Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries push Liberty and Aces to the brink in WNBA semifinals
Atlanta won by three. Golden State won by two. Both nights carried the same shape: a star going nuclear on the losing side, and a team with no single hero finding just enough margin to survive it. That's the story of this semifinal weekend — two road teams staring at 0-2, and two home teams that didn't need to be dominant, just stubborn.
Stewart goes for 35, and it still isn't enough
Breanna Stewart put up a huge night and still had to watch Atlanta celebrate. The Liberty star logged 43:01 — basically the whole night — and finished with 35 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, a steal and 2 blocks, shooting 11-of-21 from the field and 2-of-4 from deep. That's the kind of stat line that wins most games on its own. This wasn't most games.
Atlanta never let it become a one-woman show on the other end, either. Angel Reese and Jordin Canada matched each other point for point at 23 apiece, but it was Canada who really tilted things — 9-of-15 shooting, 3-of-6 from 3-points, and 8 assists that kept the Dream's offense moving even when Stewart was carrying New York. Reese backed her with 7 boards and 2 blocks, Rhyne Howard chipped in 18 points and 7 rebounds despite a miserable 5-of-20 shooting night, and that's really the whole game right there: Atlanta got contributions from everywhere while New York leaned on one engine that eventually ran out of road.
Atlanta Dream 101 - 98 New York Liberty · WNBA 2026-2027 · 07/10/2026
Leaders
| Atlanta Dream | New York Liberty | |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | Angel Reese 23 | Breanna Stewart 35 |
| REB | Naz Hillmon 8 | Breanna Stewart 11 |
| AST | Jordin Canada 8 | Sabrina Ionescu 7 |
Team stats
| Atlanta Dream | New York Liberty | |
|---|---|---|
| FG | 40.5% | 54.7% |
| 3PTS | 12/30 | 12/25 |
| FT | 21/23 | 16/23 |
| REB | 35 | 36 |
| OREB | 11 | 5 |
Jonquel Jones tried to be the second wave for the Liberty, going for 21 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks, and Marine Fauthoux gave the bench a jolt with 20 points on a scorching 8-of-10 from the field, including 4-of-6 from deep. Still not enough. The 101-98 final follows a 92-82 Atlanta win in Game 1, and now the Dream are one win away from the finals with New York needing to sweep three straight just to survive.
A'ja Wilson's 24 run into a wall named Golden State's depth
Over in the Bay, A'ja Wilson gave Las Vegas exactly what it needed to have a chance — 24 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a block on 9-of-16 shooting. This is where Golden State's depth became the whole ballgame. Tiffany Hayes came off the bench and torched the Aces for 21 points on 6-of-10 shooting, and Gabby Williams added 20 on 7-of-17, including 3-of-8 from distance. The two combined for 41 points, 21 of them from the bench, on a night when Las Vegas needed its stars to be the difference.
Golden State Valkyries 83 - 81 Las Vegas Aces · WNBA 2026-2027 · 08/10/2026
Leaders
| Golden State Valkyries | Las Vegas Aces | |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | Tiffany Hayes 21 | A’ja Wilson 24 |
| REB | Kiah Stokes 7 | Kalani Brown 8 |
| AST | Gabby Williams 3 | Jackie Young 8 |
Team stats
| Golden State Valkyries | Las Vegas Aces | |
|---|---|---|
| FG | 41.4% | 43.9% |
| 3PTS | 10/29 | 8/19 |
| FT | 25/27 | 23/26 |
| REB | 30 | 25 |
| OREB | 10 | 6 |
Chelsea Gray kept the Aces within arm's reach with 19 points and 6 assists, and Jackie Young was the other bright spot in defeat — 8 assists and 4 steals even while her shot abandoned her at 2-of-7. Kalani Brown added 9 points and 8 boards off the bench. Las Vegas scored 81. It just wasn't the 84 it needed.
The margin tells its own story. Golden State won Game 1 by 11, 71-60, and had to grind out two points this time. Different game, same outcome — the Valkyries lead the series 2-0, and Las Vegas now faces the same math the Liberty do: win out, or go home.
Both series now shift toward Game 3, and both trailing teams know the arithmetic. Lose once more, and the season's over.
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