Rhyne Howard Outduels Paige Bueckers, Breaking WNBA Record in Battle of No. 1 Picks

With the 2025 WNBA regular season winding down, the playoff picture is starting to take shape. Some teams have clinched playoff spots while others have been eliminated from contention. But that hasn't stopped teams in both positions from running out their regular starting lineups, putting forth their best efforts on a nightly basis.

Friday night's matchup between the Atlanta Dream and Dallas Wings fit right into this category. The Dream have clinched a playoff spot, currently sitting at No. 3 in the standings with a record of 25-14. On the other hand, the Wings have been eliminated from the playoffs with a record of 9-31 (worst record in the league).

These circumstances didn't stop each team from running out their star players which includes two former No. 1 overall picks. The Wings, Paige Bueckers was the first pick in this year's draft, and despite her team's lack of success, remains the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award.

As for Rhyne Howard, the first overall pick by the Dream in 2022, she continues to shine as one of the more unheralded stars in the WNBA. Howard won the Rookie of the Year award, and has been named an All-Star in three of her four seasons in the league.

On Friday, Howard would not only outduel Bueckers, but would set a new WNBA record along the way.

Howard had six blocks and also made six 3-pointers against the Wings. As per @statmuse on X, she is the first player in WNBA history to accomplish this feat in a single game.