Rhyne Howard Calls Out Dream Fans for A’Ja Wilson ‘MVP’ Chants

Howard commented that fans of the South Carolina Gamecocks can support players on the Atlanta Dream, but she criticized the home crowd for cheering against the Dream in a recent game, which she felt contributed to their loss.

The Atlanta Dream have undergone a major turnaround this WNBA season, improving from finishing 10 games below .500 last year to currently being 10 games above .500 with two weeks left, attributed to hiring head coach Karl Smesko and adding veteran players.

Despite this progress, the Dream face challenges as an independent team without a championship in franchise history, exemplified by a recent loss to the Las Vegas Aces, who used a 21-6 third-quarter run to secure the win and move ahead in the standings.

During the game, Las Vegas star A'ja Wilson received "MVP" chants from Atlanta fans, which Howard stated fueled the Aces' surge and made it feel like an away game for the Dream, undermining their momentum.

Howard explained that fans might be cheering for Wilson due to her college background at South Carolina, but emphasized that the Dream also has former Gamecocks on their roster, such as Allisha Gray and Te-Hina Paopao, and urged consistent support for the home team.

Further context includes the Dream's arena having the smallest capacity in the WNBA, with fewer than 4,000 seats, though the team is exploring a move to a larger venue, and the ownership is not tied to an NBA team, making them one of the league's few independent franchises.