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NEW YORK — The Atlanta Dream are heading to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2013 after completing a three-game sweep of the New York Liberty with an 85-83 victory on Friday night at Barclays Center.
Fans that we interviewed after the game say they are looking forward to supporting the Dream. “I’m so excited Ai don’t know what to tell you,” Jennifer Combs, an Atlanta native, said.
”I’m buying the jersey, the finals tickets, the whole nine,” she said. “I’m happy for the city.”
Angel Reese scored 22 points, Rhyne Howard added 21, and the fourth-seeded Dream remained undefeated in the postseason. Jordin Canada contributed 19 points and a game-high 11 assists, while DeWanna Bonner finished with 13 points and a team-high 13 rebounds. Bonner sealed the win with two free throws with 6.2 seconds remaining after the Dream had turned the ball over and Breanna Stewart missed a contested layup.
Atlanta led 83-81 with 17.7 seconds left before Stewart’s miss. The Dream shot 22-of-24 from the free-throw line, including their final 20 attempts.
Series and Path to the Finals
The Dream controlled the best-of-five semifinal series from the start. They won Game 1 at home 92-82 on October 4, then survived a 101-98 overtime thriller in Game 2 on October 7, also in Atlanta, before closing it out on the road.
“This is huge for the city, huge for Angel Reese and the whole WNBA,” John Porter, a season ticket holder, told us. “Angel came here in Year One, she’s got us in the finals. You can’t write a better TV script.”
In the first round, Atlanta swept the Washington Mystics 2-0 (92-77 and 93-75) to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2018. The Dream finished the regular season 30-14 as the No. 4 seed and Eastern Conference leaders.
They enter the Finals on a 10-game winning streak spanning the end of the regular season and playoffs, and they will face the winner of the Las Vegas Aces–Golden State Valkyries series. The Finals begin October 17.
Key Performances and Challenges
Reese, acquired in an April trade from the Chicago Sky in exchange for first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, has been transformative.
The league’s Defensive Player of the Year stepped up offensively throughout the playoffs, especially with leading scorer Allisha Gray sidelined by a finger injury suffered in Game 1. Gray missed Games 2 and 3 (she warmed up before Game 3 but was ruled out about an hour before tip-off) and was limited to just 11 minutes total in the series.
Howard got Atlanta going early with 11 points in the first quarter, while Reese added 10, including two threes. The game had physical moments, including technical fouls on Reese and Jonquel Jones after a chest bump. New York mounted a third-quarter surge to take a 68-66 lead after three quarters, but Atlanta responded in the fourth.
For the Liberty, Stewart and Jones each scored 26 points. Jones added 14 rebounds and three blocks. Sabrina Ionescu finished with 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting. The 2024 champions, who had upset the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the first round, struggled for consistency all season and finished as the No. 8 seed. This marked their first playoff sweep since 2012.3
Looking Ahead
The Dream have never won a WNBA title and are now four victories away from their first championship. Coach Karl Smesko’s group has shown resilience without Gray and strong contributions from veterans like Bonner and Canada alongside rising stars Reese and Howard.0
With the other semifinal series still ongoing (Golden State led Las Vegas 2-0 entering Game 3), Atlanta awaits its Finals opponent while carrying momentum into the championship round.
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The Atlanta Falcons will stage the first red-out in Mercedes-Benz Stadium history on Sunday night, when they host the Baltimore Ravens in a prime-time Week 5 matchup that also features a Ring of Honor ceremony and a new uniform look.
Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET on October 11 on NBC, with Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, and Melissa Stark on the call. Fans are asked to wear red; the club is not distributing red apparel at seats. The request lines up with the team’s red jerseys paired with black pants, a combination Atlanta has not worn this season after previously showing the red tops with white pants.
Falcons Red Out Game: Sunday Night Vs. Baltimore Ravens
The night doubles as a franchise milestone. At halftime, former defensive end John Abraham will be inducted as the 15th member of the Falcons’ Ring of Honor.
