Dream bully Liberty into 21 turnovers to take WNBA semifinal opener 92-82
Jordin Canada scored 20 of her 25 points after halftime as the Atlanta Dream forced 21 New York Liberty turnovers — converting them into a playoff-record-tying 32 points — to win 92-82 in Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals, hours after Angel Reese was named Defensive Player of the Year.
The No. 4 seed Atlanta Dream seized a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five WNBA semifinal series on Sunday, beating the No. 8 seed New York Liberty 92-82 at State Farm Arena, the Associated Press reported.
The Liberty led 40-37 at halftime, but Atlanta outscored New York 32-15 in the third quarter, opening the half on a 13-3 run to take a lead it never surrendered. The Dream turned 21 forced Liberty turnovers into 32 points — tying a WNBA playoff record — including 16 points off turnovers in the third quarter, which USA Today noted tied the playoff record for a single quarter since the league switched to quarters in 2006, per ESPN.
Jordin Canada scored 20 of her 25 points in the second half and added five steals, while DeWanna Bonner came off the bench for 23 points and nine rebounds to cover for Allisha Gray, who was ruled out before halftime with a left hand injury sustained diving for a loose ball, per AP and FOX 5 Atlanta.
Angel Reese — honored pregame as the WNBA’s Defensive Player of the Year — delivered a statement performance: 17 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three blocks, per the New York Post. Sabrina Ionescu led the Liberty with 27 points and Breanna Stewart added 19, but New York’s late rally — cutting a 16-point deficit to five four times in the final 5:19 — fell short. Game 2 is Wednesday in Atlanta.
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