Rhyne Howard’s Historic Night Lifts Dream Over Sky

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On Friday night, Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard delivered a career performance, scoring 36 points and hitting a franchise-record nine 3-pointers to power her team to an 88–70 victory over the Chicago Sky. It was a night of milestones not just for Howard, but also for Brittney Griner, who moved into second place on the WNBA’s all-time blocks list. Howard’s night didn’t start out hot—she was scoreless in the first quarter—but she caught fire after halftime. She scored 11 points in the third quarter and added 11 more in the fourth, helping Atlanta pull away for good. Her 3-pointer early in the final period gave the Dream their first double-digit lead at 66–56. She would go on to hit two more from deep during Atlanta’s decisive 18–3 run. According to the WNBA, Howard surpassed the Dream’s previous record of eight 3-pointers in a single game, set by Renee Montgomery in 2018. Her sharpshooting display not only electrified the crowd but also highlighted her growing role as a scoring leader for the Dream this season. Other Dream players stepped up as well. Allisha Gray contributed 15 points along with seven rebounds and five assists, showing her versatility on both ends of the court. Brionna Jones added a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Jordin Canada chipped in 12 points and eight assists to round out a well-balanced team effort.

For the Sky, rookie Kamilla Cardoso led the team with 15 points and nine rebounds. Angel Reese and Ariel Atkins each scored 12, but it wasn’t enough to keep pace with Atlanta’s offensive surge. The game also marked a milestone for Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner, who continues to climb the league’s historical ranks. Griner blocked a shot by Chicago’s Elizabeth Williams late in the third quarter, tying Lisa Leslie for second-most blocks in WNBA history at 822. She added another block in the fourth quarter to claim sole possession of second place, now trailing only Margo Dydek’s record of 877. Atlanta’s win improves their record to 7–3, while the struggling Sky fall to 2–7. For the Dream, this game was a showcase of both individual brilliance and strong team chemistry. As Howard continues to find her rhythm this season, Atlanta looks increasingly like a team to watch in the Eastern Conference.