COLLEGE PARK — In a game that carried massive implications for the Commissioner’s Cup standings, the Atlanta Dream walked off the court stunned Thursday night after falling 104-90 to the New York Liberty. But sources close to the team say the final score only tells part of the story.
The Liberty, currently the hottest squad in the league, did something no opponent had done under Dream head coach Karl Smesko: they hung 100-plus points on the board. According to insiders, the Dream were caught off guard by New York’s relentless efficiency — shooting 50% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc while dominating the glass 40-24.
“They’re a tall team, one of the tallest in the league, but they hit every shot,” Angel Reese admitted after the game, her frustration palpable. “When you shoot 50% from 3 and 50% from the field, it makes it tougher to win. We were still in the game, but we’ve got to get back, watch film, and clean up the stuff we slipped on.”
Despite pouring in a season-high 25 points with the Dream, insiders say Reese was far from satisfied. Multiple sources report she was visibly upset in the locker room, zeroing in on the little things that slipped away.
“I really wanted this one bad because I knew how much it meant for our Commissioner’s Cup standings,” Reese said, her voice reportedly cracking with emotion. “Career highs don’t matter unless you win. And it was just frustrating — I think I could have done better, especially at the free throw line and in ball screens.”
The drama intensified late in the third quarter. After the Dream trimmed an 80-64 deficit, Reese appeared to convert an and-one opportunity that would have cut the lead to single digits. But then came a moment that sources say left the team seething: a challenge by Liberty assistant Chris DeMarco overturned the call — and the Liberty were awarded a technical free throw.
“You can only control what you can control,” Reese said, choosing her words carefully. “It was a tough possession because I thought it was legal position, but you gotta move on. My teammates kept me lifted. It was a tough stretch, and we’ve talked about managing emotions better. I think I’ve been doing a good job of improving that.”
One team insider told us the overturned call felt like a gut punch, especially given the stakes. The Dream were fighting not just for a win, but for pole position in the Commissioner’s Cup race — a race that now appears all but lost.
“We still want to learn from this,” Smesko said, trying to steer the narrative toward growth. “We’ll break down the film. We’ll show everyone what we think we can get better at. New York was better than us today. Hopefully, we can improve over the season and be the best team at the end of the year.”
But sources close to the organization claim there’s a growing sense of urgency behind the scenes. With each loss, the margin for error shrinks. And if the Dream can’t figure out how to stop elite teams like New York, insiders say, their championship aspirations could evaporate before the playoffs even begin.
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