> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.sanchezsideline.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # WNBA PLAYOFFS: ATL Barbie Said “BET!” — Dream and Valkyries Put the Favorites on the Brink - URL: https://www.sanchezsideline.com/wnba-playoffs-dream-valkyries-game-2/ - Published: 2026-10-08T18:18:42.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T18:18:42.000Z - Description: Angel Reese scored 23 points, including six in overtime, as Atlanta beat New York 101–98. Golden State stunned Las Vegas 83–81. Both teams now lead their semifinal series 2–0. - Author: Sanchez Sideline - Tags: WNBA, NBA/WNBA, Atlanta Dream, breanna stewart, Golden State Valkyries, New York Liberty Angel Reese turned an early foul into motivation and took over overtime, Atlanta survived a 101–98 thriller against New York, and Golden State refused to let Las Vegas steal Game 2\. Both semifinal series now stand at 2–0, and suddenly the WNBA Finals picture is looking a whole lot different. By Latifa Sanchez | Sanchez Sideline Okay, WNBA. I see what we're doing. Apparently, nobody wanted a quiet Wednesday night. Atlanta needed overtime. Golden State needed a last-second defensive stop. Angel Reese needed somebody to give her a reason. And the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces? Well, they both need three straight wins to keep their championship dreams alive. Because after Wednesday night's Game 2 matchups, the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries are sitting pretty with 2–0 semifinal leads. One more win, and they're headed to the WNBA Finals. And if you thought these were going to be easy games for the favorites? Baby, the WNBA had other plans. ## **ATLANTA DREAM 101, NEW YORK LIBERTY 98 (OT)** Atlanta leads best-of-five series 2–0 ## **ATL Barbie Said “BET!” — And New York Found Out** Let's talk about Angel Reese. Because apparently, somebody forgot who they were dealing with. Early in the game, Reese picked up a foul, and she wasn't happy about it. ATL Barbie had one word: “BET!” The rest of the evening certainly matched the energy. Because the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year didn't spend the rest of the night sulking. She went to work. Reese finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and two blocks, including six points in overtime, as Atlanta survived New York 101–98. And those six overtime points? Every single one mattered. ### **This Wasn't Just an Angel Reese Show** Now, before we start acting like Angel carried the entire team by herself, let's give everybody their flowers. Jordin Canada was outstanding. 23 points. Eight assists. Five rebounds. Rhyne Howard added 18 points. Naz Hillmon contributed 12 points and eight rebounds, including the go-ahead layup with 20.8 seconds remaining in overtime. And let's not forget Atlanta was doing all of this without Allisha Gray, who missed the game with a hand injury. That's not just one player stepping up. That's a team understanding the assignment. ### **New York Refused to Go Quietly** And I have to give the Liberty credit. Because New York absolutely fought. Breanna Stewart finished with 35 points, including 25 in the first half. With Atlanta leading 88–85 late in regulation, Marine Fauthoux hit a three-pointer with 10.3 seconds remaining to tie the game. Overtime. Because apparently four quarters weren't dramatic enough. Then Atlanta scored the first five points of overtime. New York answered with eight straight. Back and forth. Lead changes. Everybody's blood pressure going up. Until Hillmon put Atlanta ahead for good and Reese knocked down two crucial free throws with 4.3 seconds remaining. New York had one final opportunity, but Atlanta survived. ### **THE SIDELINE TAKE: Put Some Respect on ATL Barbie's Name** Let me say something. Angel Reese has heard the criticism. Her offense. Her shooting. Her finishing around the basket. Every missed layup becomes a conversation. Every mistake becomes a headline. But Wednesday night? 23 points. Six in overtime. Perfect shooting in the extra period. And she's doing it while carrying the title of Defensive Player of the Year. You don't have to like her personality. You don't have to like how she celebrates. But you absolutely have to respect the basketball. And right now, ATL Barbie is helping put Atlanta one victory away from the Finals. Put some respect on her name. ## **GOLDEN STATE VALKYRIES 83, LAS VEGAS ACES 81** Golden State leads best-of-five series 2–0 ## **Somebody Tell Golden State They're Supposed to Be the Underdogs** Because clearly nobody delivered that message. The Golden State Valkyries are in their second season as a franchise. Their second. And somehow, they're sitting one victory away from the WNBA Finals while the defending champion Las Vegas Aces are staring elimination in the face. Valkyries 83\. Aces 81. Now I know A'ja Wilson and Las Vegas aren't going down without a fight. But Golden State? They are not playing like a team that's just happy to be invited. They're playing like they own the building. And Wednesday night, Chase Center belonged to them. ### **Golden State Built a Lead. Las Vegas Nearly Stole It.