82 — 92
A game that turned all at once
The first 20 minutes gave little hint of a double-digit finish. New York led 24-21 after one quarter and 40-37 at halftime, and the teams combined for 15 lead changes across the night. Sabrina Ionescu kept the Liberty moving with confident shot-making, Pauline Astier added an energetic nine points and six rebounds, and Jonquel Jones gave New York a steady interior line with 12 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks.
Then the third quarter changed everything. Leonie Fiebich opened the half’s scoring with a three that pushed New York ahead 43-39, but Atlanta answered with a run that decided the game. Rhyne Howard scored at the rim, Canada hit from deep, DeWanna Bonner scored twice, and Angel Reese finished inside as the Dream ripped off 13 straight points to move in front 52-43.
New York briefly slowed the slide at the foul line, but Atlanta kept pressing the advantage. Reese made two free throws, Canada completed a three-point play, then scored again on a layup for a 59-45 lead. By the time Te-Hina Paopao converted with 9.1 seconds left in the quarter, the Dream had won the period 32-15 and built a 69-55 cushion.
Canada and Bonner supplied every big answer
Canada delivered the sharpest individual night on the floor. She scored 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting, made 4 of 6 from three-point range and added five steals. Her scoring came at the moments Atlanta needed it most: the go-ahead three early in the third, the and-one that pushed the margin to 12, another layup before the quarter break, then a fourth-quarter three when New York threatened to climb back into the game.
Bonner gave Atlanta a second scorer the Liberty could not quiet. She finished with 23 points and nine rebounds, shooting 10 of 18 from the field and hitting three triples. Several of her baskets came in the Dream’s most important stretches, including a pair of third-quarter scores that helped the lead grow and a three-pointer at 7:43 of the fourth that halted New York’s early comeback push.
Howard’s shooting line was uneven at 5 of 20, but her overall influence still mattered. She posted 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, and she set up several of Atlanta’s key possessions, including Canada’s three at 4:55 of the fourth and the late layup by Canada that restored an eight-point lead with 30 seconds left. Reese complemented that trio with 17 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three blocks, giving Atlanta another productive two-way performance around the basket.
Our take: Atlanta won the extra-possession battle
The simplest explanation for this result sits in the possession numbers. Atlanta forced 21 Liberty turnovers and turned them into 32 points, while New York managed 14 points off Atlanta’s 13 giveaways. The Dream also finished with a 14-6 edge in steals and an 18-0 advantage in fast-break points. In a game that was nearly even from three-point range, even on the glass and close enough for most of the first half, those extra possessions became the separation.
New York still had enough shot-making to make the finish interesting. Ionescu scored 27 points, Stewart added 19, and the Liberty were excellent at the line, going 15 for 15. They cut the deficit to 75-70 on Fiebich’s three with 5:19 left, and later got within 87-82 when Ionescu drilled a 29-footer with 51.7 seconds remaining. But each push met an immediate answer, first from Canada, then from Howard and Reese, and finally from Atlanta at the foul line.
If there is a clear repair for the Liberty, it starts with ball security. Eleven made threes and perfect free-throw shooting usually give a team a chance, but 21 turnovers are too much against an opponent this active. For Atlanta, the encouraging part is that this win did not require a flawless night. The Dream left five points at the free-throw line and Howard shot below her usual efficiency, yet the team still reached 92 behind balance, pace in the open floor and a decisive third-quarter stretch that looked every bit like the game’s true turning point.
