The Atlanta Dream are heading back to the WNBA Finals, and this time, they're hoping to finish the job.

For the first time in 13 years, Atlanta will have an opportunity to compete for a WNBA championship after completing a three-game sweep of the New York Liberty in the semifinals. Led by Angel Reese and Rhyne Howard, the Dream defeated New York 85-83 Friday night at Barclays Center, securing the franchise's fourth trip to the Finals and its first since 2013.

And after sweeping their first two playoff opponents, Atlanta is entering the championship round with plenty of momentum.

Reese continued her impressive postseason run, finishing with a team-high 22 points, while Howard added 21. Jordin Canada also delivered a strong performance with 19 points and 11 assists, helping Atlanta overcome a determined Liberty team fighting to keep its season alive.

The Dream entered Friday's matchup holding a commanding 2-0 series lead following a thrilling overtime victory in Game 2.

But eliminating New York on its home floor was never going to be easy.

Atlanta came out firing, connecting on five of its first eight attempts from beyond the arc in the opening quarter. Howard scored 11 points in the period, while Reese added 10, including two 3-pointers, helping the Dream establish an early 25-18 advantage.

Reese continued her strong first-half performance, heading into the locker room with 18 points as Atlanta took a 44-39 lead into halftime.

But with their season on the line, the Liberty weren't going down without a fight.

Led by Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones, New York came out of the break with a renewed sense of urgency, erasing Atlanta's lead and putting the pressure back on the Dream.

The Liberty outscored Atlanta 29-22 in the period, turning a five-point halftime deficit into a 68-66 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Suddenly, the Dream found themselves trailing with their opportunity to complete the sweep hanging in the balance.

But just as they've done throughout the postseason, Atlanta found a way to respond.

The Dream tightened their defense in the fourth quarter, holding New York to just 15 points over the final 10 minutes. After falling behind by four early in the period, Atlanta answered with eight consecutive points to regain control.

Both teams traded baskets in the closing minutes, but Atlanta managed to hold on to a narrow 83-81 lead as the game entered its final seconds.

With their season hanging in the balance, the Liberty had an opportunity to tie the game. However, Stewart couldn't convert a contested layup with nine seconds remaining, leaving New York's comeback hopes hanging by a thread.

With the game on the line, veteran forward DeWanna Bonner stepped to the free-throw line and calmly sank both attempts with 6.2 seconds remaining, helping Atlanta seal the victory and secure its spot in the WNBA Finals.

Bonner finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds, delivering another valuable performance for a Dream team that has leaned on its depth and veteran leadership throughout the postseason.

The victory was especially impressive considering Atlanta was once again without Allisha Gray.

Gray, one of the team's leading scorers, missed her second consecutive game after suffering a finger injury during Game 1.

Rather than allowing her absence to derail their championship pursuit, the Dream received contributions from several players.

Reese, acquired in an offseason trade, has become an important part of Atlanta's success. Her scoring, rebounding and defensive presence have helped give the Dream another dimension as they pursue the franchise's first championship.

For Howard, the opportunity to reach the Finals represents another milestone in her career with Atlanta. And Canada has continued proving how valuable her playmaking and scoring can be when the stakes are highest.

While Atlanta celebrated, the loss brought New York's season to a disappointing end.

Stewart and Jones each finished with 26 points, but their efforts weren't enough to prevent the Liberty from being swept.

New York entered the postseason as the No. 8 seed and shocked the basketball world by knocking off the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the opening round. But the Liberty couldn't recreate that magic against Atlanta, as the Dream brought their unexpected playoff run to an end with a three-game sweep.

For the Dream, the victory represents another major step forward under head coach Karl Smesko.

Atlanta had not reached the WNBA semifinals since 2018 before this season. Now, the franchise is just four victories away from accomplishing something it has never done before.

The Dream previously reached the Finals in 2010, 2011 and 2013 but came up short on each occasion.

This year's team will have an opportunity to change that history.

Atlanta will face the winner of the semifinal series between the defending champion Las Vegas Aces and the Golden State Valkyries.

The WNBA Finals are scheduled to begin Oct. 17.

Regardless of which opponent emerges, the Dream have already demonstrated that they can win in different ways. They've survived close games, overcome injuries and delivered when the pressure was at its highest.

And with Reese, Howard and Canada leading the charge, Atlanta has given its fans something they haven't experienced in more than a decade.

A chance to watch their team compete for a WNBA championship.

This time, the Dream are hoping the fourth trip to the Finals ends differently.