Atlanta's superstars have historical night

Rhyne Howard set a career-high with nine 3-pointers and scored a season-high 36 points, while Brittney Griner climbed to second on the WNBA career blocks list as the Atlanta Dream defeated the Chicago Sky 88-70 on Friday night.

Howard, who didn’t score in the first quarter, came alive with 11 points in the third to help Atlanta take a 58-54 lead. She capped the quarter with a jumper and opened the fourth with a 3-pointer, extending the lead to seven. Howard later hit another 3-pointer to give Atlanta its first double-digit lead at 66-56 and spearheaded an 18-3 run with 11 points to push the lead to 79-59.

Allisha Gray contributed 15 points, seven rebounds, and five assists for Atlanta. Brionna Jones added 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Jordin Canada scored 12 points and dished out eight assists.

For Chicago, Kamilla Cardoso led with 15 points and nine rebounds. Angel Reese and Ariel Atkins each scored 12 points, with Reese also grabbing nine boards. Howard's impressive shooting performance was crucial in breaking the game open for the Atlanta Dream. Her ability to score from beyond the arc not only extended Atlanta's lead but also put pressure on Chicago's defense, forcing them to adjust their strategy. This shift allowed her teammates to find more scoring opportunities, ultimately securing the victory.