Angel Reese, Stewart's Box Score Stats, Highlights as Dream Beat Liberty in WNBA Playoffs Game 2

The Atlanta Dream are one win away from their first trip to the WNBA Finals in 13 years.

Atlanta outlasted the New York Liberty 101-98 in an overtime thriller in Game 2 of their semifinals series in the 2026 WNBA playoffs on Wednesday at State Farm Arena. Even with Allisha Gray (finger) sidelined, they seized a 2-0 series lead thanks to a late basket from Naz Hillmon and massive free throws from Angel Reese.

New York had a chance to tie it, but Breanna Stewart's desperation heave after the visitors did not call timeout fell short after Sabrina Ionescu committed a critical turnover the previous possession.

It seemed as if Marine Fauthoux was going to be the hero when she drained a dramatic three to force overtime, but it was the Dream who controlled the extra period.

All five Atlanta starters scored in double figures with Reese and Jordin Canada leading the way, which was enough to outlast an excellent game from Stewart.

Nobody in the entire WNBA has been playing better basketball of late than the Dream, who won nine of their final 10 regular-season games and then captured each of their first three postseason contests by double digits.

One of those was a 10-point win over the Liberty in Game 1, although Wednesday figured to be more of a challenge on paper with Gray sidelined.

Dealing with Stewart also made it more of a challenge.

The two-time MVP was quiet by her standards with 19 points in Game 1 but came out on fire in Game 2. She poured in 25 points in the first half alone by hitting from the outside, attacking the lane and getting to the free-throw line.

Stewart was unstoppable, while Jonquel Jones provided important secondary scoring when Atlanta was too focused on the eight-time All-Star. Yet the Dream still took a two-point lead into intermission thanks in large part to a barrage of three-point shooting.

Canada and Rhyne Howard led the way from the perimeter, but even Reese hit from beyond the arc. Reese also converted multiple and-1 opportunities and showed off why she is the Defensive Player of the Year with a blocked shot and steal while dealing with New York's star-studded frontcourt.

The theme of Stewart and Jones against Atlanta's three-point shooting continued after halftime with Isobel Borlase providing a shooting spark off the bench to create some temporary breathing room for the home team.

However, New York closed the quarter on a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to one heading to the fourth with Stewart assisting Fauthoux on back-to-back baskets to swing momentum in the visitors' favor.

While both offenses played freely for most of the game, it was a different story early in the fourth when they completely bogged down. Much of that was because of suffocating defense on both sides, including when Reese swatted Ionescu in a play that brought the crowd to its feet.

With defense like that, all it took was a timely basket or two to create some separation. And the Dream got just that when Reese scored in the paint and Howard converted an and-1 to open up a six-point advantage in the final two minutes.

Yet it wasn't enough to win in regulation.

Ionescu hit an important three, but it was the triple from Fauthoux with 10 seconds remaining that stood out the most. She caught Stewart's pass in rhythm and buried the open look, while Howard's potential game-winner rimmed out on the ensuing possession.

Despite the stunning finish to the fourth quarter, the Dream bounced back in overtime with timely plays on both ends of the floor and are now in full control of the series.