Dream Coach Defends Shocking Rhyne Howard Decision Amid Historic Game

The Atlanta Dream secured a significant victory over the LA Sparks on Friday night, extending their winning streak to four games and improving their season record to 28-14. The win was dominant, with a final score of 104-85, achieved despite the absence of superstar guard Allisha Gray.

In Gray's absence, star guard Rhyne Howard delivered an exceptional performance, scoring 37 points, along with five rebounds and six assists. She shot 13-26 from the field and 9-17 from three-point range, tying the WNBA single-game record for most three-pointers made. This marked the fifth instance in league history a player reached this mark, but Howard became the first to achieve it multiple times and twice in one season.

Howard had the opportunity to break the record with a tenth three-pointer but went 0-3 from deep in the fourth quarter. Despite being close to making history, head coach Karl Smesko pulled the starters, including Howard, with over a minute left due to the large lead. Smesko later explained he was unaware of Howard nearing the record and admitted he might have kept her in the game if he had known, though he acknowledged her performance had cooled off by the final quarter.

Ultimately, it was a historic night for Howard and the Dream, highlighting her record-tying achievement and the team's strong season performance.