Dream Build Big Lead, But Liberty and Ionescu Storm Back in Statement Win

The Dream leave New York knowing that they had the WNBA champions on the ropes on their home floor. Photo provided by Dream Media (Catalina Fragoso)

The Atlanta Dream entered Barclays Center riding a wave of dominance. They had just blown out the Mystics by more than 30, followed that with an 18-point win over the Chicago Sky, and then dismantled the Fever by 19. This wasn’t just another hot streak—it felt like the Dream were peaking at the perfect time, with a chance to punch their ticket to the 2025 Commissioner’s Cup Championship on the line. And for three quarters, it looked like Atlanta was ready to run the defending champions off their own court.

A Familiar Formula, Until It Wasn’t

The Dream got off to a strong start, trading buckets with New York early and then finding rhythm behind a barrage of threes. Brittney Griner and Allisha Gray connected from deep, and Rhyne Howard set the tone as a facilitator, dishing out assists on the team’s first three scoring possessions. Rookie Te-Hina Paopao came in and instantly lit a spark, scoring 7 points in under three minutes, and Nia Coffey added to the offensive firepower from the outside. By halftime, Atlanta had drilled eight threes, gone perfect from the free throw line, and carried a 43-40 lead into the break.

That dominance only continued into the third quarter. Jordin Canada caught fire, Naz Hillmon delivered off the bench, and Griner remained steady in the midrange. At one point, the Dream led by as many as 17. It felt eerily similar to their recent blowouts—like they were about to add another lopsided win to their growing list. But then the Liberty—true to their championship pedigree—flipped the switch.

Ionescu Ignites the Comeback

Sabrina Ionescu reminded everyone exactly why she’s one of the most dangerous players in the league. Even while trailing by double digits, she played with poise and purpose, calmly knocking down deep threes and slicing into the paint with ease. Against most elite guards, the Dream rely on their defensive anchors—Gray or Howard—to shut down the attack. It worked against Caitlin Clark. It works most nights. But Sabrina isn’t most guards.

What makes the Liberty so difficult to contain is their balance. Natasha Cloud brings relentless pace. Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart overwhelm with size and versatility. And Sabrina? She’s the engine. Her savvy, her handle, her shot-making—it all compounded late. When switches left Paopao on her, the rookie was in an impossible position. And to her credit, Paopao never backed down. But this was championship-level pressure, and Ionescu brought it.

Lessons from the Loss

Despite the late collapse, Atlanta still got standout performances. Paopao tied her career-high with 16 points, going 6-of-8 from the floor and 4-of-5 from three. Her confidence never wavered, and her growth in this league is undeniable. After the game, Rhyne Howard spoke on her young teammate: “Lil Bruh just trying to be like Big Bruh … she trying to fit in … but … coming in playing like she’s been here before. We’re counting on her to come in and make those plays that she’s making. We have all the confidence in the world in her to continue to make them … handling herself as the point guard in this league—and I know it is tough—but she’s making us proud.”

Howard nearly posted a triple-double herself, finishing with 13 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks. Gray chipped in 14 points, 5 boards, and 5 assists. Canada, in addition to hitting some big shots, became the 40th player in WNBA history to record 1,000 career assists. The Dream had all the ingredients to win. But as Howard later admitted, something shifted. “We stopped doing what was working. We stopped doing the little things that got us the lead in the first place… we have to realize we can’t let up on anyone, especially the defending champs. I think we’ll take a lot from this and moving forward I think that this will be huge for us in the upcoming games—and we’ll see them again soon. Hopefully we have a different outcome… a lot to learn from this, a lot to grow from this as well.”

A Setback, Not a Step Back

The Dream now sit at 8-4 overall, finishing Commissioner’s Cup play at 3-2. Their all-time record against New York shifts to 23-40 overall, including 12-19 on the road. This loss stings because Atlanta was right there. But it also confirms what this team is capable of when they’re locked in. The Liberty didn’t coast to victory—they had to claw their way back. And while New York showed why they’re the champs, Atlanta showed that they’re not far behind.

This was a measuring-stick game. Not just because it featured two elite teams, but because it revealed where adjustments still need to be made. The Dream’s ceiling is real. Paopao is blossoming. Howard is already elite. And when the team learns to finish the way they start, they’ll be ready—not just to compete with the champs—but to beat them.

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