DeWanna Bonner shifted positions in Atlanta's Game 1 win over New York and guarded MVP-level players. Karl Smesko: "She moved positions in this game where she hasn't even been practicing really at that position." Jordin Canada said Bonner also lit into the team at halftime.
Jordin Canada scored 25 in Atlanta's Game 1 win over New York despite three first-half fouls. Asked about small guards: "It don't matter about height. It's all about the heart that you have." She said she's been counted out "a lot this season and just overall in my career."
Atlanta's third-quarter surge in an eight-game win streak starts before Karl Smesko reaches the locker room. He said his players settle halftime adjustments themselves: "When I start talking about adjustments, I can tell they've already talked about the same adjustments."
"I think last year we would get lots of leads and then we would lose them." Jordin Canada said the difference in this Atlanta Dream team, now up 1-0 on New York after a Game 1 win, is that it finishes games out.
Naz Hillmon played 37 minutes and guarded Breanna Stewart in Atlanta's Game 1 win over New York. Karl Smesko: "Naz only, I think, took 2 shots ... she had the best plus-minus on the team." Allisha Gray went down in the game; Smesko had no update on her status.
"This is their identity. It's not going to change for the series." New York Liberty coach Chris DeMarco on Atlanta's pressure, that swung the third quarter. Sabrina Ionescu said they drove into lanes without creating outlets. Breanna Stewart: Atlanta did the same in New York.
"It doesn't matter. We didn't win... I had 1 assist." Sabrina Ionescu brushed off her efficient shooting after the New York Liberty's Game 1 loss at Atlanta, saying her job is to get Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, Leonie Fiebich and Pauline Astier going.
Breanna Stewart played 40 minutes again, and New York Liberty coach Chris DeMarco would not commit to a plan for her workload: "it's just going to depend on the rest days in between... we're just going to continue to monitor it."