4:10
Time now to welcome in CBS Sports WNBA analyst Tariq Foster Bradby. And Tariq, this was the epitome of a great playoff game. You had the chippiness, right? You had the back and forth, people doing their work down low and outside. When I'm talking about Angel Reese, John Quo Jones, Stewie gets started late. Jordan Kenna, Dewana Bonner, what do you think? I mean, when you think about this game, Tariq, what's your lasting impression of how Atlanta was able to overcome blowing that 12-point lead, down five, and now they find themselves in the WNBA finals.
Balance. Balance is the word that comes to my head for this team because they did they found themselves in a position where some people would get rattled, but they had enough balance. Balance on the defensive end, balance on the offensive end, balance from scoring, even from those not scoring. Nas Hillman had zero points, zero. And yet she had a plus six in a plus minus column. She was so active all over everywhere. Balance. Angel Reese 22 and N one rebound away from a double and still delivered in an eliminate elimination game, excuse me, on the road. But I have to take a look at the box score, Chris, because when I look at this thing, New York had
10 11, excuse me, 11 turnovers or 10 turnovers, which was significantly less than they typically have. Eight offensive boards. They were 100% of the from an offensive board perspective. All of the boards they went up for, they got 24 second chance points, 36 points in the paint, 52 points from Stewie and JJ, and still lost. That to me tells me that this Atlanta team did not necessarily need to be more efficient. They didn't necessarily need to have a big play from one singular individual. All they needed was balance. balancing their attack defensively, balancing how they were going to score the basketball, balancing how they stayed poised. That is a the that is that you can't ask for anything better than that, Chris.
Yeah. How much would you account that to having Dana Bonner, right? Having Angel Reese because last year they didn't have those two playing. You could see, right, the difference that they make when some of the other star players like Ryan Howard, they're their shot is just not falling. Absolutely. Dana Bonner absolutely brings that different level of experience. This is not Dana's first or second time in the WNBA finals or playing in the semi-finals. So, she understands this moment. She had 13 points and 12 boards, so she put a double up. Listen, Dana Bonner is one person that is going to be able to beat you in any way that you allow her to. If you let her get out on the perimeter, she's going to shoot it. If you allow her to work her way inside,
she's going to drive the ball. That's what Dana does. and other players are playing off that. And Angel Reese, Angel Ree from the beginning of this game set the tone early. Again, when there was a mashup with Sabrina and Izzy, she came over there and said, "No, ma'am. You're not doing that. We're not doing that." Like, she stuck up for her teammate. She basically was someone who was not the word I usually use for her, Chris, is relentless. But she was not someone who was going to give in and let anybody take anything from her in this particular matchup and in this moment. You could see at the end of the game that it was Jordan Canada, Dana Bonner, they all were just talking about how
much that she meant to them, giving her props, egging her up. Ryan Howard postgame as well talking about how Angel is a leader of the team and how the team will follow her. So, it was so it's so poetic in so many different ways when you look at her story and what she's been through to get here that she is literally a part of what is going to bring Atlanta back to the WNBA finals in 13 years. Yeah, it's an incredible story uh for everybody that's been watching. But I have to spotlight Jordan Canada because in that second half, I mean, she's just like a human blur out there, Tariq, when it comes to her ability to get from one
point from point A to point B and her assist making. Like, she had 19 points on five of eight shooting, 11 dimes in zero turnovers. This is what championship basketball looks like. No, absolutely. I mean, her 11 assists, again, that goes with the theme of the balance that this team has had. She's one of the main reasons that this team was able to kind of stay poised because the way that she was orchestrating the offense while Atlanta was trying to close out this series through the entirety of this series. I mean, it's a huge contribution and I think it speaks volumes to her experience as well. Jordan Canada is not a rookie. She's been doing this for a few years now and we saw her do that even back when she
was playing at UCLA, but it's always been about momentum. It's always been about opportunity. She didn't always have the opportunity in LA, but she has absolutely had the opportunity here. And with Alicia Gray being out, you needed somebody else who was going to again continue to step up and lead this team in a way that this team absolutely needed. And you could see Alicia on the bench just incredibly happy for her teammates that they were able to get it done. Jordan Canada is a huge part both defensively and offensively as to why this team is in the position that it's in.
Jordan Canada stepped up with Gray out, but you know who also stepped up? Isabelle Borles, okay, 10 points was extremely efficient. They're not seeing a WNBA Finals appearance without her help off the bench. So, you definitely have to give credit to her. But on the other side, Tariq, when you look at New York, as I mentioned, they were the favorites to win it all to begin the year. But injuries, you know, first year coaching, all that, it led to a semifinals exit and they're not able to get back to the WMA Finals. What do you see as the most glaring need that they need to address moving forward so they cannot be in this position again?