Scoring moments
- 1st Quarter · 9:24
Pauline Astier makes 1-foot two point shot (Breanna Stewart assists)
- 1st Quarter · 9:07
Allisha Gray makes 24-foot three point jumper (Naz Hillmon assists)
- 1st Quarter · 7:58
Breanna Stewart makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 7:58
Breanna Stewart makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 7:42
Angel Reese makes 24-foot three point jumper (Rhyne Howard assists)
- 1st Quarter · 6:55
Sabrina Ionescu makes 3-foot two point shot
- 1st Quarter · 6:28
Jonquel Jones makes 3-foot two point shot (Sabrina Ionescu assists)
- 1st Quarter · 6:00
Allisha Gray makes free throw 1 of 3
- 1st Quarter · 6:00
Allisha Gray makes free throw 2 of 3
- 1st Quarter · 6:00
Allisha Gray makes free throw 3 of 3
- 1st Quarter · 5:37
Pauline Astier makes 26-foot three pointer
- 1st Quarter · 4:48
Breanna Stewart makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 4:48
Breanna Stewart makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Quarter · 4:36
DeWanna Bonner makes 22-foot three point jumper (Rhyne Howard assists)
- 1st Quarter · 4:16
Jordin Canada makes running layup
- 1st Quarter · 4:00
Sabrina Ionescu makes 11-foot floating jump shot (Leonie Fiebich assists)
- 1st Quarter · 3:37
DeWanna Bonner makes 12-foot two point shot
- 1st Quarter · 3:22
Breanna Stewart makes 5-foot two point shot (Han Xu assists)
- 1st Quarter · 2:52
Sabrina Ionescu makes driving layup
- 1st Quarter · 2:23
Leonie Fiebich makes 24-foot three point jumper (Marine Johannes assists)
- 1st Quarter · 2:02
Jordin Canada makes 24-foot three point jumper (DeWanna Bonner assists)
- 1st Quarter · 1:42
DeWanna Bonner makes running layup (Jordin Canada assists)
- 1st Quarter · 1:07
Sabrina Ionescu makes 13-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Quarter · 9:09
Jonquel Jones makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 9:09
Jonquel Jones makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 8:51
Rhyne Howard makes 25-foot three point jumper (Naz Hillmon assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 8:30
Marine Johannes makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Quarter · 8:30
Marine Johannes makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Quarter · 8:30
Marine Johannes makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Quarter · 7:47
Allisha Gray makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 7:30
Angel Reese makes two point shot
- 2nd Quarter · 7:30
Angel Reese makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Quarter · 6:09
Rhyne Howard makes 10-foot fade away jump shot
- 2nd Quarter · 5:55
Pauline Astier makes two point shot
- 2nd Quarter · 5:41
DeWanna Bonner makes layup (Angel Reese assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 5:20
Han Xu makes 23-foot three point jumper (Pauline Astier assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 4:43
Pauline Astier makes driving layup
- 2nd Quarter · 3:34
DeWanna Bonner makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jordin Canada assists)
- 2nd Quarter · 1:38
Sabrina Ionescu makes 3-foot two point shot
- 2nd Quarter · 1:25
Rhyne Howard makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 1:25
Rhyne Howard makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Quarter · 1:04
Sabrina Ionescu makes 12-foot two point shot (Jonquel Jones assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 9:34
Jordin Canada makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 9:34
Jordin Canada makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 9:13
Leonie Fiebich makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot (Jonquel Jones assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 9:00
Rhyne Howard makes driving layup
- 3rd Quarter · 8:27
Jordin Canada makes 24-foot three point jumper (Rhyne Howard assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 8:04
DeWanna Bonner makes running layup (Naz Hillmon assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 7:08
Angel Reese makes 1-foot reverse layup (DeWanna Bonner assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 6:06
DeWanna Bonner makes 12-foot two point shot
- 3rd Quarter · 5:46
Angel Reese makes running layup
- 3rd Quarter · 5:35
Sabrina Ionescu makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 5:35
Sabrina Ionescu makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 5:16
Angel Reese makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 5:16
Angel Reese makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 4:19
Jordin Canada makes running layup (Rhyne Howard assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 4:19
Jordin Canada makes free throw 1 of 1
- 3rd Quarter · 4:05
Jordin Canada makes running layup
- 3rd Quarter · 3:50
Breanna Stewart makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 3:50
Breanna Stewart makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 3:18
Breanna Stewart makes 9-foot two point shot (Jonquel Jones assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 2:23
DeWanna Bonner makes driving layup
- 3rd Quarter · 2:12
Sabrina Ionescu makes 24-foot three pointer
- 3rd Quarter · 1:54
Jordin Canada makes running layup
- 3rd Quarter · 1:31
Isobel Borlase makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 1:31
Isobel Borlase makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter · 1:20
Sabrina Ionescu makes 24-foot three pointer
- 3rd Quarter · 1:06
