Dream vs Liberty: Atlanta Edges Closer to Home-Court Advantage with 95-84 Win
The Atlanta Dream took a significant step toward securing a top-four seed in the WNBA playoffs with a 95-84 victory over the New York Liberty on Monday night at Barclays Center. Jordin Canada led the way with 19 points, while Angel Reese posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. DeWanna Bonner added 17 points off the bench, and Rhyne Howard contributed 16 for the Dream, who improved to 29-14 on the season.
With the win, Atlanta moved closer to clinching home-court advantage in the opening round of the postseason. The Dream can secure a top-four seed with either a win against New York on Wednesday or a loss by Indiana in one of its final two games. The Liberty, now 26-17, struggled to keep pace after a competitive first quarter, trailing 23-24 before being outscored 32-24 in the third period. New York was led by a standout performance of 27 points and 14 rebounds from an unnamed key player, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Atlanta’s balanced attack.
The game also had implications for bettors: Atlanta covered the 2-point spread and the total of 179 points went over, rewarding those who bet the over. The Dream won outright at -126 odds, meaning a $126 wager returned $226 total. Key plays included Atlanta tying the game at 35-35 in the second quarter after trailing since the 9:21 mark of the first, and a late 93-84 advantage in the fourth that sealed the outcome.
Atlanta’s social media captured the team’s excitement, with posts highlighting the high vibes and Bonner’s impactful performance off the bench. As the regular season winds down, the Dream are peaking at the right time, while the Liberty look to regroup before the playoffs. The rematch on Wednesday will be crucial for both teams’ postseason positioning.
Shimanta Das 
