Liberty Triumphs Over Dream in Key Game
ATLANTA — The Liberty faced a significant challenge on Thursday, coming away with a 104-90 victory against the Atlanta Dream. This was arguably New York’s finest performance of the season.
It seemed that the team had been gearing up for this moment.
In an impressive display, New York dominated the boards with a 40-24 advantage against the best rebounding team in the league. Despite the Dream’s reputation for limiting outside shooting, Liberty managed to hit 16 out of 31 attempts from three-point range.
The Liberty have experienced their fair share of obstacles this season. Brianna Stewart and her teammates felt the frustration of three consecutive home losses.
Stewart acknowledged that while she anticipated a learning curve with the new system, she hadn’t quite expected the early struggles.
First-year coach Chris DeMarco has consistently stressed the importance of patience, especially given the constant roster changes.
New York still hasn’t had Sabrina Ionescu, who has missed seven consecutive games due to back pain.
Nonetheless, the Liberty seemed to find their rhythm, wrapping up their longest homestand with four consecutive wins. They’ve shown promise on the road as well, recently defeating Connecticut and then the Dream.
The offense looked cohesive, with players making smart moves and finding open opportunities. On defense, Liberty exploited the Dream’s weaker shooters, pushing Naz Hillmon and Angel Reese to take challenging shots.
From start to finish, New York made it tough for Atlanta.
The first half was a bit disjointed. There were lengthy reviews that stalled the game.
After the Dream started the second quarter with a 10-2 run, they took a six-point lead, prompting DeMarco to call a timeout.
The Liberty regrouped, with Stewart assisting Jonquel Jones for a key three-pointer that put them back in the lead.
New York struggled noticeably, committing seven turnovers in the second quarter, yet they managed to seize a 51-44 advantage by halftime, thanks to a remarkable deep three from Marin Johannes and a buzzer-beating shot by Pauline Astier from nearly half court.
DeMarco made adjustments after Bethnia Laney Hamilton had a tough first half, reinserting her with over six minutes left in the third. This led to a 22-8 run that extended their lead to 16 entering the final quarter.
However, no lead is secure, especially considering the Knicks’ recent comeback in the NBA Finals.
The Dream have been the top fourth-quarter team in the league, boasting a +87 point differential in the final frame up to that point.
Atlanta made some runs, but Liberty kept countering effectively.
Teamwork was evident on Thursday night, with five players from Liberty scoring in double figures. Sabally Sato, coming off the bench, hit 5 out of 7 shots, contributing 19 points.
With this victory, Liberty likely dashed Atlanta’s hopes for this year’s Commissioner’s Cup.
Coach Karl Smesko labeled the game a “must win” for his squad, but ultimately, Liberty proved too strong.
New York improved to 4-0 in cup games, while Dream now stand at 3-2.
