The Atlanta Dream defeated the New York Liberty 92-82 on Sunday at State Farm Arena in Game 1 of the WNBA Semifinals, turning 21 New York turnovers into 32 points and outscoring the Liberty 32-15 in the third quarter to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
Jordin Canada led Atlanta with 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-6 from three-point range, and added five steals and four assists. DeWanna Bonner scored 23 points with nine rebounds off the bench, Angel Reese finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three blocks, and Rhyne Howard had 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists while playing all 40 minutes.
Sabrina Ionescu scored a game-high 27 points on 10-of-20 shooting for New York. Breanna Stewart added 19 points, three steals and three blocks, and Jonquel Jones recorded 12 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks.
The first quarter featured 10 lead changes. New York shot 56.2% in the period and took its largest lead of the afternoon, 22-16, on a Leonie Fiebich three-pointer with 2:23 remaining. Canada answered with a three-pointer and then a steal that set up a Bonner layup in transition, and the Liberty led 24-21 after one quarter behind eight points from Ionescu.
Neither team found a rhythm in the second quarter. Atlanta shot 27.8%, New York shot 31.2%, and each side scored 16 points. The Dream moved in front twice, on a Howard fadeaway and a Bonner layup, before a Han Xu three-pointer and a Pauline Astier driving layup put the Liberty ahead 36-32. Bonner cut the deficit to one with a three-pointer, but Ionescu scored on two driving floaters in the final 1:38 and New York took a 40-37 lead into halftime. Ionescu had 12 points at the break, Astier had nine and Bonner led Atlanta with 12. The Liberty had already committed 10 turnovers, which the Dream converted into 13 points.
The game turned in the third quarter. Fiebich hit a three-pointer to give New York a 43-39 lead with 9:13 left in the period, and Atlanta responded with a 20-2 run over the next five minutes. A Canada three-pointer put the Dream ahead for good at 44-43, and Atlanta recorded eight steals during the run, with Bonner, Reese and Canada all finishing layups in transition. Canada capped it with back-to-back steals and fast-break layups that pushed the margin to 59-45 with 4:05 remaining.
New York went nearly six minutes without a field goal. For the quarter, Atlanta shot 70.6% (12-of-17), forced nine turnovers that became 16 points, and outscored the Liberty 18-2 in the paint and 11-0 on the fast break. Canada scored 12 of her points in the period, and the Dream led 69-55 heading into the fourth.
“They upped their defensive pressure,” Ionescu said. “I think we were driving into driving lanes and not really creating a good outlet for our teammates.”
Stewart said the Liberty knew what was coming out of halftime.
“We know what Atlanta likes to do,” Stewart said. “We need to be better, we need to be more prepared and expect that.”
Liberty head coach Chris DeMarco said the third quarter “got away from us a little bit” and that his team has to make the adjustment.
Bonner opened the fourth quarter with a putback to give Atlanta its largest lead at 71-55. New York answered with eight straight points on a Stewart jumper, a Jones three-pointer and a Stewart three-pointer, and the Liberty pulled within five points four times over the final 5:19. Atlanta had a response each time. Canada hit a three-pointer after Fiebich made it 75-70, Reese scored on a driving layup after a Jones three-pointer made it 80-75, and Reese and Canada combined for five straight points after a Stewart steal and layup made it 82-77, with a Canada step-back three-pointer restoring a 10-point lead with 1:30 to play.
Ionescu scored five points in 25 seconds, including a 30-foot three-pointer, to bring New York within 87-82 with 51.7 seconds left. Howard made one of two free throws, Canada scored in transition with 30 seconds remaining, and Howard added two more free throws to close the scoring.
New York shot 52.6% in the fourth quarter and made five of its 11 three-point attempts, and Jones blocked five shots in the period, but the Liberty never got closer than five.
Atlanta finished at 45.1% from the field and made 10 of 26 three-point attempts. New York shot 43.1%, went 11-of-28 from three-point range and made all 15 of its free throws. Rebounds were even at 34. The difference came off turnovers and in transition, where the Dream totaled 14 steals, held a 32-14 advantage in points off turnovers and outscored the Liberty 18-0 on the fast break. Atlanta also held a 38-30 edge in the paint.
“I think we’ll go back and watch the film and just understand those points off turnovers really mattered,” Ionescu said.
Ionescu, who finished with one assist, said her scoring was secondary.
“I don’t think personal stats or any of that stuff matters to me,” Ionescu said. “I need to find a way to get everyone else in better positions. I had one assist.”
Stewart said the Liberty have worked to prepare the players who have not been through a five-game series.
“There’s so many emotions that happen throughout this game, but also this series,” Stewart said. “We’re not going to let a Dream run or whatever the case may be affect our composure.”
Stewart played all 40 minutes for the second consecutive game, and DeMarco said the Liberty will continue to monitor her workload.
Bonner made 10 of her 18 shots for Atlanta, and 11 of her 23 points came after halftime. Allisha Gray scored seven points in the first half and did not play in the second half. Brionna Jones did not dress because of a left leg injury.
“She plays well. She fits that system,” DeMarco said of Bonner. “And yes, she had a huge impact on this game.”
The Liberty said the message afterward was that Atlanta protected its home court and that the goal of winning a game on the road is still in front of them.
Game 2 is Wednesday in Atlanta
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