WNBA: Rhyne Howard w/ 43, Atlanta Dream w/ franchise-record 112

Rhyne Howard dropped a career-high 43 factors and her Atlanta Dream hit a franchise excessive in factors as a crew of their 112-84 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks Sunday afternoon at Gateway Middle Area in Atlanta.

Swish Attraction’s Cat Ariail had simply gotten completed writing the next in regards to the Dream’s June:

At their greatest, they confirmed themselves to be a surefire playoff crew that would give a top-four seed a take a look at within the first spherical resulting from their toughness, tenacity and shotmaking. At their worst, they appear like a lottery-bound mess, gifting opponents simple transition factors due to a torrent of live-ball turnovers.

It was fairly the begin to July for the crew from Atlanta, which is now 7-8 and in seventh place. Beating a crew that has seemed pretty much as good because the Sparks have at occasions by 28 is spectacular. Nonetheless, LA did fall out of the playoff image to a ninth-place 7-10.

Howard was 14-of-20 from the sphere, 6-of-12 from past the arc and 9-of-9 on the charity stripe. Simply two video games in the past, she scored simply eight factors. Her earlier season excessive was 24, completed on June 23. Her earlier profession excessive was 33, set on Might 15, 2022. Sunday’s efficiency raised her season scoring common from 16.4 to 18.2. It moved her forward of Allisha Grey because the Dream’s main scorer.

It appears clear to me that Howard is probably the most proficient participant on Atlanta’s roster, however she had taken a again seat to Grey within the scoring column earlier than Sunday, there’s little question about that. She was even left off the All-Star Sport rosters, whereas Grey and Cheyenne Parker each made it from the Dream.

The Dream’s greatest regular-season profitable proportion got here in 2018. That yr their season excessive for factors in a single recreation was 109. They went 23-11.

Different motion

Chicago Sky over Indiana Fever, 89-87

Mid-range queen Courtney Williams dribbled to the left nook of the free throw line and shot a jumper that bounced on the rim and backboard earlier than moving into to make it 89-87 with 18.1 seconds remaining. She completed with 28 factors on 12-of-17 capturing and 4-of-5 capturing from downtown to go together with eight assists. This as a follow-up to her first profession triple-double on Friday. Solely 12 gamers in WNBA historical past have ever recorded a triple-double.

The 28 factors marked a season excessive. Williams scored in single digits six occasions in a row earlier than the earlier 4 video games, all of which have seen her attain double figures. Included in that six-game stretch was a goose egg in 31 minutes performed (0-of-8 from the sphere). Maybe Sky interim head coach Emre Vatansever, who’s now 1-0 as a WNBA head coach, will characteristic her extra prominently within the offense than James Wade did. Williams raised her season scoring common from 8.4 to 9.6 with the efficiency. She is actually a succesful scorer, having averaged 16.5 factors with the Dream throughout her All-Star season of 2021.

New York Liberty over Seattle Storm, 81-66

All-Stars Courtney Vandersloot and Breanna Stewart have been at it once more for the Liberty. Vandersloot completed with 18 factors, 5 rebounds, 13 assists, 4 steals and two blocks whereas Stewart was good for 20 factors, eight boards, six helpers and 5 swipes. New York maintained its spot in second place based mostly on profitable proportion.

Jewell Loyd posted 27 factors in defeat.

Dallas Wings over Washington Mystics, 89-72