Rhyne Howard Dazzles, Lifts Dream Past Wings With All-Around Performance

COLLEGE PARK, Ga. - It's still early in the 2026 WNBA season, but the Atlanta Dream already look like a team capable of making a deep playoff run.

The Dream defeated the Dallas Wings, 86-69, on Friday, starting strong and finishing even stronger in front of a crowd of 3,626 at a sold-out Gateway Center Arena. Rhyne Howard powered the Dream (3-1) with a game-high 25 points, eight assists and four steals. Allisha Gray poured in 16 points for Atlanta, and Angel Reese added 15 points and nine rebounds.

Odyssey Sims led Dallas (3-3) with 14 points. Paige Bueckers was held to seven points and seven assists.

Reese looked more comfortable following a disappointing game against the Las Vegas Aces, in which she recorded nine points, eight rebounds and eight turnovers in 29 minutes, five days earlier.

"For me, it was just a bounce-back game. I feel like I let my team down last game, and didn't contribute in ways that I thought I could have," Reese said. "But just being able to come back to practice, still have my teammates lifting me up, having my coaches lifting me up, and having another opportunity to play in front of our fans and win this game was cool."

After being sidelined in the Dream's matchup against Las Vegas due to concussion protocol, Howard was versatile and effective in her return Friday.

"Just being able to have a game like this in the first game back is a confidence booster," Howard told reporters afterward. "Obviously, I know that the team is probably going to look to me to make easy plays for everybody, and so being able to have that presence on the court instead of just telling what I see from the sidelines, I think it helps us a lot."

Before the game, Atlanta coach Karl Smesko said he wanted Howard to facilitate and keep everyone involved upon her return. After the win, Smesko praised the three-time All-Star for her performance and impact on the team.

"Rhy had just an amazing all-around game," Smesko said. "I've seen it in training camp, all year. This has been a different approach for Rhy from the very beginning of this year, and I think we're starting to see what she is capable of becoming, and I'm just really proud of the way she played today."

Six minutes into the first quarter, the Dream had already built a 10-0 lead behind exceptional defense. Azzi Fudd finally scored Dallas' first points on a 3-pointer with 3:48 left in the quarter. The Wings would rally, taking a brief fourth-quarter lead, 64-63, with 7:35 left before the Dream responded with a 23-5 run to clinch their third win of the season.

Reese said playing with Howard has made life easier on the floor because of her vocal leadership and competitiveness.

"She can score at all levels," Reese said. "And then also on the defensive end, she brings an intensity to our team, brings everybody up and plays at a high standard every single play and every single possession. And she's just a great leader for us. I think she's an All-Star-caliber player, MVP-caliber player, and she doesn't get enough credit for it. So, I'm grateful to be on this side."

Howard smiled at Reese's comment during the postgame press conference and discussed Reese's fit four games into the season with her new team.

"[Angel] is really hard on herself. She just talked about the last game a little bit, but you know, we're going to continue to build her confidence," Howard said, avoiding eye contact with Reese, who stared at her with a smile.

"We're going to continue to let her know that we need her in every possession. I've been in her ear about just staying composed, because I know I'm going to need her in the long run, and so just making sure that she knows that and making sure that she knows her value to this team, I think, is going to be super, super key to our success in the future."

Related: 5 Bold Predictions for the Atlanta Dream's 2026 Season

Related: Chelsea Gray Comes Through in Clutch, Lifts Aces Past Dream

Copyright 2026 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.

This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 9:48 AM.