The New York Liberty lost to the Atlanta Dream at Barclays Center, securing a playoff spot but not home-court advantage for the upcoming playoffs. With five players scoring in double digits, the Dream secured a decisive victory with a final score of 95-84. Despite Breanna Stewart's outstanding performance with 27 points and 14 rebounds, the Liberty struggled from beyond the arc, going 1-for-13 in the first half, leading to their eventual defeat.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-22,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The New York Liberty lost 95-84 to the Atlanta Dream in a crucial game on Monday night, ending their chances of securing home-court advantage for the playoffs and leaving them likely to start on the road. The loss came after playing back-to-back games following a match in Toronto, leading to fatigue that affected performance. Breanna Stewart recorded 27 points and 14 rebounds but was visibly frustrated by a no-call from officials late in the game, resulting in her first technical foul since 2017. With just two regular-season games remaining, including another against Atlanta on Wednesday, the Liberty’s playoff scenario remains uncertain as they could finish anywhere between fifth and eighth place depending on other results around the league.
Written for “Liberty Dream Playoff Battle” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 6 other(s) covering the same event.
The Liberty will be hitting the road to start the playoffs.
asserted
Liberty → hit → playoffs
The Dream ensured that Monday night by handing the home team a 95-84 loss at Barclays Center.
asserted
Dream → ensure → Center
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asserted
you → get → things
Liberty, who play Atlanta here again Wednesday in their regular-season finale, can finish no higher than fifth but as low as eighth.
asserted
who → play → eighth
The playoff field is set, though the matchups are anything but.
asserted
matchups → set → ?
None of the eight teams have secured their seeding, with only three days left in the regular season.
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days → secure → season
While it’s not unusual for the order to come down to the wire for a few spots, this level of uncertainty so late in the season is believed to be unprecedented.
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level → ’ → season
But Dream coach Karl Smesko said the league’s parity is setting the table for this to be “the best playoffs in pro sports.”
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this → say → sports
The fans in Brooklyn understood the assignment.
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fans → understand → assignment
They cheered for every basket made.
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They → cheer → basket
They shouted “defense” when encouraged.
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They → shout → defense
They yelled “M-V-P” when Breanna Stewart stepped to the free-throw line and hurled “ref, you suck” jeers when they took issue with the officiating.
asserted
they → yell → officiating
Stewart gave her all.
asserted
Stewart → give → ?
She battled to the end and even got her first technical foul since 2017 as a second-year pro.
asserted
She → battle → pro
She finished with a team-high 27 points and 14 rebounds.
asserted
She → finish → points
Jonquel Jones added 18 points and 12 rebounds.
asserted
Jones → add → points
Meanwhile, the Dream had five players score in double digits, including DeWanna Bonner with 17 points off the bench.
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players → have → bench
Angel Reese, who battled Jones inside for most of the night, tallied 18 points and 10 rebounds.
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who → battle → points
The Liberty had shown a lot of promise in the first two games since returning to action.
asserted
Liberty → show → action
They beat both the league-leading Lynx and expansion Tempo.
asserted
They → beat → Lynx
But back in front of their home crowd for the first time in three weeks, they did not deliver.
asserted
they → deliver → weeks
The Liberty went 1-for-13 from deep in the first half for their fewest 3s in the first two quarters of a game since July 2024.
asserted
Liberty → go → July
The Liberty nonetheless stayed in it and could’ve entered halftime tied, but they failed to corral a late defensive rebound.
uncertain
they → stay → rebound
Instead, Bonner got the ball and put it back up, drawing a foul from Leonie Fiebich for a three-point play.
asserted
Bonner → get → play
Things didn’t get better for the Liberty in the second half.
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Things → get → half
The Dream opened with a 9-2 run that built their lead up to 10.
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that → open → 10
The Liberty caught fire for a stretch.
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Liberty → catch → stretch
Pauline Astier sank a 3-pointer.
asserted
Astier → sink → pointer
Sabrina Ionescu drained another.
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Ionescu → drain → another
Stewart scored, too.
asserted
Stewart → score → ?
An 8-0 run made it 55-53 with 4:21 left in the third.
Give the Liberty credit.
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it → make → credit
They, specifically Stewart, didn’t go down without a fight.
asserted
They → go → fight
But the Dream held on in only the second meeting between the two teams this season.
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Dream → hold → teams
The Liberty won the last meeting on 104-90, on June 11 in Atlanta.
asserted
Liberty → win → Atlanta
The Dream are 16-4 in their past 20 games and haven’t lost consecutive games since early July.
asserted
Dream → lose → July
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