Liberty Struggle Against Dream in Semifinals Opener
ATLANTA — The Liberty were prepared for the speed and physicality of the Atlanta Dream in their semifinals matchup.
However, it seems they might have overlooked one crucial aspect.
The Dream are the top team in the WNBA when it comes to forcing live-ball turnovers. They took advantage of every opportunity on Sunday, making the Liberty pay repeatedly.
During a disastrous third quarter, the Liberty had nine turnovers, which the Dream turned into 16 points. A close game quickly deteriorated into a significant collapse.
Though the Liberty made a strong effort in the fourth quarter, cutting the Dream’s lead to five points on four occasions in the final 5:19, they couldn’t get the defensive stops needed for a comeback. The Dream ultimately prevailed 92-82, taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
Angel Reese of the Dream was recognized before the game as the WNBA’s Defensive Player of the Year.
For the next couple of hours, she demonstrated just why she deserved that accolade.
Reese and Jordin Canada led the Dream’s aggressive defense that forced the Liberty into 21 turnovers. Atlanta capitalized on those mistakes, scoring 32 points off them—tying a WNBA playoff record.
The first half unfolded as anticipated, with both teams locking in a back-and-forth contest. Over the initial 20 minutes, there were 14 lead changes and three ties.
At halftime, the Liberty held a narrow lead of 40-37.
After the break, the Dream intensified their pressure. This uptick in physicality caused the Liberty to falter, leading to a flurry of mistakes.
The Dream outscored the Liberty 32-15 in the third quarter.
Despite the setbacks, the Liberty weren’t ready to give up. They ignited a 15-6 run at the start of the fourth, narrowing the gap to five points.
But each time they edged closer, the Dream responded firmly.
With Allisha Gray sidelined due to a hand injury sustained in the first half, Canada and DeWanna Bonner stepped up significantly. Canada recorded 25 points, four assists, and five steals, while Bonner added 23 points and nine rebounds from the bench. Reese contributed 17 points, seven rebounds, and four steals, proving her impact on the game.
