Indianapolis, IN – After a grueling overtime win against the Dallas Wings on Friday night, the Atlanta Dream entered their Sunday matchup against the Indiana Fever riding a wave of momentum. Rhyne Howard, who had scored 30+ points in two consecutive games, delivered yet another electrifying performance. But despite her efforts, the Dream fell short in a 104-100 overtime heartbreaker, their fourth loss to Indiana this season.
Every time the Dream and Fever meet, it’s more than just a game—it’s a battle between the last three #1 overall picks: Rhyne Howard (2022), Aliyah Boston (2023), and Caitlin Clark (2024). This dynamic trio has added a new level of excitement to their matchups, and Sunday’s game was no exception. Coming into the game, Atlanta had struggled against Indiana, losing all three previous matchups this season, including a tight 84-79 loss on August 26th. This latest defeat moved the Dream’s all-time record against the Fever to 33-31 overall, with a 13-20 mark in Indiana. However, this game showed just how competitive these two teams have become.
Rhyne Howard continued to shine, putting up a season-high 36 points along with 4 rebounds and 5 assists in 42 minutes of action. This marked her third consecutive game with 30+ points, setting a new Atlanta Dream franchise record for the most points scored over a three-game span with 96, breaking Angel McCoughtry’s previous record of 95 set in 2011. Howard’s stellar shooting also made her just the third player in WNBA history to score 30+ points and hit 4+ three-pointers in three consecutive games.
“Ryan’s playing with a ton of confidence. She’s just doing what star players do—making plays in times when you need to make plays,” the Dream’s coach remarked after the game.
Despite Howard’s heroics, Atlanta couldn’t close the deal in crucial moments. “I thought we had opportunities down the stretch throughout the game to really stamp this one,” the coach added. “But we have to use this as an opportunity to continue to learn and grow in ways to be able to finish off games.”
Much of the spotlight was on the matchup between Jordin Canada and Caitlin Clark. Though Clark finished with 26 points and 12 assists, it was no easy task, as Canada gave her fits throughout the game. Canada’s relentless pressure on Clark disrupted Indiana’s flow at key moments.
When asked about Canada’s defense, Coach Tanisha Wright said, “Yeah, the last two games I thought JC and Leash both did a great job, particularly in the second half of the last game. But this game, both of them did a really good job of staying in plays and making things tough for those two guards.”
Canada, who also contributed 17 points and 6 rebounds, proved once again why she’s one of the league’s top two-way guards, setting the tone defensively while remaining a threat on the offensive end.
At several points during the game, it looked as though Atlanta would walk away with a comfortable win. The Dream built double-digit leads thanks to veteran Tina Charles, who posted 17 points and 12 rebounds, marking her fourth consecutive double-double and her seventeenth of the season. Alongside Charles, Allisha Gray was pivotal, adding 15 points and 5 assists, helping the Dream control stretches of the game.
However, timely turnovers and missed shots down the stretch allowed the Fever to mount a comeback. “We had eight turnovers for the game, which is not a lot, but they were timely turnovers when we did have them, and I thought that really hurt us,” the coach reflected.
Indiana’s resilience was on full display, led by Aliyah Boston, who had a dominant 30-point, 13-rebound performance, along with 5 assists. Boston, the #1 overall pick in 2023, made key plays in the fourth quarter and overtime to help Indiana close out the game.
“We felt like we were right there and really played a crappy half, so I’m proud of us. I thought we chipped away, we were resilient, and we really executed when it mattered. I think we got down 14 and then we continued to find a way,” one Fever player said, reflecting on their gritty comeback.
Jordin Canada, who noted the Fever’s balanced scoring attack, gave credit to their ability to push the pace. “Their starting five is legit, and they can score at any position… they’re young, they like to push the pace, and that’s just how they’ve been playing.”
Caitlin Clark, who played all 45 minutes, echoed that sentiment: “For us, I’m really proud of us today because we were down 15 but that didn’t stop us. We came in timeouts, we talked about what we need to do, we talked about executing, making sure we’re getting stops, and then being able to score.”
Critical Moments in Overtime
The Dream’s late-game struggles were highlighted in overtime when they missed key opportunities to seal the win. Atlanta had multiple possessions to take control of the game but missed shots, including a blocked hook shot by Temi Fagbenle on Naz Hillmon, and turnovers that swung momentum in Indiana’s favor.
Aliyah Boston’s layup with 19.4 seconds remaining tied the game in regulation, sending the contest into overtime. In the extra period, Boston and Caitlin Clark, the #1 overall pick in 2024, led the Fever’s charge. Clark recorded 26 points and 12 assists, adding to the Fever’s offensive firepower. Despite Howard’s efforts to keep Atlanta close, it was the Fever’s ability to make shots under pressure that secured the victory.
Looking Ahead
As the Dream regroup from this tough loss, the team remains optimistic about what lies ahead. “We can’t have a hangover from our disappointment of losing this,” the coach said. “It doesn’t allow us to get up and prepare for the next game. I think you let it sting and let it fuel you for the next one.”
Atlanta will look to bounce back in their upcoming games, but they can take away important lessons from this hard-fought contest. With Rhyne Howard playing at an elite level, Jordin Canada anchoring their defense, and a veteran core around them, the Dream have the tools to turn things around as they continue to fight for postseason relevance.
