Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard set a WNBA record by scoring 36 points in her playoff debut, a 94-82 loss to the Dallas Wings on Friday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Howard broke the record previously held by Candice Dupree, who scored 32 points during her playoff debut with the Phoenix Mercury in 2010.
- The first-round game between Atlanta and Dallas is just the fifth WNBA postseason game to feature two players scoring 30-plus points, per Across the Timeline. Wings forward Satou Sabally finished with 32 points.
- The 23-year-old Howard — who recorded 19 points in the first quarter alone — is the youngest player in WNBA history with a 30-point playoff game, per ESPN Stats & Info.
History maker ✅@howard_rhyne has now dropped 34 PTS and sets a new record for points in a WNBA playoffs debut, previously held by Candice Dupree’s 32 PTS in 2010
2023 #WNBAPlayoffs | @Google pic.twitter.com/vTds0BgQVa
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 16, 2023
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
Howard carried the Dream
In the first playoff game of her WNBA career, the 2022 Rookie of the Year was ready to go from the jump. Howard got to the basket for her first bucket at the 8:44 mark and continued to light it up for the remainder of the first quarter — and for most of the night. She hunted her shot…
