Angel Reese and Breanna Stewart will be facing off in what could be either player’s final regular-season game of the 2026 WNBA campaign. For WNBA legend Candace Parker, this game already carries a playoff-level feel to it, and she has already made up her mind about who comes out on top after forty minutes on Wednesday night.
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Speaking on the latest episode of her Post Moves podcast during her game of the week segment, Parker highlighted the Atlanta Dream versus New York Liberty matchup as the one to watch. And while she sees it as a genuinely competitive game, her prediction lands firmly with Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream.
“This will be a playoff-like matchup with both teams in the top eight,” Parker said. “Breanna Stewart making a push for league MVP, Angel Reese looking to claim Defensive Player of the Year. Honestly, I think this is going to be a matchup to watch.”
“My question is, has Atlanta already locked in their main playoff position? New York, again, is fighting to stay out of the cellar. Atlanta is fighting for home-court advantage. I’d have to give the nod to Atlanta on this one. Hope New York can get their work done early, solidify that spot so they can get some rest,” she added.
This game is actually a rematch of Monday night’s matchup that ended with the Atlanta Dream securing a 95-84 victory over the New York Liberty. That result extended Atlanta’s post-World Cup winning streak to four consecutive games, and the Dream have been building a formidable head of steam heading into the postseason.
Angel Reese in particular has been operating at MVP-calibre level over that four-game stretch, recording a double-double in every single one of them while averaging 21.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. And to a large extent, it does look more likely that they could win again, especially with their home advantage.
The Liberty, however, are not arriving without their own recent momentum. They had won three consecutive games before Monday’s defeat, and Breanna Stewart has been extraordinary over their last four outings.
In fact, in Monday’s loss to the Dream, she recorded 27 points, 14 rebounds, and four assists. And across the four-game stretch, she has averaged 22.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. Stewart is pushing hard for league MVP, and she will not go quietly in the regular season finale.
Also, despite this not being a playoff game, there is actually something substantial at stake for the Atlanta Dream in this game. If they win, they will clinch the No. 4 seed and secure home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs. This means hosting Games 1 and 3 of the opening best-of-three series at home. However, if they lose and the Indiana Fever wins their game, they could slip to the fifth seed, forcing them to start the playoffs on the road.
For the Liberty, however, they cannot earn home-court advantage in the first round regardless of the result, but their precise seeding remains very much in play. Tied with Dallas at 26-17 and sitting just behind Washington at 27-16, a win gives them a shot at finishing as high as the No. 6 or No. 7 seed depending on how the Wings and Mystics finish. And this is a massive deal, as it allows them to avoid a brutal first-round matchup against the No. 1 overall seed Minnesota Lynx.
Stewart and the Liberty will be looking to bounce back from Monday’s loss, potentially improve their seeding, and enter the playoffs carrying renewed momentum. Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream, on the other hand, will be looking to extend their winning streak, lock up home-court advantage, and enter the playoffs on a high. Whether this is technically a playoff game or not, Candace Parker is right: this one is going to feel exactly like one.