Nicknamed “The Predator,” Abraham recorded 68.5 sacks in seven seasons with Atlanta (2006–2012), the most officially credited in team history, and reached double-digit sacks four times. He earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2010. Offensive lineman Bill Fralic will join the Ring later in the season. Concessions will mark the occasion with “No. 55 Abraham Loaded Tots” at Molly B’s on the 100 level. Before kickoff, mascot Freddie Falcon is scheduled for a highline stunt; the team has asked fans to be in their seats by 8 p.m.
Players have leaned into the atmosphere. Running back Bijan Robinson said he hopes the building is “packed out with all the red” and that the crowd brings “that energy, bring that juice.” Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has framed the night more simply: the team needs its fans to show up. Atlanta is coming off back-to-back prime-time wins over the Packers and Saints that outscored those opponents by a combined 42 points, with Penix back in the lineup and Bijan and Brian Robinson combining for eight touchdowns over those two weeks. The Falcons enter at 2-2 and share the NFC South lead with Carolina. Their run defense, allowing 48.3 yards per game, will face a Ravens ground game that ranks among the league’s best, led by Derrick Henry.
Baltimore arrives at 3-1 with Lamar Jackson’s status uncertain after an ankle injury suffered against Tennessee. If he cannot play, Tyler Huntley would start, with Zay Flowers as a primary receiving threat. Either way, the red-out is meant to turn Mercedes-Benz Stadium into a single-color backdrop for a national audience—the Falcons’ third and final prime-time game in as many weeks.
For those watching from home, the game airs on NBC and streams on Peacock (and NFL+ on mobile inside the Atlanta market). Local radio is on 92.9 The Game, with Wes Durham and Dave Archer.
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The Atlanta Dream held off the New York Liberty 101-98 in overtime on Wednesday night at State Farm Arena, taking a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five WNBA semifinal.
We interviewed a fan who said it was a thriller. “One of the best games I ever been to,” said Tosha Phillips, who lives in Vinings. “Men, women, all of them — this was the best game. The atmosphere was electric.”
Atlanta won despite missing leading scorer Allisha Gray, who was ruled out with a left-hand injury suffered in Game 1. Jordin Canada and Angel Reese each scored 23 points, and the Dream forced 16 turnovers while committing only seven of their own.
Dream Beat Liberty, Go Up 2-0 in WNBA Semifinal
New York, the No. 8 seed that had already eliminated the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the first round, shot 55 percent from the field and got 35 points and 11 rebounds from Breanna Stewart, but could not close the game in regulation.
The teams were tied 26-26 after the first quarter. Atlanta edged ahead 56-54 at halftime, then the Liberty outscored the Dream 20-19 in the third to take a one-point lead into the fourth. New York managed only 14 points in the fourth before Marine Fauthoux’s late three tied the game at 88 and forced overtime. Jonquel Jones hit a three in the extra period to put New York ahead 96-93, but Atlanta scored the final stretch of the overtime, outscoring the Liberty 13-10 to finish it.
Canada finished 9-of-15 from the field, including 3-of-6 from three, with eight assists and five rebounds in 39 minutes. Reese added seven rebounds and two blocks on 8-of-16 shooting. Rhyne Howard played all 44 minutes and scored 18 points with seven rebounds and four assists, though she shot only 5-of-20. Naz Hillmon contributed 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Off the bench, Isobel Borlase scored 11 points and hit three threes.
Stewart was the game’s high scorer at 35 points on 11-of-21 shooting and 11-of-13 from the line, adding six assists and two blocks. Jones had 21 points, eight rebounds and four blocks on 8-of-11 shooting. Fauthoux scored 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, including 4-of-6 from three. Sabrina Ionescu had 10 points and seven assists.
Atlanta shot only 40 percent overall but went 21-of-23 from the free-throw line and matched New York with 12 made threes. The win was the Dream’s second straight in the series after a 92-82 Game 1 victory on Sunday, also at State Farm Arena, and extended their postseason success after a first-round sweep of Washington. It is Atlanta’s first semifinal appearance since 2018; the Dream finished the regular season 30-14 and first in the East.
