Top scorer Rhyne Howard is out indefinitely with an ankle injury, making it more important for veteran Tina Charles, the former UConn great, to add punch to the Atlanta Dream’s low-scoring attack as they attempt to remain in the WNBA playoff picture.
Coach Tanisha Wright and the Dream are leaning on experienced leadership from Charles, a former MVP who is on the cusp of moving into the top three of the league’s all-time scoring list.
The Dream (6-9), who play Friday at Connecticut, have lost three straight games and five of six. Atlanta ranks last in the WNBA in points (75.9 per game), field-goal percentage and assists.
Howard, the two-time All-Star and 2022 rookie of the year, was leading the team with 15.4 points per game before hurting her left ankle last week.
The Dream have not announced a timetable for Howard’s return. It is not known if the injury could threaten her spot on the United States’ 3×3 team in the Paris Olympics.
Charles, the 2012 league MVP with Connecticut, is an eight-time All-Star who led the league in rebounds in four seasons and in scoring twice. She ranks second all-time in rebounds, trailing only Sylvia Fowles.
Charles says she applauds the league’s transition to new stars, including Howard in Atlanta, and Caitlin Clark’s national impact. Clark’s visit to Atlanta on Friday with the Indiana Fever attracted 17,575 fans to State Farm Arena, a Dream franchise record for a home game. The Fever beat the Dream 91-79, overcoming a season-high 24 points from Charles.
“I think it’s more a testament to just a new generation coming in,” Charles said of Clark. The demand for tickets led the Dream to move the game from their usual Gateway Center Arena, which has a capacity of 3,500, to the home of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks.
“You know, like I said, I’ve been in awe of Caitlin Clark and just her voice, her maturity, her professionalism and just what she’s able to generate,” Charles said. “Yeah, they’re coming out to see her, but they’re also able to come out and see us and become fans of us as well for those who are just watching the game because of her greatness. So it’s really sweet to just see how it all unfolds, the progression of the league from where it started in 2010.”
After leading Atlanta with 19 points in its 96-75 home loss to New York on Sunday, Charles is averaging 13.8 points and 8.8 rebounds. Charles said her first season in Atlanta has been “really a blessing” and she has enjoyed her reunion with Wright, her former teammate for three seasons with the Liberty, despite the team’s fall below .500.
Collier MVP as Lynx win Cup title: Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx put the WNBA on notice that they are a championship caliber team. Bridget Carleton scored 23 points and Collier, the former UConn star, added 21 to help the Lynx win their first Commissioner’s Cup championship with a 94-89 victory over the New York Liberty on Tuesday night.
“Means a lot. Testament to where we are at this season,” said Collier, who added six rebounds and was named the game’s MVP. “This is the best group. Our personalities mesh so well. Any night anyone can have 20. Bridget had an outstanding game. It’s so fun.”
The Lynx became the fourth different team to win the Cup in the event’s four-year history and continued the trend of the host team losing. New York was trying to be the first to repeat as champions after winning in Las Vegas last season.
“It’s really good, always want to win championships,” Collier said. “This is a championship we won, but there’s still work to be done. A lot of games to be played. We want to build on this. We don’t want to peak here. This is amazing at the end of the day we want to achieve bigger things than this at the end of the season.”
The game was tied at 60 late in the third quarter when Carleton and Cecilia Zandalasini hit consecutive 3-pointers to start a 10-0 run that spanned the periods.
Breanna Stewart, another former Husky, scored nine straight points to get the Liberty within 70-69, but they could never regain the lead. Courtney Williams and Carleton scored the next five points for Minnesota and New York never really threatened again.
“What I’m proud of is we answered every run on the road and that tells you everything about our basketball team,” Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said.
