Rhyne Howard will not play Sunday when the Atlanta Dream meet the Las Vegas Aces in Atlanta, after being ruled out and placed in concussion protocol. A source with knowledge of the situation said Howard’s concussion happened earlier in the week, leaving the Dream without one of their most important scorers for a 1:30 p.m. ET matchup that already carried real weight.
Howard played 37 minutes against the Dallas Wings on May 12, finishing with 14 points, four assists, three rebounds and one steal while shooting 21.4% from the field. The outing came after she opened the season with steady production, averaging 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and two steals over the first two games.
Her absence lands at a difficult moment for Atlanta, which enters Sunday on a two-game win streak after a 19-point comeback win over the Minnesota Lynx. The Dream have found enough momentum to make the matchup matter, but now have to do it without the player who has helped set their early-season tone.
The assignment is not getting easier. The Aces are on a three-game winning streak after beating the Connecticut Sun 101-94 on May 15, when A’ja Wilson scored 45 points and Chennedy Carter added 18 off the bench. Las Vegas has also won the last five head-to-head meetings, a run that gives the visitors a clear edge even before factoring in Howard’s status.
For Atlanta, the issue is bigger than one game. Howard’s availability shapes both the matchup Sunday and the way the Dream can manage the days that follow, because concussion protocol can change quickly but cannot be rushed. That leaves the Dream facing a familiar opponent, a hot team and a short-handed lineup all at once, with little margin for error.
