The New York Liberty secured their place in the WNBA semifinals on Tuesday and learned on Wednesday that they will face the Atlanta Dream in a best-of-five series beginning Sunday. The Dream advanced after completing a 3-0 sweep of the Washington Mystics with a 93-75 victory.

While the Liberty entered the playoffs as the No. 4 seed and the Dream as No. 8, recent performances indicate both teams are competing at a level that defies their regular-season rankings. Atlanta has surged in recent weeks, winning 13 of their final 15 games to close out the season and carry that momentum into the postseason.

The Dream’s progression marks a notable turnaround from previous years. Prior to this season, Atlanta was eliminated in the first round for three consecutive years, including a loss to the Liberty in 2024. This year’s deeper playoff run reflects significant improvement and resilience.

The semifinals series will provide a critical test for both teams, with the Liberty aiming to capitalize on their higher seed and home-court advantage, while the Dream look to continue their surprising and strong postseason showing. The five-game format ensures each team will have multiple opportunities to assert dominance as they compete for a spot in the WNBA Finals.