Eastern Conference Playoffs: Atlanta Dream vs New York Liberty – What Do The Numbers Say?

The WNBA regular season is in its last stretch of the 2025 regular season, and while a couple of teams like the Indiana Fever and LA Sparks are scrapping for those final playoff spots, the Atlanta Dream and New York Liberty are in a different conversation. For them, it’s about proving who really runs the East.

Moving at a calculated pace rating of 80 so far, the Atlanta Dream recently wielded a double-edged sword to defeat top-ranked teams, the Minnesota Lynx and the New York Liberty, and then settled in as the second seed in the league. While the Dream is regarded as one of the toughest contenders in the WNBA today, the recent moves raised a pressing question: Can the Atlanta Dream defeat reigning champion, the New York Liberty, to win the Eastern Conference and advance to the playoffs?

Starting the season with a 9-game winning streak, the New York Liberty showed why they are the reigning champions. Ranked first for the majority of the season, the Liberty boasts a win rating worth 68.42% against the Dream’s 63.16%. And under coach Sandy Brondello’s guidance, the franchise strived to stay atop the Eastern Conference standings. Despite all odds in their favor, the team began to struggle when it’s veteran presence faltered. While Breanna Stewart tended to a bone bruise, Nyara Sabally and Sabrina Ionescu too fell victims to injuries. But can these injuries become the reason for Liberty losing the crown?

While clinching the fifth spot in the playoffs bench, the Liberty’s 24-17 stat score stands farther away from the Dream’s. Moreover, the Atlanta Dream did not have a spectacular start like the Liberty. And despite facing a fair share of struggles, it was Dream’s physicality, thanks to bigs like Brittney Griner and Rhyne Howard among others, and their rebounding prowess of 37 per game, that helped the franchise climb the conference ladder at #1. With a total of 163.05 points per game, their defensive rating of 98.4 spoke volumes.

On the other hand, the Liberty boasts a total of 166.37 points, with a defensive rating of 98.2. Having said that, the team is still a fierce competitor for the spot, with international players like Emma Meesseman, who adds value to the front-court depth, making them a formidable roster in the paint. But despite a lesser rebounding per game of just 35, the Liberty have speed on their side. A spectacular average speed of 14 cements their fast-breaks and smooth transitions as opposed to an average speed of just 11.37 by the Dream.

As the two teams go loggerheads against each other in the upcoming conference battle, the Atlanta Dream and the New York Liberty are both worthy contenders for the title. However, only one will progress to the playoffs. With rebounds and defense as the Dream’s strengths, fans can count on Liberty’s speed and high IQ during crunch moments to provide them with a much-needed edge over the opponents.

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