Liberty’s Chris DeMarco celebrates NY players for fighting hard vs. Dream

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The New York Liberty saw their postseason end earlier than hoped after falling 85-83 to the Atlanta Dream in Game 3 on Friday, completing a three-game sweep in the WNBA semifinals.

The defeat came less than two weeks after the Liberty made history by becoming the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed in the playoffs. Their upset of the Minnesota Lynx earned them a second-round matchup with Atlanta, but they could not extend their run against the younger Dream squad.

Despite the disappointment, head coach Chris DeMarco had no shortage of praise for his players, as he remained focused on the effort his team showed throughout the series.

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“I want to say our players fought like hell,” DeMarco said. “They played so hard, and whether it was getting out of that first round to have the chance to play in this one, or was just these three games. Like I’m so proud of our players and how hard they played.”

New York had opportunities to force another game but could not make the decisive plays late. Breanna Stewart missed a potential game-tying shot in the closing seconds, while DeWanna Bonner converted two free throws after drawing a foul to help Atlanta secure the win.

Stewart finished with 26 points on 6-of-15 shooting, while Jonquel Jones also scored 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Their performances were not enough to overcome Atlanta’s late push, led by Jordin Canada, who recorded 13 points and 11 assists. Angel Reese added 22 points and nine rebounds for the Dream.

The loss leaves New York facing another offseason after its first-round exit in 2025. For now, the Liberty must process another missed championship opportunity after a playoff run that began with one of the franchise’s biggest upsets.

Related: Liberty’s Breanna Stewart gets 100% real on NY’s 2026 preparedness

Related: Chris DeMarco ‘expects’ to return to Liberty as coach next year

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