WASHINGTON (AP) — Allisha Gray scored 22 points, Jordin Canada had 13 of her 19 points in the fourth quarter, and the Atlanta Dream advanced to the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs for the first time since 2018, beating the Washington Mystics 93-75 in Game 2 of their first-round series on Wednesday night.
Atlanta, which had lost in the first round in each of the last three seasons, will host Game 1 of the semifinals on Sunday against New York, which swept Minnesota to become the first No. 8 seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed in the league’s 30-year history.
Canada made 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions in the fourth quarter, and she added a jumper from the free-throw line on Atlanta’s next trip for an 89-70 lead with 2:58 left.
Canada also had 11 assists and seven rebounds. Rhyne Howard finished with 15 points before fouling out with 6:03 left in the fourth quarter. Angel Reese also had 15 points and Naz Hillmon added 10.
Sonia Citron scored 25 points for Washington. Kiki Iriafen had 15 points and 16 rebounds and became the first player in franchise history to have a first-half double-double in a playoff game.
WINGS 108, VALKYRIES 100, OT
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Arike Ogunbowale scored a WNBA playoff-record 45 points, including a tying 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation, and Dallas beat Golden State in an overtime thriller, forcing a deciding Game 3 in their first-round series.
Ogunbowale opened the extra period by banking in a 3, then hit another one to put Dallas ahead for good at 103-100 with 1:46 remaining. She easily topped her previous playoff best of 24 points.
The four-time All-Star’s off-balance corner 3 for a 93-93 tie with 4.1 seconds left in Game 2 was followed by Gabby Williams getting called for an offensive foul on the inbound play after a Golden State timeout.
That call was reversed on replay, so instead of Aziaha James having a chance to give Dallas the lead at the free-throw line, there was a jump ball at center court with 3.0 seconds to go. After a scramble for the loose ball, Golden State’s desperation shot was way off target, and after the buzzer.
The deciding game will be Friday night in San Francisco, where the Valkyries won the series opener by 24 points. Golden State is looking to advance in the playoffs for the first time in the franchise’s second season.
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