The Atlanta Dream took a 1-0 lead in the WNBA semifinals with a 92-82 win over the New York Liberty, fueled by Jordin Canada's 25 points.
The Atlanta Dream opened the 2026 WNBA semifinals with a statement victory, defeating the New York Liberty 92-82 on Sunday, October 4, at State Farm Arena to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series. The Dream overcame a three-point halftime deficit by producing a dominant third quarter, outscoring New York 32-15 and turning the game completely in their favor. Atlanta entered the postseason as the No. 4 seed, while New York entered as the No. 8 seed, but the Liberty initially looked comfortable against the Dream as they built a 24-21 advantage after the opening quarter and carried a 40-37 lead into halftime. The decisive shift came after intermission, when Atlanta’s defense began forcing turnovers at an extraordinary rate and its veteran players took control offensively. The Dream ultimately scored 32 points off 21 forced New York turnovers, tying a WNBA playoff record for points off turnovers.
Jordin Canada's Impact
The catalyst was Jordin Canada, who finished with a game-high 25 points, along with five steals, four assists, one rebound and one block. Canada was particularly effective after halftime, scoring 20 of her 25 points in the second half while repeatedly attacking a Liberty defense that struggled to contain Atlanta’s transition game. Her performance became even more important after Allisha Gray left the game in the second quarter with a left-hand injury. Gray had scored seven points in 11 minutes before exiting, leaving Atlanta without one of its most important perimeter players for the remainder of the contest. Rather than allowing the injury to disrupt its rhythm, the Dream received major contributions from their veteran core. DeWanna Bonner scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds, delivering a season-high scoring performance, while also making three 3-pointers and committing no turnovers. Bonner’s ability to play multiple positions and contribute defensively proved especially valuable after Gray’s departure.
Young Stars Shine
Atlanta’s young star Angel Reese also delivered an impactful playoff performance, finishing with 17 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three blocks. Her defensive activity was particularly important during the third-quarter surge, when she and Canada helped turn New York’s mistakes into immediate scoring opportunities. Rhyne Howard added another well-rounded performance with 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, playing all 40 minutes and helping Atlanta maintain its offensive organization throughout the game. The Dream’s third quarter was the defining sequence. After entering halftime trailing 40-37, Atlanta opened the second half with a 15-3 run, quickly transforming the deficit into a 52-43 advantage. Canada then continued attacking, while Reese and the Dream defense generated pressure that forced the Liberty into repeated mistakes. Atlanta finished the quarter with a 69-55 lead, having outscored New York 32-15. The Dream eventually stretched the advantage to 16 points early in the fourth quarter, putting the Liberty in a difficult position with their season suddenly hanging on every possession.
Liberty's Response
New York, however, did not go quietly. Sabrina Ionescu led the Liberty with 27 points, providing the majority of the offensive resistance as Atlanta attempted to close out the game. Breanna Stewart added 19 points, while Jonquel Jones recorded 12 points and 11 rebounds, along with five blocks. The Liberty mounted a fourth-quarter comeback after falling behind by as many as 16, eventually cutting Atlanta’s lead to five points late in the game. Stewart and Ionescu helped New York regain momentum, but the Liberty could not consistently generate the defensive stops needed to complete the comeback. Canada ultimately delivered the decisive response, knocking down a clutch 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter before following it with a transition layup after another defensive stop. Those plays pushed Atlanta’s advantage back to double digits and effectively ended New York’s comeback attempt. The Liberty’s 21 turnovers proved too costly, particularly against an Atlanta team that converted those mistakes into 32 points. New York also received limited production from its bench, while Atlanta’s reserves contributed 27 points.
The victory gives Atlanta an important 1-0 series advantage and puts the Dream in position to take a commanding 2-0 lead before the series moves to New York. Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, at 7:30 p.m. ET, again in Atlanta, giving the Dream another opportunity to protect home court. The biggest storyline entering that matchup will be Gray’s health and whether Atlanta can continue generating the same level of defensive pressure without one of its All-Star perimeter players. Game 1 demonstrated that the Dream possess enough veteran experience and defensive versatility to overcome adversity, but New York is unlikely to repeat its turnover problems at the same level. For the Liberty, the immediate priorities are clear: protect the basketball, improve its transition defense and find ways to get Stewart and Jones more involved offensively while continuing to capitalize on Ionescu’s scoring ability. For Atlanta, the formula is equally straightforward defend aggressively, create turnovers, run the floor and continue getting contributions from Canada, Bonner, Reese and Howard. After turning a three-point halftime deficit into a 10-point victory, the Dream have established the early advantage in a semifinal series that now has significant momentum behind them.