You know, that's a really tough question, Chris, and I'll tell you why. It's a tough question because they kind of had a formula this year. I think the biggest thing wasn't one singular player or one singular piece. But I think collectively, defensively was something that they struggled with. It wasn't necessarily a center point for this team this year. And that's something that they certainly want to address and get better at, especially when you've got a Jono Jones and a Brianna Stewart on your team. Losing Banana Laney Hamilton, I think, is something that is going to sit with this team for a while. She is a key piece to any championship caliber team. And not having her out there to add that extra
defensive effort and also give you some of those extra offensive pieces that you could use late in games, that death. That's something I think is going to sit with this team. But again, they ran up against a team that honestly just met their match. They had the size factor that could go up against them. They had the energy, the momentum. They also had the offensive firepower in their big three or big five depending on any given night. So, I think that sometimes it's not necessarily the things that you are doing wrong. Sometimes you just literally come up against a guy or a girl or a team that just literally matches your energy. And in this particular series, this Atlanta Dream team was just simply the better team.
Again, you got 26 points tonight out of Stewie. You got 26 points tonight out of JJ. You got 12 out of Sabrina UNESCO. And I mean, someone could be nitpicky and say you need more offense from Sabrina. But I would also say that Sabrina had moments in this series and specifically in uh in game two and game three where she made some mental mistakes and those mental mistakes came in very costly moments. For example, it's the fourth quarter. it's seconds left on the clock, you give up the basketball. That's not a moment that you want to that you want to turn the ball over. And so, of course, in your mind, you're wanting those moments back and those little miscommunications. But I
honestly think that's the theme of this New York team in this semi-finals. Mental mistakes and shooting yourself in the foot. Self-inflicted [clears throat] wounds are really what got them in this position. So long-winded way of answering your question, Chris, is I'm not exactly sure what piece specifically they need because they have a lot right now that could have got them to the finals, but self-inflicted wounds are kind of the reason that they're not there. Yeah, it's a little surprising when you think about all the WNBA finals experience in the championships that they've won. When you think about John Quail, Stewie, and Sabrina, you know, those mental mistakes, we know they're
human, but you're just not expecting to see that, especially in a game where you have to win or your season is over. Now, Atlanta season continues in the finals. If you're them, Tariq, who do you prefer to face from a matchup perspective, the Aces, right, who they had trouble with, or the Valkyries, who they also had trouble with and did not win a single game against them this season? Well, you know, I think people might want to say the Valkyries given that, you know, that's something that again, they haven't won a game against them all season, and it could be either team obviously. Um, but I think they probably
want to feel they would feel better about seeing Las Vegas. I mean, number one, they'd have to go on the road either team because it's a two seed and a three seed, so travel is going to be the same regardless. But also, I think that they've got an injury situation that they're managing. Las Vegas, although uh Stephanie Talbot and uh Joel Lloyd were available for tonight's matchup, we know that they aren't going to be playing at 100%. So, if I'm Atlanta, I definitely want to take my chances with a team that is a little thin in the depth category. Um, that is really had to battle its way back because listen here, this is a 20, it's a 20 series on the other side. And so, if Las Vegas were to make it, that
means they would have to come all the way back from a 20- deficit. Something that's never been done. That gives you fatigue. That gives you an opportunity to get some of those loose legs. I think they would probably want to see a Las Vegas team if they had their choice. But make no mistake, if it does end up being Golden State, we don't care that they didn't win a game in the regular season. Golden State didn't win a game in the regular season against Las Vegas either, and they're sitting 20 right now. So, the truth is, regular season is kind of out the window at this point. Both of these teams match up well defensively.
This team, I think, has a little bit of a stronger offensive game than the Golden State Valkyries do. So, they might be able to kind of make that work in their favor. But I think this Atlanta team is good enough to win a championship. So no matter who they play, they're gonna give them a run for their money. Very well said. The Atlanta Dream headed back to the WNBA finals for the first time in 13 years. Tariq, always appreciate the insight. Take care. Thanks, Chris. So the thing about Atlanta in the postseason or in the finals, I should say, they've never won a game. Okay, they went up against Maya Moors links 2011 and 2013 losing 3 0. You go back to 2010, they lost the Storm 3 as well. So,
they're looking for their first ever victory in the WNBA finals and then from there, yeah, trying to get that elusive WNBA title
