Atlanta Dream's Karl Smesko breaks WNBA record for most wins by a first-year head coach

Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko gestures in the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever in Indianapolis, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, file)

COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (AP) — Rhyne Howard scored 18 points, Allisha Gray added 15 and Atlanta beat the Connecticut Sun 87-62 on Monday night, giving the Dream’s Karl Smesko a WNBA-record 29 wins for the most by a first-year coach.

Atlanta (29-14), which won its fifth straight game, moved past Last Vegas (28-14) for sole possession of second place. The Dream close the regular season on Wednesday at Connecticut.

Atlanta led 45-40 late in the first half before Saniya Rivers banked in a long 3-pointer for Connecticut just before the halftime buzzer. The Dream’s lead was just 52-49 with 5:56 left in the third quarter before closing on a 16-3 run for a 16-point advantage.