DeWanna Bonner helped the Atlanta Dream secure a 92-82 victory over the Liberty in Game 1 of their playoff semifinals series on Sunday. With Allisha Gray sidelined due to an injured left hand, Bonner stepped up with 23 points, nine rebounds, and two assists off the bench. She also gave a motivational halftime speech that fueled Atlanta’s strong third-quarter performance. The Dream now lead the best-of-five series 1-0, though questions remain about Gray's availability for future games.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-06,
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 face the Atlanta Dream in Game 1 of their WNBA semifinals series on Sunday. The Liberty advanced as the No. 8 seed after sweeping the Minnesota Lynx and became the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed in league history, but they lost to the Dream 92-82 in their first game. The Dream won despite Allisha Gray's early exit due to a hand injury; Jordin Canada scored 25 points with five steals, and DeWanna Bonner added 23 points. The Liberty were outscored by 16 points off turnovers as they struggled with the Dream’s defensive pressure.
Written for “WNBA Semifinals Liberty Vs Dream” on 2026-10-06,
grounded in this article and the 10 other(s) covering the same event.
ATLANTA — DeWanna Bonner was brought in for moments like this.
asserted
Bonner → bring → this
After reaching a contract buyout with the Phoenix Mercury in late August, Bonner joined the Atlanta Dream with a stacked résumé that includes six All-Star selections, two WNBA championships and a league-record 101 playoff games.
asserted
that → reach → selections
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asserted
you → get → things
tRY IT NOWThe Dream didn’t necessarily seek out Bonner to deliver headline-worthy performances.
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Dream → try → performances
Atlanta needed her experience and leadership.
asserted
Atlanta → need → experience
On Sunday, though, the Dream got all three.
asserted
Dream → get → three
With Allisha Gray sidelined by an injured left hand, Bonner delivered one of the biggest performances in the Dream’s 92-82 win against the Liberty.
asserted
Bonner → sideline → Liberty
Bonner scored 23 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out two assists in more than 30 minutes off the bench in Game 1 of the semifinals.
The Dream entered halftime trailing 40-37 after Gray was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
asserted
Gray → score → game
Atlanta needed someone to help stabilize the offense and provide another reliable scoring option alongside Jordin Canada and Rhyne Howard.
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Atlanta → need → Canada
Bonner answered the call.
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Bonner → answer → call
Not only did she aid Atlanta in overcoming Gray’s absence, but Bonner was also credited with delivering a fiery halftime speech that helped fuel the Dream’s dominant third-quarter run that ultimately led to Atlanta taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
asserted
Atlanta → aid → series
Questions remain about Gray’s availability for the rest of the playoffs.
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Questions → remain → playoffs
After the game, Dream coach Karl Smesko didn’t have an immediate update on Gray.
“Hopefully she’ll be OK,” Smesko said.
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Smesko → have → Gray
If Gray can’t play, the Dream don’t have to look far for a suitable answer.
asserted
Dream → play → answer
They have Bonner.
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They → have → Bonner
Of course, it’ll take a team effort to fill the void left by Gray, who averaged a team-high 19 points this season.
asserted
who → take → points
Bonner took on a meaningful portion of the scoring burden in Gray’s absence Sunday, shooting 10-for-18 from the field and connecting on three 3-pointers.
asserted
Bonner → take → pointers
The scoring may be better distributed among the rotation in future games.
uncertain
scoring → distribute → games
But Bonner, playing in what could be her final postseason, showed Sunday that the 39-year-old still has plenty left in the tank and can swing a game.
uncertain
old → play → game
“She’s a fantastic player,” Liberty coach Chris DeMarco said.
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DeMarco → ’ → ?
“She protects the rim, she has the ability to make 3s, she gets to the rim on offense so that’s a good acquisition for them.
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that → protect → them
She plays well, she fits that system and yeah, she had a huge impact on this win.”
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she → play → win
Satou Sabally is set to return to Unrivaled for another season.
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Sabally → set → season
Sabally participated in the 3-on-3 basketball league’s inaugural season in 2025 but missed all of last season after suffering a concussion during the 2025 WNBA Finals.
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Sabally → participate → Finals
Sabally suffered a second concussion in late June that prematurely ended her WNBA season.
asserted
that → suffer → season
The Liberty officially ruled her out last month.
asserted
Liberty → rule → her
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