One step from the final. Prediction for Atlanta Dream vs New York Liberty
Atlanta Dream
New York Liberty
Atlanta Dream and New York Liberty will meet in the early hours of Thursday, October 8, in Game 2 of their WNBA playoff semifinal series. The game will be played at Gateway Center Arena, with tip-off scheduled for 01:30 Central European Time. I am backing a bet on the winner of this game.
H2H and statistical facts
- Atlanta have won their last eight games.
- Liberty sensationally defeated the season's leading favorites in the previous round.
- Dream have won their last three head-to-head games against Liberty.
- Atlanta lead the series 1-0.
Atlanta Dream
Atlanta entered the playoffs as the fourth-best team in the regular season. Dream finished the campaign with 30 wins and 14 losses, ending it especially strongly by winning nine of their last ten games. As a result, Atlanta secured home-court advantage to start the playoffs.
In the first round, Dream experienced virtually no problems against Washington Mystics, winning the series 2-0. Both games ended with Atlanta winning by at least 15 points. The team displayed one of the best defenses in the league and was particularly effective at capitalizing on opponents' turnovers in the playoffs.
The first game against New York confirmed that Atlanta are in excellent form. Dream won 92-82, with the third quarter proving decisive as they took it 32-15. Jordin Canada scored 25 points, 20 of them after halftime, while DeWanna Bonner added 23 points and nine rebounds. Atlanta scored 32 points off 21 turnovers by their opponents — matching the WNBA record for a single playoff game.
Dream's defense and Angel Reese's performance also deserve special mention. During the regular season, she averaged 16.4 points and 12.1 rebounds per game and was also named the league's Defensive Player of the Year. However, Atlanta have suffered a setback: Allisha Gray injured her wrist in the opening game and will miss Game 2.
New York Liberty
New York finished the regular season with a 26-18 record and entered the playoffs as the No. 8 seed. However, Liberty were the biggest surprise of the opening round. The team sensationally swept Minnesota Lynx 2-0, becoming the first No. 8 seed in WNBA history to eliminate a top-seeded team from the playoffs.
New York's main weapon remains Breanna Stewart. During the regular season, she averaged 20.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. In the first round, the forward also showed why experience can become the most important factor in a long series. Alongside Jonquel Jones, she forms a powerful frontcourt capable of causing serious problems for Reese and Atlanta in the paint.
New York stayed in contention for a long time in the opening semifinal game but collapsed in the third quarter. Liberty lost that period 15-32 and were unable to turn the game around afterward. Sabrina Ionescu led the team with 27 points, while Stewart added 19, but New York's barrage of turnovers was one of the main reasons for the defeat.
Liberty now need to turn things around urgently. Another loss on Atlanta's home court would put New York in an extremely difficult position — the team would head home trailing 0-2. At the same time, Dream won two of the three regular-season meetings, including the last two games.
What should you bet on?
The opening game showed that Atlanta are brimming with confidence right now: the team have won eight straight games, including the end of the regular season and three playoff victories. However, Gray's absence could shift the balance of power, while New York will surely focus on taking better care of the ball and playing more efficiently on offense after the defeat. Still, home-court advantage, defense and current form suggest another highly competitive game. I am backing the visitors with a +6-point handicap.