The series moves to New York for Game 3 on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, with Game 4 scheduled for Sunday in New York. A potential Game 5 would return to Atlanta.
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The Atlanta Falcons crashed New Orleans’ anniversary party Monday night, turning a Superdome celebration into a statement win. Bijan Robinson’s 59-yard touchdown run on Atlanta’s third play set the tone, and the Falcons never trailed in a 45-24 rout of the Saints on Monday Night Football.
Falcons Blow Out Saints in New Orleans
The game marked the 20th anniversary of the “Domecoming,” the Saints’ emotional 2006 return to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. That night began with Steve Gleason’s famous punt block and a wire-to-wire Saints win over these same Falcons.
Two decades later, the script flipped immediately. Robinson burst untouched for the score, hit 21.78 mph—the fastest speed by an offensive ball-carrier this season, per Next Gen Stats—and silenced a crowd still settling in. Atlanta led 14-0 after one quarter and 24-7 at halftime.
Robinson finished with 19 carries for 145 yards and two touchdowns. The long score was his third rushing touchdown of 50-plus yards on Monday Night Football, tying Emmitt Smith for the most in league history. It was also his fourth straight MNF game with at least 125 rushing yards, matching the longest such streaks by Smith and Eric Dickerson. Brian Robinson Jr. supplied the finishing power, scoring on runs of 4, 8, and 11 yards.
Together the Robinsons produced five rushing touchdowns and more than 200 yards on the ground. The Falcons outgained New Orleans on the ground roughly 205 to 50 and controlled the line of scrimmage even after losing left tackle Jake Matthews early in his 200th career start.
Michael Penix Jr., back from a major 2025 knee injury and coming off a 35-14 win at Green Bay, was efficient rather than flashy: 15 of 20 for 223 yards and a 31-yard touchdown to Jahan Dotson that pushed the lead to 38-17 and sent fans toward the exits.
Drake London added five catches for 96 yards. Atlanta answered every Saints push. When Alvin Kamara’s second touchdown of the night—his first two of the season—cut the margin to 31-17 early in the fourth, Penix and Dotson answered within five plays.
New Orleans (1-3) never recovered from a sluggish start. Its first three drives produced a three-and-out, a missed field goal, and a one-snap possession ended by a Kendre Miller fumble. Tyler Shough completed 30 of 48 passes for about 288 yards and a late touchdown to Devaughn Vele, and Chris Olave caught eight passes for 114 yards, but the Saints managed only 50 rushing yards.
Second-year coach Kellen Moore called the result frustrating and disappointing. The 45 points allowed were the most New Orleans has surrendered to Atlanta since a 45-32 loss on the 10-year Domecoming anniversary in 2016, and the five rushing touchdowns were the most the Saints had given up in a game since 2012.
The Falcons improved to 2-2 and stayed even in the NFC South race. They have now won consecutive prime-time games and moved to 10-1 on Monday Night Football since 2015. For a rivalry defined by the 2006 Superdome return, Monday’s result was a clear reminder that the current edge belongs to Atlanta’s ground game.
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LOS ANGELES — Michael Harris II turned a bullpen game into a series-altering night, and the Atlanta Braves left Dodger Stadium with the split they came for.
Harris tripled and scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch, then added an insurance RBI double, as Atlanta beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 on Sunday night to even the National League Division Series at one game apiece. The Dodgers had taken Game 1, 5-3, and were chasing a third straight World Series title. Instead they head to Truist Park with the series tied.
Braves Even Dodgers Series 1-1
“Getting the split in this place against these guys, yeah, it’s awesome,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said.
Both teams combined for only six hits. The difference was how Atlanta manufactured its three runs and how its patchwork staff kept Shohei Ohtani and the rest of the Dodgers lineup from doing more.
