Leonie Fiebich and the New York Liberty stand on the brink of playoff elimination following a 101-98 overtime loss to the Atlanta Dream in Game 2 of their WNBA semifinal series, sport.sky.de reported. Played in Atlanta, the hard-fought contest leaves the 2024 champions facing a two-game deficit in the best-of-five series.
Atlanta Deficit Tests New York Championship Resolve
The visiting Liberty seized an early advantage, opening the contest with a sharp seven-point lead midway through the first quarter. That momentum proved short-lived as Atlanta erased the deficit before halftime, controlling the tempo through the second half and maintaining a steady edge into the closing minutes of regulation.
A dramatic late surge rescued New York. WNBA newcomer Marine Fauthoux buried a three-point jumper with just 10.3 seconds remaining on the game clock, capping a 20-point performance and forcing an 88-88 tie that sent the matchup into overtime.
Breanna Stewart Leads Scoring While Fiebich Contributes
Breanna Stewart delivered a game-high 35 points for the Liberty, carrying the offensive load throughout regulation and the extra period. German national team player Leonie Fiebich started the contest and contributed four points, five rebounds, and three assists.
Despite Stewart’s prolific output and Fiebich’s work on the boards, New York’s offense stalled at crucial moments. The visitors briefly claimed the lead in overtime before defensive lapses in the final seconds allowed Atlanta to reclaim control.
Overtime Execution Favors Atlanta Dream
The extra five minutes belonged to the hosts, who capitalized on New York’s late mistakes. American national team player Angel Reese took over in the extra session, scoring six of her 23 total points in overtime and sealing the outcome by converting two free throws with 4.3 seconds left on the clock.
Jordin Canada also orchestrated the offense effectively, matching Reese with 23 points while adding eight assists. The victory puts the Dream within one win of capturing the series and reaching their first WNBA finals appearance since 2013.
Shift to New York for Game 3
With Atlanta holding a two-game advantage in the series, the matchup shifts venues. New York will host Game 3 on Saturday, marking the team’s first home-court appearance of the semifinal round, where they face a mandatory win condition to force a fourth game.
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