College Park, Ga. — Rhyne Howard delivered one of her most explosive performances of the season, pouring in 36 points and knocking down eight shots from beyond the arc as the Atlanta Dream pulled away in the second half for a 91-75 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night.
The win marked Atlanta’s fourth consecutive triumph over Connecticut and improved the Dream to 6-2 on the season.
Howard set the tone early, lighting up the scoreboard with 22 first-half points while fellow All-Star Allisha Gray added 18 before halftime. The dynamic duo accounted for 40 of Atlanta’s 50 first-half points, keeping the Dream within striking distance despite a competitive effort from the Sun.
Connecticut battled throughout the first three quarters and briefly held momentum before Atlanta seized control late in the third period. A key turning point came when Angel Reese connected on her first three-pointer as a member of the Dream, sparking a decisive 7-0 run that gave Atlanta a 68-65 advantage heading into the final quarter.
The Dream carried that momentum into the fourth, opening the period with seven unanswered points to build a double-digit lead. Connecticut’s offense then went ice cold, enduring a scoring drought that stretched more than six minutes across the third and fourth quarters.
Howard continued to bury the Sun with timely perimeter shooting, drilling her seventh three-pointer with just over three minutes remaining to push Atlanta’s lead to 80-69. Moments later, she banked in another long-range shot that effectively sealed the outcome and sent the home crowd into celebration.
Gray finished with 26 points, providing a strong complement to Howard’s offensive showcase. Reese recorded a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds, while veteran point guard Jordin Canada orchestrated the offense with 12 points and 10 assists.
Atlanta’s balanced attack connected on 14 three-pointers and showcased the offensive firepower that has made the Dream one of the league’s early surprises.
For Connecticut, rookie standout Aneesah Morrow led the way with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Saniya Rivers and Leila Lacan each contributed 11 points, while Olivia Nelson-Ododa added 10.
Despite staying competitive for much of the game, the Sun struggled to generate offense down the stretch and fell to 2-9 on the season.
Atlanta now heads on the road for a matchup against Indiana on Thursday, while Connecticut will travel to Chicago looking to bounce back on Friday.
