ATLANTA – Every contender eventually faces the question it hoped to avoid: what happens when a star goes down in the middle of a playoff game?
For the Dream, the answer arrived Sunday at State Farm Arena, and it came with a 92-82 victory over the New York Liberty in Game 1 of the semifinals. The harder question, whether the answer holds up all series, is still open.
The Moment Everything Changed
Allisha Gray, a four-time All-Star, hurt her left hand on contact from a screen in the first quarter. She returned, then went down again diving for a loose ball in the second, and did not play another minute. She finished with seven points in 11 minutes.
On paper, that is the kind of loss that ends a night. Gray’s absence also reshaped the rotation, pulling DeWanna Bonner into a bigger role and sending Rhyne Howard to the point whenever Jordin Canada sat with foul trouble.
Atlanta trailed 40-37 at the break, shooting poorly and hurting itself on the glass. Nothing about the first half suggested a team on the verge of taking control.
The Veterans Set the Tone
What followed was a case study in role players becoming difference-makers. Bonner, in her season-high scoring game, came off the bench for 23 points and nine rebounds. Canada scored 20 of her 25 points after halftime and tied the franchise postseason record with five steals. Howard filled the stat sheet with 16 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, and Angel Reese chipped in 17 points and seven boards.
The third quarter belonged to all of them. Atlanta outscored New York 32-15 and turned a close game into a 14-point lead. Bonner summed up Canada’s influence in just a few words, calling her “the head of the snake.”
That description fits the whole group. A defense that forced 21 turnovers produced 32 points, and no single player carried the load.
Why the Liberty Are Still a Problem
The Dream would be wise not to read too much into the final margin. New York trimmed the lead to five in the closing minutes, with Breanna Stewart scoring inside and Sabrina Ionescu finishing with 27 points. It took a corner three and a transition layup from Canada to close the door.
This is also a Liberty team that arrived as an eighth seed after knocking off top-seeded Minnesota in the first round. The Dream, the fourth seed, are playing their first semifinal since 2018 after sweeping Washington. Neither team is lacking confidence.
What Comes Next
Head Coach Karl Smesko had no update on Gray’s hand after the game and said he hopes to have her back for Game 2. If she can play, Atlanta regains a four-time All-Star. If not, the Dream will need a repeat of Sunday’s collective effort against a Liberty team that will make adjustments.
Either way, Game 1 gave the Dream something valuable: proof that they can win a playoff game while short-handed. Game 2 tips off Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at State Farm Arena, with the Dream looking to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
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