REPORTS: Former UConn women’s great carrying a Dream load; Superstar earns Cup MVP

Top scorer Rhyne Howard is sidelined indefinitely due to an ankle injury, heightening the importance of veteran Tina Charles for the Atlanta Dream, who are striving to stay competitive in the WNBA playoff race. Charles, a former standout at UConn and MVP, is crucial in bolstering the Dream’s offense, which ranks last in the league in points per game, field-goal percentage, and assists.

Coach Tanisha Wright and the struggling Dream (6-9), who have lost three consecutive games and five of their last six, are relying heavily on Charles’ seasoned leadership. Charles, poised to enter the league’s top three all-time scorers, has stepped up since Howard, the team’s leading scorer, injured her ankle last week.

Howard, a two-time All-Star and 2022 rookie of the year, was averaging 15.4 points per game before her injury. Her return timetable remains uncertain, casting doubt on her participation with the United States’ 3×3 team at the Paris Olympics.

Charles, a decorated player with eight All-Star selections and numerous accolades, including leading the league in rebounds and scoring, acknowledges the WNBA’s evolving talent, including rising stars like Atlanta’s Caitlin Clark. Clark’s recent game in Atlanta drew a record crowd to State Farm Arena, underscoring the league’s growth.

Despite Atlanta’s recent struggles, Charles, who contributed 24 points in a recent loss, remains optimistic about her first season with the Dream, emphasizing the team’s potential and her reunion with coach Wright, a former teammate.

Meanwhile, in other WNBA news, Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx captured their first Commissioner’s Cup championship, signaling their championship aspirations for the season ahead.