Dream Beat Liberty 92-82 in Game 1 as Canada Scores 25

Photo: WNBA.com. Official Jordin Canada headshot, Atlanta Dream.

The Atlanta Dream beat the New York Liberty 92-82 on Sunday in Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals at State Farm Arena and took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five.

Jordin Canada scored 25 points with five steals, four assists, and four threes in 32 minutes, and DeWanna Bonner added 23 points and nine rebounds off the bench after Allisha Gray left with a left hand injury in the second quarter, per the AP. Atlanta forced 21 New York turnovers and scored 32 points off them. Sabrina Ionescu led the Liberty with 27, and Breanna Stewart had 19.

The third quarter decided it. New York led 40-37 at the half. Atlanta opened the third on a 13-3 run, with Angel Reese and Canada taking three steals apiece in the period, and outscored the Liberty 32-15 in the quarter. Sixteen of Atlanta's 32 points off turnovers came in that third quarter, per the AP. The Dream finished with an 18-0 edge in fast-break points and a 38-30 edge in the paint, per the ESPN box score. Canada went 9-of-14 from the field and 4-of-6 from three, and 20 of her 25 points came after halftime. When New York cut a 16-point deficit to five late, she answered with a three just before the shot clock expired and a transition layup off a stop, per the AP.

Gray played 11 minutes and scored seven, per ESPN. The AP reported that she briefly returned in the second quarter, then "dove for a loose ball on the defensive end of the floor with 3:44 left in the first half," grabbed her hand again, and went down the tunnel. The team ruled her out before halftime. No diagnosis was given. Bonner, who signed with Atlanta as a free agent in late August and has played the most playoff games in league history (100), per the AP, shot 10-of-18 with three threes and nine rebounds in 30 minutes.

Reese finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, four steals, and three blocks. Atlanta had 14 steals as a team to New York's six. Ionescu went 10-of-20 with three threes and committed five turnovers. Stewart added 19 points, three steals, and three blocks in 40 minutes. The Liberty's 21 turnovers, 19 player and two team, turned into 32 Atlanta points, while New York scored 14 points off Atlanta's 13 turnovers.

Rhyne Howard played all 40 minutes and finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists on 5-of-20 shooting. Naz Hillmon started and went scoreless on two attempts in 37 minutes, with four assists. Jonquel Jones had 12 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks for New York, and the Liberty scored 27 in the fourth quarter.

New York came in off its historic sweep of No. 1 Minnesota. Game 2 is Wednesday in Atlanta, and Gray's status is unknown.

Sources

• ESPN box score: Liberty at Dream, Game 1. Oct 4, 2026. Final 92-82; quarters ATL 21-16-32-23, NY 24-16-15-27; 21 NY turnovers, 13 ATL; points off turnovers 32-14; fast-break points 18-0 Atlanta; paint points 38-30 Atlanta; Gray 11 minutes, 7 points; player lines.
• AP via WSLS: Canada's big day, team defense carries Dream to 92-82 win over Liberty. Oct 4, 2026. Canada 25 (20 in second half), five steals; Bonner 23; Gray left hand injury in the second quarter; 32 points off 21 turnovers, 16 in the third quarter; 32-15 third quarter and 13-3 run; 16-point lead cut to five; Game 2 Wednesday in Atlanta.
• AP: Allisha Gray ruled out for remainder of Game 1 with left hand injury. Oct 4, 2026. Briefly returned in the second quarter; dove for a loose ball with 3:44 left in the first half; ruled out before halftime.
• FOX Sports / AP: Liberty face the Dream in Game 1. Oct 3, 2026. Bonner signed as a free agent in late August; 100 playoff games, most in league history.
• WNBA on X: Dream take Game 1. Oct 4, 2026. Canada 25, four assists, five steals, four threes; Bonner 23 and 9; Reese 17, 7, 4 steals, 3 blocks; Howard 16.
• The Dyme: Liberty-Dream Game 1 Follows New York's Historic Sweep of the No. 1 Lynx. Oct 4, 2026.
• Photo: WNBA.com. Official Jordin Canada headshot, Atlanta Dream.