Atlanta Dream need extra time to beat New York Liberty 101-98 for overtime on Wednesday, and dem don take 2-0 lead for their best-of-five WNBA playoff semifinal series.
Angel Reese arrive State Farm Arena with black satin outfit wey get thigh-high slit. The Atlanta Dream star carry fashion confidence enter night wey get plenty stake pass just entrance. But before finish, she give fans another image: Reese for free-throw line, delivering under pressure.
Reese finish with 23 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks. She shoot 8-for-16 from field and perfect 6-for-6 from line. Her final two free throws secure victory wey bring Dream within one win of WNBA Finals.
The closing stretch demand composure. Reese deliver huge block during tense finish and make crucial free throws as game stretch into overtime. Both teams tie at 88 after regulation, Atlanta still need five more minutes to separate itself from Liberty team wey dey fight to avoid second straight defeat.
New York late opportunity unravel when double-team pressure Sabrina Ionescu into errant pass. Reese then convert final two free throws, giving Atlanta three-point cushion. After night of narrow margins, her flawless work at line help make difference.
Reese share Atlanta scoring lead with Jordin Canada, who add 23 points and eight assists. Rhyne Howard contribute 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Naz Hillmon finish with 12 points and eight rebounds. The Dream overcome Breanna Stewart 35 points and 11 rebounds, along with 21 points from Jonquel Jones and 20 from Marine Fauthoux.
Reese entrance bring glamour, but her finish give night its significance. The black satin outfit belong to pregame cameras; the block, free throws and composure belong to playoff battle. Atlanta now head to New York with control of series and Reese having made her presence felt long after changing into uniform.
For nightcap, No. 2 Golden State Valkyries hold off No. 3 Las Vegas Aces 83-81 in San Francisco to put defending WNBA champions on brink of elimination.
Both best-of-five series shift, with New York and Las Vegas hosting must-win games Friday. The Liberty host Dream at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 for Barclays Center; Aces host Valkyries in Game 3 at Michelob ULTRA Arena at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Atlanta play Wednesday without injured starting guard Allisha Gray, who suffer injury to her left shooting hand in Game 1. She dey day-to-day.
Golden State win game because Valkyries dey make habit of different player off bench change game any given night. In Game 2, na Tiffany Hayes. The veteran guard finish with team-high 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Golden State depth fit hide off nights from stars. Veronica Burton, who dem bench in third quarter of Game 1, finish with just eight points Wednesday. But another big night from Gabby Williams — 20 points, with three 3-pointers — and 18 points from Kayla Thornton help compensate for Burton.
The Valkyries hold 16-point lead midway through second quarter, but Aces manage cut am to eight by halftime. Then Golden State build another lead in third — this time by 17. Once again, Aces chip away. In fourth quarter, Las Vegas find new life and take lead with about 90 seconds left. A’ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray combine for 43 points in game, but Valkyries get just enough left to secure win. Even though Aces make am game, control Valkyries take early na direct carryover from how dem play Game 1. Their defense set tone — and everything else follow.
For Golden State, Valkyries one win away from advancing to WNBA Finals for first time in franchise history. That especially impressive given Golden State only join league ahead of 2025 season. But to do am against defending champions would be otherworldly. Valkyries can sweep Aces if dem capture Game 3.
For Game 3, Aces need more scoring, more defense, more effort. Heading into Game 2, dem dey adamant dem would up level of physicality and make Valkyries feel dem. But dem fail to do so. Dem finally get production from players other than Wilson and Gray — Jackie Young finish with 14 points and Stephanie Talbot get 10 in her first game back. Yes, dem ball back from 17-point deficit to take lead late. But e take too long for dem to find what work. If Vegas want stave off elimination, Aces need punch first — because working from behind no successful in this series. — Kendra Andrews
How Atlanta win game: New York shoot 55% from field but e no enough to get win because dem get so many fewer possessions or chances, taking 20 fewer shots than Dream. Turnovers continue to plague Liberty in Game 2, and Dream capitalize, scoring 28 points off 17 turnovers — no miscue as detrimental as when Sabrina Ionescu sail pass out of bounds toward end of overtime with Liberty down one. Jordin Canada win battle of point guards, scoring or assisting on 45 of Atlanta 101 points. Stewart do all she could, particularly in first half, scoring 25 of New York 54 points — second most in first half of WNBA playoff game. But Liberty barely get any offensive contributions outside Stewart, Jonquel Jones (21) and Marine Fauthoux (20). Fauthoux heroics — massive 3-pointer — force overtime. Atlanta get balanced effort with six players scoring in double figures, tying Dream franchise playoff record. That include Isobel Borlase off bench with 11 points. Liberty also hurt by shooting 16-for-23 from free throw line. Dream more accurate by making 21 of 23 attempts. In overtime, e feel like first team to make mistake would lose, and that end up being New York: Dream force jump ball with 11.7 seconds left after collapsing on Jones. Then Ionescu bad turnover on ensuing drive after Liberty retain possession seal New York fate.
For Game 3: Can Liberty stop committing turnovers and letting Dream convert dem? Can someone slow Canada? Back on their home floor and in front of their raucous fans, can Liberty play with some pride to avoid sweep?
