gives the Dream a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, leaving the Liberty on the brink of elimination.
Reese’s performance included six crucial points during overtime, where she helped her team maintain their advantage. The Dream were without their leading scorer, Allisha Gray, who missed the game due to a left hand injury. Despite her absence, Reese, along with Jordin Canada, who also scored 23 points, led Atlanta’s offense effectively.
As the game progressed, the Liberty managed to tie the score at 88-88 when rookie Marine Fauthoux hit a three-pointer with just 10.3 seconds left in regulation. Both teams fought hard during overtime, but Reese and her teammates consistently found ways to respond to New York’s efforts.
Naz Hillmon provided the final push for Atlanta, scoring a layup with 20.8 seconds remaining in the extra period. After a turnover by New York, Reese secured the win by making two free throws with 4.3 seconds left.
Breanna Stewart’s Efforts Fall Short
The Liberty’s Breanna Stewart turned in a standout performance, scoring 35 points, including 25 in the first half. Fauthoux added 20 points to the effort, but New York struggled to complete the comeback. Sabrina Ionescu’s late turnover proved costly in the final moments of the game.
The Liberty will now face a critical elimination game on Friday in Brooklyn. They will need to win three consecutive games against Atlanta to progress. Despite the challenge, New York has shown their ability to win tough matches, notably eliminating top-seeded Minnesota earlier in the postseason.
The Dream aim to stay focused as they approach a potential championship round. With just one more victory needed to secure a spot in the WNBA Finals, Atlanta’s strong postseason performance has captured attention and solidified their status as a formidable contender.
