Dream vs. Sun: Howard and Gray Score 29 Each as Angel Reese Breaks Franchise Single-Season Rebounding Record

Angel Reese went 3 of 13 from the field on Thursday night and still walked out of Mohegan Sun Arena with a piece of Atlanta Dream history, which tells you two things. Rebounds don't care about your jumper, and this game was never close enough for anyone to worry about it.

The Dream flattened the Connecticut Sun 104-69 behind 29 points apiece from Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. Reese's sixth board of the night, with 2:23 left in the second quarter, was her 375th of the season and broke the franchise's single-season rebounding record, a mark Tina Charles set in 2024. She finished with 15 in a game Atlanta led by as many as 37.

Howard Got Bored Early

Howard scored 10 of Atlanta's first 12 points, which was a pretty clear statement of intent. The Sun did hold a two-point lead at one stage, their biggest of the night, and that was the end of the good news for the home side. An 8-0 run turned 17-14 into 25-14, and it was 28-17 after one.

By halftime Howard had 23, Gray had 12, and Atlanta led 51-32 with 11 of its 15 first-half field goals assisted. The ball movement looked like a drill you run for visiting recruits. Connecticut, meanwhile, was about to find out how much worse this could get.

Whatever hope the Sun carried into the locker room lasted about four minutes. Atlanta opened the second half on a 17-4 run that made it 68-36, and Howard's last points came on a three at 6:19 of the third for 66-36. She had already done enough. The Dream took an 81-51 lead into the fourth, Gray's three made it 88-58, and a 9-0 burst capped by Jordin Canada's 27-footer pushed it to 94-58. The remaining minutes were mostly a chance for Atlanta's reserves to log some shots, including Aaliyah Nye's three and a trio of free throws.

Twin 29s and a Record Between Them

Howard's line was close to perfect: 7 of 10 from the field, 5 of 8 from three, 10 of 11 at the line, with five rebounds, four assists, three steals and zero turnovers in 29 minutes. "Looking for quick, easy shots really got me going," she said. "Obviously, my teammates, once they realized I was hot, kept feeding me, and kept going off the ball screens."

Gray was somehow just as efficient, going 8 of 13 and 4 of 5 from deep with nine free throws to tie her season high in points. Together they went 15 of 23 from the field, 9 of 13 from three and 19 of 21 at the line. Neither needed more than 29 minutes, and nobody else on the team played more than that either.

Then there's Reese, whose night was a perfect summary of her value. Eight points on 3 of 13 is a bad shooting game by any standard. She also piled up 15 rebounds, four blocks and three steals, and the AP noted she reached that 375-rebound mark in just 32 games. You can miss 10 shots and still be the most disruptive player on the floor.

The quiet star was Canada, who scored nine with four assists and finished a staggering plus-39. Howard gave the defense the credit. "Defense gives us the confidence to get easy looks after their turnovers or their mistakes," she said. "Defense was the key tonight."

The one sour note was Brionna Jones, who played five minutes before leaving with a left leg injury, according to the team.

For Connecticut, Aaliyah Edwards scored 15 off the bench on 5 of 9 shooting and Gianna Kneepkens had 10, most of it after the result was settled. Brittney Griner went 3 of 9 for seven points and finished minus-24. The Sun actually shot 40 percent from three, but they were 13 of 50 inside the arc, and no amount of perimeter shooting fixes that.

The Four Minutes That Ended It

If you need a turning point in a 35-point game, it's that 17-4 start to the third. Connecticut was down 19 at the break, which is bad but survivable against a team that might cool off. Atlanta instead came out and tacked on 13 more in a hurry. The Sun went from needing a run to needing a miracle before the fans had settled back into their seats.

A Box Score With No Weak Spots

• 14 of 26: Atlanta from three, a season-best 53.8 percent, according to the team.
• 32 vs. 21: Free throws made by the Dream against field goals made by the Sun. Read that one twice.
• 9: Atlanta's blocks, also a season high. Connecticut shot 30 percent, the lowest the Dream have allowed this season.
• 20-12: Atlanta's edge in points off turnovers, on just 10 Connecticut giveaways.

Now Comes the Real Test

Atlanta is 21-12, 9-7 on the road, and has won two straight. This was the Dream's largest margin of victory this season, and the team now holds a 2-0 edge on the Sun this year after a 91-75 win in June. With 11 games left in the regular season, the Dream sit fourth in the overall standings and first in the East, with Indiana fifth and second. Those two meet on Sunday at State Farm Arena.

"It's a big game," coach Karl Smesko said. "Indiana's playing pretty well, and we're playing pretty well, too."

Connecticut fell to 8-24, 5-11 at home, and gets New York on Saturday.

Tutorial Level Complete

This was the opening stage of a video game, the part where the enemies politely stand still and the screen teaches you how to jump. Sunday is the boss. Naz Hillmon, on the extra gear Smesko has been hinting at for weeks, gave the right answer for a team that just won by 35. "I think we're definitely finding it," she said. Fair enough. Sunday is when Atlanta learns whether that gear still works against somebody who shoots back.

Stats from the official box score via ESPN. Postgame quotes and game notes from the Atlanta Dream. Context as reported by the Associated Press.