Jordin Canada scored 20 of her 25 points in the second half and recorded five steals, leading the Atlanta Dream to a 92-82 victory over the New York Liberty on Sunday, October 4, 2026, in Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals. DeWanna Bonner contributed 23 points, filling the gap left by Allisha Gray, who sustained a left hand injury in the second quarter.
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Atlanta's defense was pivotal, converting 21 forced turnovers into 32 points, tying an all-time WNBA playoff record. Canada emphasized the team's depth, stating, "Everybody stepped up, and that's what we need. Next man up mentality."
The first half was closely contested, with neither team leading by more than six points and 14 lead changes occurring. New York held a narrow 40-37 edge at halftime. However, the Dream dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Liberty 32-15 thanks to aggressive defensive play that allowed them to seize control.
Canada noted, "We knew we didn't play our best in the first half... we just weren't being aggressive enough on the offensive end." Along with Canada, Angel Reese contributed three steals in the third quarter, and Atlanta established a significant lead following a strong 13-3 start to the half.
Although New York cut a 16-point deficit to five in the final minutes, a crucial 3-pointer from Canada late in the game helped maintain Atlanta's advantage. Sabrina Ionescu led the Liberty with 27 points, while Breanna Stewart added 19.
This victory marks Atlanta's first semifinal win since 2018 and extends their current winning streak to eight games. Dream head coach Karl Smesko highlighted the team's excellent third quarter, stating, "They made a run at us, but we were just able to make enough plays down the stretch."
Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Wednesday in Atlanta.