Atlanta Dream Sweep Liberty 3-0, Reach First WNBA Finals Since 2013

Q: Did the Liberty choke away their title hopes, or did Jordin Canada's elite championship poise simply outclass New York in crunch time?

It was more Atlanta’s composure than a Liberty collapse, though New York clearly contributed to its own exit. Calling it a pure choke ignores the pattern of the series. Atlanta did not steal one chaotic game; it swept New York and repeatedly won the decisive stretches. In Game 3, the Dream were missing Allisha Gray again, yet still got 22 points from Angel Reese, 21 from Rhyne Howard and a game-shaping 19 points and 11 assists from Jordin Canada. That is not a fluke finish. It is a team executing under pressure. Canada was central to that execution. Her go-ahead 3-pointer, tempo control and decision-making reflected the championship experience Atlanta has leaned on all postseason. Web reporting around the series described her as the Dream’s “head of the snake,” and her earlier games back that up: 25 points in Game 1 and 23 in the Game 2 overtime win. In late moments, she looked steadier than New York’s backcourt. Still, the Liberty did leave openings. Their recurring turnover issues were a major reason Atlanta controlled the series, and in Game 3 they could not finish a comeback despite 26 points apiece from Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart. Stewart’s missed tying jumper with 9.9 seconds left became the final image of a team that had enough talent but not enough clean late-game execution. So the fairest read is this: New York fell short in key moments, but Atlanta — and especially Canada — earned this more than the Liberty gave it away.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Oct 10

Atlanta closed out the semifinal sweep with an 85-83 Game 3 win at Barclays Center, sending the Dream to their first WNBA Finals in 13 years.
Angel Reese led the way with 22 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks, while Rhyne Howard added 21 and Jordin Canada sparked the second half with 19 points and 11 assists.
New York erased a 12-point third-quarter deficit and briefly took the lead during a 17-4 run, but DeWanna Bonner's late free throws helped Atlanta hold on after Breanna Stewart missed a tying jumper with 9.9 seconds left.
Jonquel Jones and Stewart each scored 26 for the Liberty, whose season ended in a sweep despite their star-heavy roster; it was the first time Stewart has been swept in the WNBA playoffs.
Atlanta advanced despite missing Allisha Gray for a second straight game with a finger injury and now awaits the Aces-Valkyries winner for Game 1 of the Finals on Oct. 17.