Take that.
Rhyne Howard hit six 3-pointers and scored a career-high 43 points — one shy of Atlanta’s single-game franchise record — on 14-of-20 shooting to help Dream set their single-game scoring record and the beat the Los Angeles Sparks 112-84 at home Sunday.
Howard, who was not named a WNBA All-Star last week, might have had something to say with her play on the court.
“I know what T (Dream head coach Tanisha Wright) thinks of me. I know what teammates think of me. And I know what I think of myself and the standard I have for myself. That’s just what I did tonight and I showed that,” Howard said.
Howard made 9 of 12 from the field and scored 25 points before halftime — a franchise record for points in the first half and the most points scored by a WNBA player in a half this season. Howard’s 40-point performance was the fifth in this WNBA season, single-season record. The previous high was three (2006, ‘08, ‘15).
Howard was the WBA rookie of the year last season.
This is the way Wright opened her postgame press conference: “My opening statement is Rhyne Howard is an all-star. Questions?”
Allisha Gray, one of two Dream All-Stars along with Cheyenne Parker, scored 15 points. Nia Coffey added 13 points.
Atlanta (7-8), which has won back-to-back games following a three-game skid, set a season high for points in a game and topped the 100-point plateau for the second time this season.
Nneka Ogwumike led Los Angeles (7-10) with 25 points. Dearica Hamby scored 18 with eight rebounds, Auzra Stevens added 13 points and nine boards, and Zia Cooke scored 11 points.