Rhyne Howard makes 18-foot pullup jump shot (Naz Hillmon assists)
- 3rd Quarter · 9.1
Te-Hina Paopao makes driving layup (Rhyne Howard assists)
- 4th Quarter · 9:34
DeWanna Bonner makes two point shot
- 4th Quarter · 9:03
Breanna Stewart makes 17-foot pullup jump shot (Jonquel Jones assists)
- 4th Quarter · 8:35
Jonquel Jones makes 24-foot three point jumper (Breanna Stewart assists)
- 4th Quarter · 7:56
Breanna Stewart makes 25-foot three point jumper (Leonie Fiebich assists)
- 4th Quarter · 7:43
DeWanna Bonner makes 23-foot three point jumper (Rhyne Howard assists)
- 4th Quarter · 6:49
Breanna Stewart makes 11-foot jumper (Marine Fauthoux assists)
- 4th Quarter · 6:27
Angel Reese makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 5:45
Sabrina Ionescu makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 5:45
Sabrina Ionescu makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 5:19
Leonie Fiebich makes 24-foot three point jumper (Marine Fauthoux assists)
- 4th Quarter · 4:55
Jordin Canada makes 25-foot three point jumper (Rhyne Howard assists)
- 4th Quarter · 4:31
Jonquel Jones makes layup (Leonie Fiebich assists)
- 4th Quarter · 4:22
Rhyne Howard makes driving layup (Jordin Canada assists)
- 4th Quarter · 4:00
Jonquel Jones makes 24-foot three point jumper (Marine Fauthoux assists)
- 4th Quarter · 3:43
Angel Reese makes driving layup
- 4th Quarter · 2:50
Breanna Stewart makes layup
- 4th Quarter · 2:24
Angel Reese makes layup (Jordin Canada assists)
- 4th Quarter · 1:30
Jordin Canada makes 23-foot three point step back jumpshot (Angel Reese assists)
- 4th Quarter · 1:16
Sabrina Ionescu makes driving layup (Breanna Stewart assists)
- 4th Quarter · 51.7
Sabrina Ionescu makes 29-foot three pointer
- 4th Quarter · 40.8
Rhyne Howard makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 30.0
Jordin Canada makes running layup (Rhyne Howard assists)
- 4th Quarter · 21.6
Rhyne Howard makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter · 21.6
Rhyne Howard makes free throw 2 of 2
New York Liberty — Players
| Player | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | TO | STL | BLK | OREB | DREB | PF | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breanna Stewart | 40 | 19 | 6-13 | 1-3 | 6-6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | -10 |
| Leonie Fiebich | 36 | 9 | 3-7 | 3-5 | 0-0 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 3 | -8 |
| Jonquel Jones | 32 | 12 | 4-9 | 2-4 | 2-2 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 3 | -9 |
| Sabrina Ionescu | 34 | 27 | 10-20 | 3-8 | 4-4 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | -12 |
| Pauline Astier | 21 | 9 | 4-7 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | -4 |
| Han Xu | 8 | 3 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -1 |
| Rebekah Gardner | 4 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -6 |
| Rebecca Allen | 4 | 0 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 |
| Marine Johannes | 9 | 3 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 3-3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| Marine Fauthoux | 12 | 0 | 0-4 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +3 |
Atlanta Dream — Players
| Player | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | TO | STL | BLK | OREB | DREB | PF | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naz Hillmon | 37 | 0 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +14 |
| Angel Reese | 34 | 17 | 6-10 | 1-1 | 4-6 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | +7 |
| Allisha Gray | 11 | 7 | 1-5 | 1-3 | 4-5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jordin Canada | 32 | 25 | 9-14 | 4-6 | 3-3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | +10 |
| Rhyne Howard | 40 | 16 | 5-20 | 1-8 | 5-6 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | +10 |
| DeWanna Bonner | 30 | 23 | 10-18 | 3-6 | 0-1 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | +9 |
| Madina Okot | 2 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -2 |
| Te-Hina Paopao | 4 | 2 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| Isobel Borlase | 10 | 2 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +3 |
New York Liberty — Team statistics
| FG | 28-65 |
|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 43 |
| 3PT | 11-28 |
| Three Point % | 39 |
| FT | 15-15 |
| Free Throw % | 100 |
| Rebounds | 34 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 7 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 27 |
| Assists | 17 |
| Steals | 6 |
| Blocks | 9 |
| Turnovers | 19 |
| Team Turnovers | 2 |
| Total Turnovers | 21 |
| Technical Fouls | 0 |
| Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 32 |
| Fast Break Points | 0 |
| Points in Paint | 30 |
| Fouls | 17 |
| Largest Lead | 6 |
| Lead Changes | 15 |
| Percent Led | 43 |
Atlanta Dream — Team statistics
| FG | 32-71 |
|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 45 |
| 3PT | 10-26 |
| Three Point % | 38 |
| FT | 18-23 |
| Free Throw % | 78 |
| Rebounds | 34 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 9 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 25 |
| Assists | 20 |
| Steals | 14 |
| Blocks | 4 |
| Turnovers | 13 |
| Team Turnovers | 0 |
| Total Turnovers | 13 |
| Technical Fouls | 0 |
| Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 14 |
| Fast Break Points | 18 |
| Points in Paint | 38 |
| Fouls | 12 |
| Largest Lead | 16 |
| Lead Changes | 15 |
| Percent Led | 55 |