The Atlanta Dream swept the Washington Mystics 93-75 on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, advancing to the WNBA semifinals for the first time since 2018. Allisha Gray led the charge with 22 points as Atlanta secured a postseason meeting with the New York Liberty.
Atlanta Sweeps Washington to Clinch Semifinal Berth
The Atlanta Dream officially punched their ticket to the WNBA semifinals for the first time since 2018, dispatching the Washington Mystics 93-75 on Wednesday night. Playing at the CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C., the Dream completed a two-game sweep of their first-round series behind a relentless offensive attack and stifling defensive stops.
Allisha Gray set the pace for the visitors, dropping a game-high 22 points, including a dominant 13-point frame in the third quarter that kept the Mystics at bay.
Jumping out to a 17-8 advantage in the opening quarter and carrying a 24-17 lead into the second, the visitors controlled the scoreboard from the very start without ever falling behind. Expanding their advantage into double digits at the beginning of the second frame, the visitors built a 41-28 cushion with just over one minute left in the first half before the Mystics put together a 7-0 burst to keep themselves within striking distance heading into the break. Cutting the deficit to just six points with under seven minutes left in the third, Washington watched as the Dream fired back with a 15-6 run to create more breathing room.
Foul Trouble and Fourth-Quarter Collisions
The Dream found themselves deep in foul trouble as Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada, and Angel Reese all accumulated four fouls heading into the game’s final stretch. Rhyne Howard fouled out with 6:03 remaining in the game. Having already used their early review, the Dream were left unable to contest the ruling against Howard, which they viewed as incidental.
Angel Reese finished the night with 15 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, and two assists, though she picked up her first technical foul of the 2026 playoffs. During Wednesday, Sept. 30’s 93-75 Game 2 victory over the Washington Mystics, Reese was whistled for a technical foul as the squad completed a first-round series sweep and advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2018.
Washington mounted a serious threat late in the third stanza, sparked by a 10-2 run to end the third quarter. Atlanta responded with a 6-4 run to make the game, 71-62, early in the fourth. Just over eight minutes remain in the game. Sonia Citron was cooking in 3rd quarter vs. Dream. But Jordin Canada answered immediately with back-to-back 3-pointers in the fourth, stretching the lead back out and neutralizing any thoughts of a Mystics comeback.
Awaiting the New York Liberty in the Semifinals
With the first round safely behind them, the Dream turn their focus toward a semifinal series against the New York Liberty. The Liberty advanced by making postseason history, sweeping the Minnesota Lynx to become the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed in the league’s 30-year history. Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones and the Liberty made WNBA postseason history as the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed with a pair of 16-point victories over the Minnesota Lynx. In a game where Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart each tallied 21 points, the Liberty shocked the Lynx 87-71 to make WNBA playoff history as the first No. 8 seed to knock off a No. 1 seed.
The upcoming matchup carries plenty of familiarity. Atlanta won two of three regular-season matchups against the Liberty, with both victories coming just last week. Sunday marks the continuation of Atlanta’s postseason journey, with the Dream hosting Game 1 of the semifinals against New York.
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