Angel Reese is making quite an impression during her first postseason with the Atlanta Dream. And the New York Liberty are running out of opportunities to stop her. Reese scored 23 points Wednesday night, including six in overtime, as Atlanta defeated New York 101-98 in Game 2 of their WNBA semifinal series.
The win gives the Dream a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-five matchup. One more victory would send Atlanta to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2013. That possibility looked considerably less certain late Wednesday.
The Liberty erased an 88-85 deficit when rookie Marine Fauthoux connected on a game-tying three-pointer with 10.3 seconds remaining in regulation. New York then battled Atlanta throughout overtime.
But Reese and her teammates continued finding answers.
Angel Reese comes through when Atlanta needs her most
Reese scored six of Atlanta's 13 overtime points, helping the Dream survive a dramatic finish. Naz Hillmon delivered the decisive basket, converting a layup with 20.8 seconds remaining in overtime. Reese then made two free throws with 4.3 seconds left after a costly New York turnover.
ANGEL. REESE. 🚨 23 PTS 7 REB 2 AST 2 BLKS 8-16 FG She helped ATL claim Game 2 in Overtime presented by @CapellaU! NYL-ATL | ESPN | 2026 WNBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel | @madebygoogle https://t.co/cY8szOatLa
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 8, 2026The performance was especially important because Atlanta played without leading scorer Allisha Gray, who missed the contest with a left hand injury.
Jordin Canada helped compensate for that absence. Canada matched Reese with 23 points and added eight assists, providing another offensive threat throughout the evening.
Rookie Izzy Borlase also contributed 11 points off the bench. Atlanta has now won eight consecutive games, building momentum at precisely the right time.
MORE: Angel Reese steps out in black mini dress before Dream’s Game 2 against Liberty
Breanna Stewart's huge night still isn't enough
The Liberty received an outstanding performance from Breanna Stewart. The former MVP scored 35 points, including 25 in the first half. Fauthoux added 20 points, but New York couldn't finish the comeback. Sabrina Ionescu scored 10 points and committed a costly late turnover that helped Atlanta preserve its advantage.
The Liberty now face an elimination game Friday in Brooklyn. That puts tremendous pressure on a team that already produced one of the biggest surprises of the postseason by eliminating top-seeded Minnesota.
New York has demonstrated that it can win difficult games. However, the Liberty must now defeat Atlanta three consecutive times to advance.
The Dream have a different challenge. They must avoid looking too far ahead. Reese's postseason performance has given Atlanta a legitimate opportunity to reach the championship round, but the series is not over.
Still, Wednesday provided another reminder that the Dream have become much more than an interesting playoff story. They are one victory away from playing for a championship.
