WNBA: Dream defeats Sun and coach imposes on triumphs

ByDavid Mitchell
Copiar enlace

Karl Smesko, coach of Dream, imposed a WNBA record of 29 victories, the greatest amount for a coach in his first year.

College Park, Georgia–Rhyne Howard scored 18 points, Allisha Gray added 15 and Atlanta Dream beat Connecticut Sun by 87-62 on Monday night, which gave Karl Smesko, Dream, a WNBA record of 29 victories, the greatest amount for a coach in her first year.

Atlanta (29-14), who won his fifth consecutive game, surpassed Last Vegas (28-14) to keep second place. Dream closes the regular season on Wednesday in Connecticut.

Atlanta led 45-40 at the end of the first half before Saniya Rivers scored a triple long for Connecticut just before the horn in part time. Dream’s advantage was only 52-49 with 5:56 for playing in the third quarter, before closing with a 16-3 streak for an advantage of 16 points.

Sun scored nine points in the third and 10 in the room.

Naz Hillmon scored 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and four robberies for Atlanta. Maya Caldwell added 11 points and Brittney Griner 10.

Rivers scored 16 points, Aneesah Morrow 13 points and 14 rebounds, and Tina Charles 12 for Connecticut (11-32), whose record as a visitor this season fell to 4-18.

Rivers led two triples in the first half, establishing Connecticut’s novice record with 42 triples in a single season.

David Mitchell
David Mitchell

As a passionate sports journalist with over a decade of experience, I strive to uncover the heart and soul behind every game. Supported by a dedicated team of fellow enthusiasts and storytellers, I am committed to delivering insightful and engaging content that connects fans worldwide. Together, we celebrate the victories, challenges, and unifying spirit of sports through every article we craft.