Angel Reese leads the Atlanta Dream back to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2013

A year after posting that she was "manifesting the finals" while watching last season's championship series, Angel Reese is headed there herself. Reese scored a team-high 22 points on Friday night in New York as the Atlanta Dream beat the Liberty 85-83 to complete a three-game sweep of the semifinals. It is Atlanta's first trip to the championship round in 13 years.

A first postseason to remember

These were the first playoff games of Reese's career. Across the series she put up 20.7 points and 7.7 boards a night against New York. Afterward she credited her faith and said speaking good things into your life can make them happen. She also said she knows she belongs on this stage.

Rhyne Howard chipped in 21 points in the clincher. Jordin Canada ran the offense with 11 assists to go with 19 points while DeWanna Bonner grabbed 13 boards on her way to 13 points. Atlanta did all this without four-time All-Star Allisha Gray who sat out the last two games with a hand injury. Breanna Stewart scored 26 for the Liberty but her short jumper in the last 17.7 seconds would not fall.

A new start in Atlanta

Chicago traded Reese to Atlanta in April after a rocky end to her time with the Sky. Since then she has made a third All-Star team and won the league's Defensive Player of the Year award. She also played for the U.S. team that took gold at the FIBA World Cup. Her defense helped turn Atlanta into a stingy team and New York never topped 83 points in any of the three games. Coach Karl Smesko was pleased the series ended before the Liberty could build momentum.

What is next

Atlanta's opponent is the Golden State Valkyries and the Finals open Oct. 17. Golden State had its own sweep and knocked out reigning champion Las Vegas. Reese said Atlanta is happy to be there but not satisfied yet.