Rhyne Howard doesn’t always need things to go her way to make an impact in the game, and this time, she didn’t need both shoes to put the Washington Mystics in trouble. In fact, Angel Reese’s teammate, instead, turned losing a shoe into one of the most memorable moments from Game 1.
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During the fourth quarter, with 6:55 on the clock and the Atlanta Dream leading 74-61, Howard brought the ball up the court on the team’s offensive possession. She was picked up by the Mystics’ Cotie McMahon. Using a screen from teammate Madina Okot, Howard drove into the paint, losing a shoe while being fouled by McMahon.
Impressively, Howard still made the layup and walked over to her team’s bench, which had stood up, to celebrate. Angel Reese then walked up to Howard, chest-bumping her, then shouting words of encouragement in a great display of team chemistry. The exchange was caught on the broadcast and was clipped and reposted on Instagram by B/R W Sports.
It was a fitting sequence for Howard, who had spent much of the 92-77 win making life difficult for the Mystics. Howard finished the night with a game-high 26 points on 7-for-18 shooting and 10 made free throws, while also adding five steals.
Angel Reese had a difficult offensive night as she scored 13 points on just 4-for-15 shooting, but made an impact on the boards and on the defensive end, finishing with 12 rebounds, two steals, and a block.
The most important part of the loss for the Mystics was the 22 turnovers they committed, which Atlanta turned into 27 points, coming back from an 11-point deficit to eventually take the first game of the series.
The moment between Reese and Howard was also significant because they have established themselves as one of the best duos in the league this season, even being named to the Associated Press All-AP Second Team together, the first pair of Dream teammates to do so. Reese was also named the AP Defensive Player of the Year.
Fans also quickly took notice of the play and flooded the comment section of the B/R W Sports post with reactions.
Angel Reese and Rhyne Howard Have Atlanta Fans Dreaming Big
Fans quickly took to the comments when the clip of Howard’s play surfaced online, with many praising Atlanta’s new young core for their resilience and tough play.
One such fan highlighted how Angel Reese’s offseason addition has brought things together for the Dream.
“Angel really woke up the killer in Rhyne,” the fan wrote.
Reese came to the Dream from the Chicago Sky in perhaps the biggest trade of the offseason, and it led to Atlanta creating a formidable core for any team to contend with, despite them having the same number of regular-season wins they achieved last season.
Another fan saw this as a sign of things to come, declaring that the Dream could be well on their way to reaching the top of the league.
“Dream might get there first chip. 😮💨,” their comment read.
There was another layer to the moment, with McMahon’s particularly hard defense becoming a playful topic for Dream fans to poke fun at, considering that she perhaps crossed the line into fouling, and even caused a shoe malfunction.
“Cotie needs to go coach Defense in the NFL!” the post read.
Some fans saw Reese’s part in the celebration of Howard’s tough bucket as a standout moment, with one user pointing out how she suddenly walked into frame and chest-bumped Howard as somewhat humorous.
“😂😂😂why angel push her like that at the end tho s*** fried me,” the fan’s comment read.
Finally, one fan clearly summed up their take on Reese’s involvement with the dynamics of the Dream, and how she slots into their plans.
“Angel really the leader of the team,” the user wrote.
Now, with the two sides heading to Washington for Game 2, only time will tell if the Dream can close the series out with a win.