Atlanta Dream head coach Tanisha Wright is demanding more of her team. “No matter what the score looks like, no matter how well we’re playing, you continue to speak about things we need to show consistency in,” says Wright. The team is listening and responding with back-to-back wins.
All-Star Allisha Gray started today’s game right where she left off Friday with quick points and a drawn foul in the paint. Her teammates Rhyne Howard and Nia Coffey also brought their offense by wracking up 17 and 8 points, respectively. The Dream withstood an offensive barrage by the Sparks, who got nearly every basket they wanted early on. But, the difference in the quarter is communication. The team leads by six as the quarter closes.
The Los Angeles Sparks answer with some quick buckets after several Dream turnovers. Allisha Gray cannot keep the trajectory she created Friday, but she is all over the floor and continues to chip away. After a quick Los Angeles timeout, Rhyne Howard is on fire, shooting 80% from the field, 50% from three-point land, and letting the WNBA know how she feels about her All-Star Snub. Even Howard is laughing as she shoots another three-pointer and is up to a staggering 25 points – the most by an player in the first half in team history. The Dream lead 54-48 at halftime.
The third quarter starts with more intensity from the Dream, with Cheyenne Parker driving the ship defensively. This energy helps to jumpstart the team’s offense. Parker, Coffey, and Robinson add more to the stat sheet as the Sparks attempt to stop the Dream; however, it’s not enough. The team is hot, playing sweltering defense and making some impressive shots. Rhyne Howard is up to a career-high of 35 points to the surprise of no one. It’s raining swagger and points as the quarter ends with the Dream leading 80-69.
Allisha Gray is still hanging around and adding buckets, but the bench has its say in the party. Monique Billings is awake and adding two baskets, plus drawing a foul. Rookies Haley Jones and Laeticia Amihere are all over the floor, adding production and hard defensive stops. Rhyne Howard is playing otherworldly, with 43 points from all over the floor – landing her 13th all-time in the WNBA for points in a game and a career-high. The Dream cruise to a win, over the Sparks, (112-84), scoring the most points in a game in franchise history.
The Dream play the Los Angeles Sparks again in Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 5.
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