** The Valkyries came out swinging. They opened the game on a 7–0 run and eventually built a 17-point lead. Tiffany Hayes was giving Las Vegas problems off the bench. Gabby Williams was attacking. Golden State was controlling the tempo. But you know the Aces weren't about to roll over. A'ja Wilson finished with 24 points and seven rebounds, helping Las Vegas erase the deficit. With less than two minutes remaining, the Aces finally took their first lead. And I'm thinking, here we go. Because this is where championship experience is supposed to matter. This is where Las Vegas is supposed to remind everybody who they are. Except Golden State had another idea. ### **Veronica Burton Picked the Perfect Time to Make a Shot** Imagine playing nearly an entire playoff game without making a basket. Then your team needs the biggest shot of the night. And you take it. From deep. With the clock running out. That's exactly what Veronica Burton did. With the game tied at 76 and approximately 42 seconds remaining, Burton buried a three-pointer to put Golden State ahead. Her only field goal of the night. THE ONLY ONE. Talk about timing. She later knocked down two crucial free throws. And when Las Vegas had one final chance to tie the game, Kiah Stokes blocked Chelsea Gray's layup attempt with just over a second remaining. Ballgame. Golden State survived. And the defending champions walked off the court down 2–0. ### **Let's Give Tiffany Hayes Her Flowers Too** Because she deserves them. Hayes finished with 21 points off the bench, leading Golden State in scoring. Gabby Williams added 20. Kayla Thornton contributed 16. And the Valkyries' bench outscored Las Vegas' reserves 34–14. That's not a small contribution. That's a bench helping win a playoff game. And against a team with A'ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray? You're going to need everybody. ### **THE SIDELINE TAKE: The Valkyries Aren't a Feel-Good Story Anymore** We need to stop talking about Golden State like they're some cute little expansion team exceeding expectations. They're beyond that. They're beating championship-caliber teams. They're making clutch plays. They're winning close games. And they're doing it with multiple players contributing instead of waiting for one superstar to save everybody. Now, am I counting A'ja Wilson out? HELL NO! That's a mistake I'm not interested in making. But Las Vegas has a serious problem. The Valkyries don't look intimidated. And when you're down 2–0, intimidation isn't going to save you anyway. You need wins. Three of them. In a row. Good luck with that. ## **TWO SERIES. TWO 2–0 LEADS. AND A WHOLE LOT OF PRESSURE.** | Semifinal series | Game 2 | Series | | -------------------------- | --------- | ------- | | Atlanta vs. New York | 101–98 OT | ATL 2–0 | | Golden State vs. Las Vegas | 83–81 | GS 2–0 | Both Game 3 matchups are scheduled for Friday, October 9. Let's talk about what this means. New York has Breanna Stewart. Las Vegas has A'ja Wilson. Two of the biggest names in women's basketball. Two teams with championship experience. And neither team has won a semifinal game. Meanwhile, Atlanta and Golden State are one victory away from meeting in the WNBA Finals. Nobody has ever overcome a 2–0 deficit in a best-of-five WNBA playoff series. Does that mean New York and Las Vegas are finished? No. But history isn't exactly on their side. ## **THE FINAL SIDELINE TAKE** Wednesday night reminded us why playoff basketball is different. It's not always about the biggest name. It's not always about who won the championship last season. It's not even always about who has the most talent. Sometimes it's about who makes the play when everybody in the building knows the season could turn on one possession. Angel Reese made those plays. Jordin Canada made those plays. Naz Hillmon made those plays. Veronica Burton made that shot. Kiah Stokes made that block. And now? Atlanta is one win away. Golden State is one win away. As for New York and Las Vegas? Y'all better figure something out. Because Friday isn't just another playoff game. Friday could be the end of your season. And ATL Barbie? She already told everybody what time it was. BET! Sports. Opinion. No Filter. Sanchez Sideline.