Early lead, early trouble for Snell
The Braves struck in the first against Blake Snell. Ronald Acuña Jr. singled with one out, stole second, and eventually scored when Mauricio Dubón beat out a two-out, bases-loaded infield single. Mookie Betts made a diving stop, but his throw was wide and Acuña came home. Atlanta left the bases loaded, but the early run was enough to chase the left-hander from a clean start.
Snell lasted only 3⅔ innings — his shortest postseason outing since 2022 with San Diego — allowing one run on three hits, walking five, and striking out five while throwing 90 pitches.
Freeman ties it, Harris takes it back
Freddie Freeman, facing his former club in the postseason for the first time, tied the game with a solo home run to right in the fourth off Grant Holmes. It was Freeman’s seventh homer against Atlanta since he left after the 2021 season.
Atlanta answered immediately. With two outs in the fifth, Harris lined a triple into the left-field corner past Teoscar Hernández — his first triple in the postseason — off reliever Kris Bubic. Bubic then uncorked a wild pitch that got past Will Smith, and Harris scored standing up to make it 2-1.
Harris made it 3-1 in the seventh with a two-out RBI double to right against Edgardo Henriquez, scoring Matt Olson. He finished 3-for-5, a single short of the cycle, with a run and an RBI.
A bullpen plan that held
Atlanta opened with Ray Kerr, who was working on short rest after 47 pitches as the opener in the Wild Card Series clincher against the Phillies. Kerr threw 2⅔ scoreless innings and retired Ohtani twice. Holmes, Dylan Lee, Robert Suarez, Didier Fuentes, and Raisel Iglesias followed.
Suarez escaped a fifth-inning jam by retiring the heart of the Dodgers order with two on and nobody out. Fuentes, the 21-year-old, worked deep into the night and was one out from finishing the game when Max Muncy homered to right-center on a 3-2 fastball in the ninth, cutting the lead to 3-2. Weiss went to Iglesias for the final out. The closer got pinch-hitter Josue De Paula to foul out to third for his second save of the postseason.
The six Atlanta arms combined to allow two runs on six hits, with three walks and nine strikeouts. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pointed to chase swings outside the zone as a reason the lineup never fully squared the ball up.
What comes next
The series shifts to Atlanta for Game 3 on Tuesday at Truist Park, with Chris Sale lined up after being held back on Sunday. Tyler Mahle is expected to start Game 4 on Wednesday. A decisive Game 5, if necessary, would return to Dodger Stadium on Friday.
For one night in Los Angeles, the lower-seeded Braves matched the Dodgers pitch for pitch, and Harris made the plays that sent the series home even.
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The Atlanta Dream seized control of their WNBA semifinal series Sunday, riding a second-half defensive surge and strong contributions from Jordin Canada and DeWanna Bonner to a 92-82 win over the New York Liberty in Game 1 at State Farm Arena.
We interviewed fans outside the stadium who said they feel this cups be the Dream’s season. “I can see a championship with this group,” said Tonya Allen, who drove from Lilnirncto see the Dream play.
Atlanta Dream Take Game 1 Vs. Liberty
The No. 4-seeded Dream, who entered on an eight-game winning streak, trailed 40-37 at halftime before exploding for a 32-15 third quarter. They forced 21 Liberty turnovers overall and converted them into 32 points, including 16 in that decisive period—tied for a WNBA playoff record for points off turnovers in a single quarter. Atlanta never relinquished the lead after a 13-3 run to open the second half and now leads the best-of-five series 1-0. Game 2 is Wednesday in Atlanta.
Canada scored 20 of her 25 points after the break, adding five steals and four assists on 9-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-6 from three. Bonner provided 23 points and nine rebounds off the bench, helping fill the void after All-Star Allisha Gray left in the second quarter with a left-hand injury. Gray’s status for the rest of the series is unclear. Angel Reese, the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, added 17 points, seven rebounds, four steals, and three blocks, while Rhyne Howard posted 16 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists.
