Atlanta Dream Surge Late to Defeat Chicago Sky, 88–70

College Park, GA — The Atlanta Dream turned up the heat in the fourth quarter and delivered a statement win on their home floor Friday night, defeating the Chicago Sky 88-70 at Gateway Center Arena behind a record-setting performance from Rhyne Howard.

Howard was sensational, setting a new franchise record with nine made three-pointers and becoming just the fourth player in WNBA history to hit nine threes in a single game. She finished with 36 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists, fueling the Dream’s second-half surge and energizing the Atlanta crowd.

The Dream started Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Brionna Jones, and Brittney Griner—improving to 2-1 with that lineup. With the win, Atlanta improves to 2-1 in 2025 Commissioner’s Cup play, and their all-time record against Chicago moves to 27-37 overall, including 15-19 at home.

The game also had historic significance for Brittney Griner, who recorded her 823rd career block, passing Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie for second on the WNBA’s all-time blocks list. Griner added 9 points and 6 rebounds in the effort.

Brionna Jones posted her sixth double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 boards, while Allisha Gray continued her steady production with 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Jordin Canada had a season-high 12 points and 8 assists, orchestrating the offense with poise and pace.

Atlanta hit a season-high 12 three-pointers, nine of them from Howard alone. Howard also passed Layshia Clarendon for fourth on the Dream’s all-time assists list with her third assist of the game.

Canada opened the scoring with a deep three, and the Dream never looked back. The first quarter was a defensive battle, with Atlanta holding Chicago to just 12 points and forcing five turnovers. The Dream led 15-12 after one, with balanced contributions across the board.

Canada continued to shine in the second quarter, scoring and distributing at a high level. Brionna Jones found her groove in the paint with back-to-back baskets. Despite a late push from Chicago, including second-chance points and trips to the free throw line, Gray knocked down a buzzer-beater to end the half. The Dream trailed by just one, 35-34, at the break.

Atlanta came out of halftime with renewed energy. Canada and Howard connected on back-to-back threes, igniting the offense and shifting the momentum. Gray powered her way to the basket for tough finishes, and Griner’s interior defense helped slow down Chicago’s bigs. The Dream outscored the Sky 24-19 in the third quarter, heading into the final period with a 58-54 lead.

Howard took over in the fourth quarter. She knocked down two quick threes to start the period, then buried another three from well beyond the arc to send the arena into a frenzy. Atlanta went on a 19-6 run, with Howard scoring 17 points in the fourth alone—including a logo three-pointer that sealed the deal. The Dream outscored Chicago 25-9 in the final frame and closed the game on a dominant 30-9 run.

With the win, the Dream improve to 6-5 on the season and continue to build momentum in the Commissioner’s Cup standings. Coach Karl Smesko praised the team’s poise and intensity postgame, noting Howard’s leadership and shot-making as a turning point.

Next up: The Dream travel to the nation’s capital on Sunday to face the Washington Mystics, looking to carry their momentum from Friday night’s dominant performance. Tip-off is set for 2:00 PM ET as Atlanta aims to keep climbing the standings and strengthen their position in the Commissioner’s Cup race.