ATLANTA — Angel Reese, a standout player for the Dream, didn’t shy away from Liberty co-owner Joe Tsai’s claim that his team leads this year’s WNBA playoffs.
“I don’t give a damn,” Reese remarked following practice on Saturday.
It was a straightforward response, direct and without hesitation.
There was no sign of submission.
It felt very much like an invitation to the Liberty: Bring it on.
While the No. 4 seed Atlanta Dream might technically have a better seed in their semifinal clash against the eighth-seeded Liberty, starting Sunday, there’s an underlying narrative here. They’ve beaten the Liberty twice recently as the regular season wrapped up.
Still, it seems the Dream don’t quite have the recognition one might expect.
But honestly, that seems to suit Atlanta just fine.
If anything, the Dream seem to embrace their underdog status.
“Nobody wants the Atlanta Dream in it,” Reese pointed out. “We have that chip on our shoulder and we’re just gonna continue to fight through it.”
This chip has been building for quite a while — dating back even before Reese joined the team in April.
Atlanta is enjoying its deepest playoffs run since 2018, having previously made three straight first-round exits.
They recently swept the Washington Mystics, pushing back against the stereotype of being unable to perform when it truly matters.
Yet the team is still not fully satisfied.
“Winning one series is not enough,” Reese stated. “Being able to turn the page, those are the teams that continue to advance. You can’t get too high, can’t get too low in these moments — just continuing to stick together. Nobody’s gonna give you anything. Everyone’s gonna come for you.”
And that’s where the Liberty enter the picture.
Many analysts had doubts about the Liberty’s chances against the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in their opening round.
However, the Liberty proved the skeptics wrong, showcasing their best gameplay of the season and eliminating the Lynx in just two matches.
“I don’t think we felt like the underdog coming into the game either,” Rebecca Allen remarked. “We weren’t a traditional eighth seed by any means, and I think we’re just really showing what we are capable of. It feels like we’re stepping into the team we intended to be, and the timing couldn’t be better.”
The Dream aim to triumph over formidable opponents in a matchup filled with talent.
The Liberty are stacked with stars like Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Jonquel Jones.
Meanwhile, the Dream boast Reese, Rhyne Howard, and Allisha Gray.
The Liberty bring in experience from prior championships, familiar with the weight of these crucial moments.
On the flip side, the Dream are eager to make their mark after a long hiatus from this level.
Atlanta doesn’t seem fazed by the accolades surrounding the Liberty.
“We have everything we need to win a championship,” Dream guard Jordin Canada asserted. “We’ve been hitting our stride lately, and I genuinely believe we can win it all. It’s all about consistency, sticking to the game plan, and playing our best Atlanta Dream basketball.”
The Liberty share that same confidence. At this point, it’s about their own journey.
“I don’t know if it’s about proving anyone right,” Allen explained. “It’s really about us now. There’ll always be opinions flying around, but we need to focus on what’s happening within this group at this moment. I think we all believe in ourselves and know what we can achieve. Now, it’s about realizing that together. Playoff basketball is about teamwork; it can’t just be about individual efforts, which is why we excelled against Minnesota.”