The Liberty, the No. 8 seed that had just become the first eighth seed to eliminate a No. 1 seed by upsetting the Minnesota Lynx, were led by Sabrina Ionescu’s 27 points. Breanna Stewart scored 19, and Jonquel Jones finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds. New York cut a 16-point deficit to five late, but Canada’s clutch three-pointer near the shot-clock buzzer and a transition layup off a stop sealed the result.
“I thought we had a great third quarter,” Dream coach Karl Smesko said. The win was Atlanta’s first in the semifinal round since 2018 and extended the franchise’s longest streak of double-digit playoff victories. The Dream won the regular-season series 2-1, but the postseason has already tested their depth with Gray sidelined. For the Liberty, the turnover issues that plagued stretches against Minnesota resurfaced against a Dream defense that has been among the league’s stingiest.
Series schedule continues with Game 2 in Atlanta on Wednesday, then shifts to New York for Game 3 on October 9.
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On Saturday, October 3, 2026, runners and walkers gathered at the Impact Event Center in East Point for the ninth edition of The Race Half Marathon & 5K, a weekend built around Black excellence, culture, and community.
”This race is for a good cause,” said Anthony Mack, a neighbor on Sylvan Road who observed the race early Saturday. “I don’t mind when they make a lot of noise, for something like this.”
The half marathon started at 7:00 a.m. EDT and the 5K at 7:15 a.m. EDT from Impact Church / Impact Event Center at 2323 Sylvan Rd, Atlanta, GA 30344. Organizers describe the event as one of the largest half-marathon weekends supported by Black runners and walkers.
The Race Half Marathon & 5K: What To KnowThis year’s theme, “ROOTED,” centers the weekend on community, culture, and purpose after a foundation built since the inaugural race in 2018.
A race created for the culture
The Race was founded by Atlanta race director Tes Sobomehin Marshall after a 2017 appearance on the Real Runners of Atlanta podcast raised the idea of an event designed with Black runners in mind. Marshall, who launched Running Nerds in 2012 and had already directed other local races, organized the first edition in October 2018 with support from a Kickstarter that raised more than $73,000 and backing from groups such as Black Girls Run, Black Men Run, and South Fulton Running Partners.
The result is a “for us, by us” weekend that still welcomes participants of all backgrounds and paces. Registration includes a participant shirt, medallion, commemorative bib, and patch, plus a contribution to The Race Charitable Impact Fund, which supports partners focused on health, wellness, and access in Black and underserved communities. Virtual half-marathon and 5K options let people complete the distance on their own between October 2 and 31.
Course through south and west Atlanta neighborhoods
Unlike many Atlanta races that stay downtown, in Midtown, or in Buckhead, The Race routes runners through predominantly Black south and west side neighborhoods. The half-marathon course, which is USATF-certified and an AJC Peachtree Road Race qualifier, passes through East Point, Sylvan Hills, Adair Park, Castleberry Hill, the Atlanta University Center, West End, Westview, Oakland City, and Capitol View.
Start waves are self-seeded by estimated finish time. For the half marathon: Red Wave (under 2:15) at 7:00 a.m., Black Wave (2:15–2:45) at 7:03 a.m., and Green Wave (2:45–3:30) at 7:06 a.m. The 5K follows at 7:15 a.m. (under 25 minutes), 7:18 a.m. (25–40 minutes), and 7:21 a.m. (40–60+ minutes, walkers, and strollers), with the start line closing at 7:25 a.m. The 5K course remains open for 1.5 hours.
Full weekend around the Saturday start
The 2026 schedule stretches across four days at and around the Impact Event Center:
- Thursday, October 1: Welcome Day & Night
- Friday, October 2: Expo, packet pickup, meet-and-greet, and speaker series (11 a.m.–7 p.m.)
- Saturday, October 3: Half marathon and 5K (roughly 7 a.m.–11 a.m.)
- Sunday, October 4: Community Impact Service Day projects plus The Race Day Party
Parking is available in the Impact Event Center lot with overflow nearby; organizers strongly encourage carpooling and rideshares, and note that drop-offs become difficult after 6:00 a.m. (suggested rideshare address: 2330 Sylvan Rd, East Point).
