Rhyne Howard returned from the Paris Olympic a newly minted Bronze medalist, thanks to her performance as a member of Team USA’s 3×3 basketball team.
But, it didn’t take long for her to re-adjust to five-on-five, the form of basketball the 6 ‘2 guard is most familiar with. In an 83-81 win over the Sky on Friday night, Howard exploded for a season-high 30 point, shooting a scorching 10-16 from the field.
Howard hasn’t had the most efficient season — she’s shooting 38.6% from the field en route to 15.4 points per game. But, the 2022 Rookie of the Year hasn’t lost confidence, and it paid off in this one.
“I always say shooters shoot,” said Howard, who hit 5-9 three-pointers. “Once I see one go in, then the next couple are going to be heat checks, so they continue to go in.”
Tina Charles saved the day for the Dream
Though Howard was the game’s leading scorer, it was veteran center Tina Charles who emerged the hero.
After Dream guard Jordin Canada sunk a pair of free throws, Atlanta led by 3 with 10 seconds to play. Then, Skylar Diggins-Smith — who had a season-high 29 points — missed a three-point attempt to tie things up, but, Jewell Loyd got the rebound and hit a three of her own.
The game appeared to be headed to overtime, when Charles nailed a game-winner at the buzzer to deliver the win for Atlanta.
Charles, the third-leading scorer in WNBA history, finished the night with 16 points and 7 rebounds and was celebratory postgame.
“It was just a great feel,” Charles said. “Just a great win.”
Allisha Gray (19 points) and Naz Hillmon (13 rebounds, 6 points) were also standouts for the Dream.
Jordin Canada, who’s been out with a broken finger since July 2nd, scored 10 points, all of which came in the fourth quarter. Dream head coach Tanisha Wright praised her contributions.
“She’s somebody who has experience in this league who’s won championships in this league,” Wright said. “And so, to have somebody out there, just a floor general, that can create and find the right people at the right time, and different things like that and having experience, being able to go to her for the last shot.”
With the win, the Dream currently sit in 9th in WNBA standings, holding an 8-17 record. The playoffs are still within reach — they’re two games behind the Chicago Sky for 8th place — but Atlanta will have to string together some wins in the final 15 games of the WNBA season.
For the Storm, Skylar Diggins-Smith showed out in the loss
Diggins-Smith was aggressive from the outset and set a new season high of 29 points on 11-21 shooting. She also added 5 assists.
“I’m just trying to be aggressive for the team,” Diggins-Smith said after the game, noting she navigates a delicate balance between scoring and facilitating.
Jewell Loyd, who shot just 7-19 from the field en route to 21 points, credited Diggins-Smith for giving Seattle a fighting chance.
“Without her, we’re really not in this game,” Loyd said. “We understood that, and from the start, she was aggressive on both ends of the floor. That’s what we need from her.”
