Dream shocks Fever

In the game of the night, Rhyne Howard hit the go-ahead free throw with 9.1 seconds left, and the Atlanta Dream held off a stirring fourth-quarter rally led by Caitlin Clark, as the Atlanta Dream beat the Indiana Fever 91-90 on Tuesday night.

In the fourth quarter, Clark sparked the Fever with two of her signature deep 3-pointers. She finished with 27 points and 11 assists.   Aaliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell each scored 24 points for the Fever (1-1), who trailed 76-65 entering the fourth quarter.  Boston, who also had 10 rebounds, made a free throw to give Indiana a 90-89 advantage with 21.7 seconds left — its first lead since 2-0.

When Rhyne Howard put the Dream back on top, Natasha Howard had two chances to win the game, but Nia Coffey blocked her first shot near the rim.  Howard chased down the rebound, but her 12-foot jumper clanked off the rim.

Brittney Griner scored 21 points in her first victory with the Dream (1-1), and Howard made four 3-pointers and scored 20. Brionna Jones added 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Allisha Gray had 16 points and six assists.

This victory provided a significant morale boost for the Dream early in the season, showcasing their resilience in close games. It demonstrated their ability to perform under pressure, particularly highlighting Rhyne Howard's clutch performance. The win could serve as a catalyst for building team chemistry and confidence as they look to improve their standing in the league.

The teams will play again Thursday night in Atlanta.