By race morning, the in-person fields were essentially full, continuing the event’s growth from its early years into a multi-day gathering that pairs timed road racing with expo energy, neighborhood visibility, and direct community service. More details remain at theraceuc.com.
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The Atlanta Falcons 2026 schedule is winnable, but it’s going to have to happen week to week. The Falcons face their arch enemy New Orleans Saints this weekend on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. Who will win?
This article will tell you how you can watch the game in your home without missing a single play.
How To Watch The Falcons Game
- Matchup: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints
- When: Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, 8:15 p.m. ET / 7:15 p.m. CT
- Where: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans
- TV: ESPN (national). Local over-the-air: WANF (Channel 46) in Atlanta; WDSU (Channel 6) in New Orleans
- Pregame: Monday Night Countdown starts at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN
Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints: A History
Both franchises joined the NFL in the expansion wave of the mid-1960s. The Falcons began play in 1966; the Saints followed in 1967. Their first meeting came on November 26, 1967, in New Orleans, with Atlanta winning 27–24. From the start they were placed together in the NFC West (then a looser geographic grouping), so the series was annual rather than occasional.That arrangement lasted until the 2002 realignment.
The NFL created the NFC South—Atlanta, New Orleans, Carolina, and Tampa Bay—and the Falcons–Saints matchup became a twice-a-year division game. That change is the main reason the rivalry feels more intense now than it did for much of its first three decades: every result affects the division race, not just the all-time ledger.
Across regular season and playoffs, the all-time series has stayed close. Recent team previews put the regular-season mark near even (around 57–57 heading into the October 2026 meeting), which is unusual for a rivalry that has run for nearly 60 years. Neither side has built a lasting historical stranglehold.
Home-field has mattered. The Superdome (opened 1975, now Caesars Superdome) and Atlanta’s succession of stadiums (Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, the Georgia Dome, Mercedes-Benz Stadium) have each produced stretches of dominance, but road wins in this series are common enough that neither venue is treated as a lock.
Final Word
Football is a religion in the South. Want to leave the house? Catch all the games at your favorite local bar.
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The Atlanta Braves ended the Philadelphia Phillies’ season Thursday night at Truist Park, winning the decisive Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series 6-2 behind three home runs and a patchwork pitching staff that held a late rally in check.
Michael Harris II supplied the decisive blow in the first inning. After Aaron Nola walked Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson with one out, Harris lined a 2-0 sinker to right-center for a three-run homer—roughly 387 feet—that put Atlanta ahead 3-0.
We interviewed fans at a local sports bar, STATS downtown, who said the Braves are the team to beat. “The MLB better be ready,” said Brad Conley. “The Braves are bringing the pennant home.”
Braves Beat Phillies in Game 3 Wild Card, Advance in MLB Playoffs
The swing was immediate redemption: Harris had grounded into two double plays in Wednesday’s 4-3, 10-inning loss that forced the winner-take-all game.
Ozzie Albies added a two-run shot in the fourth, a 419-foot drive to right-center off Zack Wheeler after Austin Riley walked, stretching the lead to 5-0. Olson finished the power display with a solo home run in the seventh, measured at 416 feet to center off Jonathan Bowlan. Every Atlanta run came on a home run.
The Braves’ pitching plan was improvised and effective. Left-hander Ray Kerr, making his postseason debut and only his fourth career start, opened and threw 3⅓ scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk. Grant Holmes followed with two innings and one run to earn the win.
Robert Suarez, Didier Fuentes and Dylan Dodd bridged to Chris Sale, who entered on one day of rest after throwing 6⅓ innings and striking out nine in Tuesday’s Game 1 victory. Sale retired the final four batters, striking out Bryce Harper to end the eighth and closing the ninth.
