The Atlanta Dream took a massive step toward securing postseason home-court advantage on Monday night, riding a balanced offensive attack to a 95-84 victory over the New York Liberty at Barclays Center.
The win moves the Dream to a commanding 29-14 record, placing them on the precipice of a top-four seed in the upcoming WNBA playoffs. Meanwhile, the defeat snapped a three-game winning streak for the Liberty (26-17), ensuring they will begin their championship pursuit on the road.
A Night of Milestones
The headline of the evening belonged to Atlanta guard Rhyne Howard. With a sharp-shooting performance that yielded 16 points, Howard officially became the youngest and fastest player in WNBA history to eclipse 500 career three-pointers, achieving the feat in just 178 games.
Howard’s historic night was amplified by a masterful performance from point guard Jordin Canada, who orchestrated the offense flawlessly with 19 points and 9 assists. Beneath the rim, standout rookie forward Angel Reese continued her dominant debut campaign, bullying her way to 18 points and 10 rebounds to log her 32nd double-double of the season.
Liberty Mounts Resistance But Stifled By Dream
The Liberty did not go quietly, anchored by an elite performance from superstar forward Breanna Stewart. Stewart did everything in her power to keep New York within striking distance, racking up a game-high 27 points and pulling down 14 rebounds. Center Jonquel Jones added a formidable 18 points inside, but a lack of secondary scoring and defensive lapses ultimately doomed the hosts.
Atlanta’s ball movement and transition game proved too potent to contain. The Dream’s ability to turn defensive stops into quick buckets consistently thwarted New York’s attempts to mount a late-game rally.
With only a fragment of the regular season remaining, the Dream control their own destiny. A victory in their final matchup will officially lock in a top-four seed, bringing playoff basketball back to Atlanta for the opening round.
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