The Atlanta Dream closed the 2026 WNBA regular season in dominant fashion, defeating the New York Liberty 83-65 on Wednesday night. The victory secured the Dream the No. 4 seed in the WNBA playoffs, while New York settled into the No. 8 spot.
Dream vs Liberty Final Score
Atlanta improved to 31-13 with the victory, while the Liberty finished the regular season at 26-18. The Dream overcame a one-point deficit after the opening quarter by taking control before halftime.
Allisha Gray led Atlanta with 24 points, while Naz Hillmon contributed 16 points. The Dream built a 41-26 advantage at halftime and maintained control throughout the second half.
The result means Atlanta will await Thursday’s outcome to learn whether it will host Indiana or Washington in the opening round of the playoffs.
Allisha Gray Leads Atlanta
Gray was the leading scorer in the Dream vs Liberty matchup, finishing with 24 points. Hillmon added 16 as Atlanta’s offense continued to find opportunities even after Angel Reese left the game.
Atlanta’s defensive effort also played an important role. After taking a 15-point halftime lead, the Dream extended their advantage to 18 points in the third quarter. New York could not cut the deficit to fewer than seven points during the remainder of the game.
Angel Reese Leaves Game After Hit to Face
Angel Reese was involved in a notable incident shortly before halftime. She took a hit to the face while drawing an offensive foul from Sabrina Ionescu.
With 5.6 seconds remaining in the second quarter, the foul on Ionescu was upgraded to a flagrant 1. Reese made both free throws before heading to the locker room.
Reese remained there for the first few minutes of the third quarter before returning to the bench with 6:19 left in the period. She did not return to the court and finished with six points and six rebounds.
The Dream were able to maintain their advantage without their star forward for the remainder of the game.
Liberty Play Without Breanna Stewart
New York entered the matchup without Breanna Stewart, who was held out because of left knee soreness.
According to coach Chris DeMarco, Stewart experienced soreness from a play in the previous game and did not feel right when she woke up Wednesday. The Liberty opted to keep her out as a precaution with the playoffs approaching.
Stewart’s regular season therefore ended with averages of 20.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. She ranked sixth in the WNBA in scoring at 20.8 points per game.
Her absence was significant for the Liberty as they struggled to match Atlanta’s production.
Jonquel Jones Suffers Ankle Injury
The Liberty also had another injury concern during the game. Jonquel Jones left in the third quarter after appearing to step on a fan’s foot while attempting a 3-pointer.
Jones finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds before leaving with a left ankle injury. Marine Fauthoux scored 14 points for New York, while Han Xu added 11.
New York will now have to monitor both Stewart and Jones ahead of its playoff opener.
Liberty vs Lynx Playoff Matchup
The loss confirmed New York as the No. 8 seed in the 2026 WNBA playoffs. The Liberty will face the No. 1-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the first round.
Their best-of-three series is scheduled to begin Sunday, giving New York only a short window to prepare and evaluate its injury situation.
Atlanta, meanwhile, secured the No. 4 seed and will host its first-round opponent. The Dream will find out whether they face Indiana or Washington after Thursday’s remaining result determines the matchup.
Dream vs Liberty: Key Takeaways
The Dream entered the playoffs with momentum after a convincing regular-season finale. Gray’s 24-point performance, Hillmon’s scoring contribution and Atlanta’s strong second quarter helped decide the game.
For the Liberty, the focus now shifts immediately to the playoffs. Stewart’s knee soreness and Jones’ ankle issue are two situations to monitor, while New York prepares for a difficult first-round matchup against Minnesota.
The 83-65 result gave Atlanta the No. 4 seed, while New York’s defeat locked the Liberty into No. 8. Both teams now turn their attention to the 2026 WNBA playoffs.
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