Philadelphia managed only six hits. Nola was pulled after 1⅔ innings and three runs. Wheeler, who had clinched the wild-card berth with a win over Tampa Bay on Sunday, worked four innings in relief and allowed two runs.
The Phillies scored once in the sixth on an Alec Bohm groundout that plated Kyle Schwarber, and once in the eighth when Derek Hill tripled and scored on a Trea Turner sacrifice fly. The final was 6-2 before a sellout crowd of 41,731.
The series victory is Atlanta’s first postseason series win since the 2021 World Series and the club’s first playoff series win against Philadelphia, which had eliminated the Braves in the 1993 NLCS and the 2022 and 2023 NLDS.
It also ended a six-game losing streak in elimination games that dated to the 2018 NLDS against the Dodgers, and marked the Braves’ first winner-take-all postseason win since Game 7 of the 1996 NLCS. Atlanta (94-68) advances to a best-of-five Division Series against the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, beginning Saturday. Philadelphia (88-74) is finished for 2026.
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Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese was named the 2026 Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday, becoming the first player in franchise history to win the league’s top individual defensive award.
Reese took 46 of 74 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams finished second with 20 votes.
Angel Reese named 2026 Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year
Three-time winner A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces placed third with four, followed by Washington’s Shakira Austin (two) and one vote each for Golden State’s Veronica Burton and Dream teammate Rhyne Howard.
The honor arrived in her first season in Atlanta and her third in the league, one day after the Dream completed a first-round sweep of the Washington Mystics—their first playoff series win in eight years. Atlanta finished 30-14, tied the franchise record for wins, claimed the best record in the Eastern Conference, and earned the No. 4 seed. The Dream host the New York Liberty in the semifinals on Sunday.
Reese had telegraphed the award months earlier. “I told my coaches earlier in the season I am going to be the Defensive Player of the Year,” she told ESPN. “I don’t know if it’s going to be this year, I don’t know if it’s going to be next year, but I’m challenging myself, and I want you guys to challenge me every day to be that. And here it is.” In the team’s announcement she shared the credit: “I have the trophy, but I definitely want Jordin and Rhyne to sign it because I think they deserve it just as much as I do. I’m grateful for Atlanta, I’m grateful for my teammates and my coaches and all the supporting staff that supports us. This is just the beginning.”
The numbers backed the claim. Reese led the WNBA in defensive win shares (3.39) and ranked fourth in defensive rating (100.0). Atlanta allowed 7.9 fewer points per 100 possessions with her on the floor than off it, the largest defensive on/off differential among Dream rotation players. The Dream ranked third in the league in defensive rating (103.5) and held opponents to a league-low 9.5 second-chance points per game.
She ranked third in steals per game (1.8) and total steals (77), both career highs, trailing only teammates Rhyne Howard (2.3) and Jordin Canada (1.9). She also finished third in defensive rebounds (315) and fourth in defensive rebounds per game (7.3). Dream coach Karl Smesko said Reese “can guard any position” and “relishes these opportunities.”
The defensive case was inseparable from a historic rebounding year. Reese became the first player in WNBA history to reach 500 rebounds in a season, finishing with single-season records of 521 total rebounds and 206 offensive rebounds. She also set the single-game record with 26 rebounds in a road win over the Los Angeles Sparks on August 24 and the single-season double-double record with 32. She led the league at 12.1 rebounds per game, averaged a career-high 16.4 points, and was one of only two players to average a double-double. She earned Peak Performer honors as the league’s leading rebounder, made her third consecutive All-Star team, and closed the regular season with three straight Eastern Conference Player of the Week awards—the first Dream player to do so.
It is also the first Defensive Player of the Year award for an Eastern Conference player since Sylvia Fowles with Chicago in 2013. Reese, 24, had never previously been named to an All-Defensive team or received a DPOY vote. The award carries a $30,000 prize and a commemorative trophy.
For Atlanta, the selection closes a first year that already rewrote franchise and league records. For Reese, it is the defensive recognition that her rebounding dominance had not yet produced—and, in her words, only the beginning.
