Atlanta Dream sweep Liberty 85-83 to reach first WNBA Finals since 2013
The Atlanta Dream beat the New York Liberty 85-83 in Game 3 on Friday to complete a semifinal sweep and reach their first WNBA Finals since 2013. Angel Reese's technical foul in a spat with Jonquel Jones and a missed call on another confrontation drew attention.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2The Atlanta Dream beat the New York Liberty 85-83 in Game 3 of their WNBA semifinal at Barclays Center on Friday, completing a 3-0 sweep. Gulf NewsN “The Dream secured an 85-83 victory in Game 3 of their semifinal series at Barclays Centre on Friday, completing a 3-0 sweep.” Read at Gulf News ↗ NewsweekN “the Dream defeated New York 85-83 Friday night at Barclays Center” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1It is Atlanta's fourth trip to the Finals and its first since 2013; the franchise also reached the Finals in 2010 and 2011 and lost each time. NewsweekN “The Dream previously reached the Finals in 2010, 2011 and 2013 but came up short on each occasion.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 2Angel Reese led Atlanta with 22 points and Rhyne Howard added 21. Newsweek also reports nine rebounds for Reese and 19 points and 11 assists for Jordin Canada. Gulf NewsN “Reese led Atlanta with 22 points, while Rhyne Howard added 21” Read at Gulf News ↗ NewsweekN “Reese finished the game with 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and a steal.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Centre · 1Atlanta led 44-39 at halftime, but New York outscored them 29-22 in the third quarter to lead 68-66 going into the fourth. The Dream then held the Liberty to 15 points in the fourth quarter. Breanna Stewart missed a contested layup with nine seconds left, and DeWanna Bonner made both free throws with 6.2 seconds left to seal the win. NewsweekN “The Liberty outscored Atlanta 29-22 in the period, turning a five-point halftime deficit into a 68-66 lead heading into the fourth quarter.”“DeWanna Bonner stepped to the free-throw line and calmly sank both attempts with 6.2 seconds remaining” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Stewart and Jonquel Jones each scored 26 for New York. The Liberty entered the playoffs as the No. 8 seed and knocked out the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the first round. Atlanta played without Allisha Gray for a second straight game because of a finger injury suffered in Game 1. NewsweekN “Stewart and Jones each finished with 26 points”“Gray, one of the team's leading scorers, missed her second consecutive game after suffering a finger injury during Game 1.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 2In the second quarter, with 3:17 left in the first half, Reese and Jones had a heated face-to-face exchange after Jones denied Reese at the basket. Both received offsetting technical fouls and teammates separated them. Gulf NewsN “The incident occurred with 3:17 remaining in the first half, when Jones denied Reese at the basket before the two exchanged words while standing face-to-face.” Read at Gulf News ↗ NewsweekN “leading to both players receiving technical fouls” Read at Newsweek ↗
Centre · 1Gulf News reports Reese faces a $500 fine for her second technical of the playoffs, leaving her two short of an automatic one-game suspension. Under WNBA rules that suspension follows a fourth playoff technical, and the league can rescind technicals after review. She had already received one in the first-round series against the Washington Mystics. Gulf NewsN “Reese’s second technical foul of the postseason leaves her two away from an automatic one-game suspension under WNBA rules.”“The league can rescind technical fouls following a review.” Read at Gulf News ↗ Centre · 2In a separate second-quarter confrontation, Reese followed Sabrina Ionescu up the court, repeatedly telling her "Don't do that", after Ionescu was called for a foul on a hard screen. Gulf News says officials reviewed the play and ruled there was no hostile act, so no technical was issued. ESPN commentator Rebecca Lobo said on air that it should have been a technical, and Newsweek reports fans criticised the referees on X. Gulf NewsN “officials did not issue any technical fouls after reviewing the incident, ruling that no hostile act had occurred.” Read at Gulf News ↗ NewsweekN “"The whole time, walking down the floor. That should be a T. That should be a T," ESPN commentator Rebecca Lobo said over an instant replay.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Atlanta will face the winner of the semifinal between the defending champion Las Vegas Aces and the Golden State Valkyries. The Finals are scheduled to begin Oct. 17. NewsweekN “The WNBA Finals are scheduled to begin Oct. 17.” Read at Newsweek ↗ NewsweekN “The Dream await the winner of the Golden State Valkyries and Las Vegas Aces semifinal series.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets are centre-labelled. Gulf News leads with Reese's fine and suspension risk. Newsweek has one recap celebrating the Dream's run and one on fan anger at the referees.
- Emphasis
- Gulf News stresses technical-foul rules and the fine. Newsweek stresses the game narrative, the franchise's history and fan reaction to the officiating.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gulf News gives little game detail beyond the scoring leaders. Newsweek's fan-reaction piece does not mention the review or the fine.
- Charged language
- “Worst refs in sports history”“Angel Reese Leads Dream”
- For example
-
“Angel Reese is facing a $500 (Dh 1,836) fine after picking up her second technical foul of the WNBA playoffs” — Gulf News
“In an intense Dream-Liberty Game 3, WNBA fans slammed referees” — Newsweek
“The Atlanta Dream are heading back to the WNBA Finals, and this time, they're hoping to finish the job.” — Newsweek
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Atlanta beat New York 85-83 in Game 3 at Barclays Center to sweep the series 3-0.
- Angel Reese scored 22 points and Rhyne Howard scored 21.
- Reese and Jonquel Jones received offsetting technical fouls in the first half.
- The win puts Atlanta in its first WNBA Finals since 2013.
Where accounts differ
-
Whether Reese's conduct toward Sabrina Ionescu merited a technical foul
- Centre
- Gulf News says officials reviewed the play and ruled no hostile act occurred. Newsweek quotes ESPN's Rebecca Lobo and fans saying it should have been a technical and criticising the officiating.
Atlanta Dream organisation
Newsweek presents the Dream as a resilient team that won close games and overcame injuries under coach Karl Smesko, now four wins from a first title.
“the franchise is just four victories away from accomplishing something it has never done before.” — Newsweek
Angel Reese person
Reese is credited as Atlanta's leading scorer, but her conduct and technical-foul count are scrutinised. Gulf News says she faces a fine and is two technicals from suspension.
“Reese’s second technical foul of the postseason leaves her two away from an automatic one-game suspension under WNBA rules.” — Gulf News
New York Liberty organisation
The Liberty are described as a determined No. 8 seed that upset Minnesota but were swept. Stewart and Jones scored 26 each in the loss.
“New York entered the postseason as the No. 8 seed and shocked the basketball world by knocking off the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the opening round.” — Newsweek
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre3 articles
-
Angel Reese facing punishment after reaching WNBA Finals
Neutral Disciplinary angle: Reese's likely fine and the suspension threshold, with the game result as context.
-
WNBA Fans Rip Refs Over Angel Reese Confrontation as Dream Eliminate Liberty
Mixed Relays fan and commentator criticism of the referees over a missed technical on Reese, with some of it hostile to Reese.
-
Angel Reese Leads Dream to First WNBA Finals in 13 Years
Celebratory Triumphant recap of the sweep and Atlanta's first Finals in 13 years, praising Reese, Howard, Canada and Bonner.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 10 Oct 04:00 First Gulf NewsN Angel Reese facing punishment after reaching WNBA Finals
- 10 Oct 04:01 +2m NewsweekN WNBA Fans Rip Refs Over Angel Reese Confrontation as Dream Eliminate Liberty
- 10 Oct 04:07 +7m NewsweekN Angel Reese Leads Dream to First WNBA Finals in 13 Years
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.