Rhyne Howard and Paige Bueckers Lead Teams to WNBA Playoff Tournament Semifinals

The Atlanta Dream and Dallas Wings have advanced to the semifinals of the WNBA’s 3×3 Unrivaled league, setting the stage for exciting matchups at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Monday evening. The championship game will be held on Wednesday in Miami, with $600,000 at stake for the winning team.

Dream Secure Playoff Spot, Howard Sets Record

The Atlanta Dream clinched a playoff spot with a dominant 100-78 victory over the Dallas Wings on Friday, August 29, 2025. Rhyne Howard led the Dream with a game-high 24 points, six 3-pointers, and a career-high six blocks, becoming the first player in WNBA history to achieve both six blocks and six 3-pointers in a single game . Howard likewise contributed five assists, four rebounds, and one steal.

The Dream currently hold a record of 25-14, placing them at No. 3 in the standings .

Bueckers and Wings Fall, But Show Promise

Despite the loss, Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers showcased her talent with 29 points in the quarterfinal matchup against Breeze . Dominique Malonga added 14 points and 17 rebounds for Breeze. The Wings finished the season with a record of 9-31, the worst in the league , but Bueckers remains the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award .

Semifinal Matchups

The semifinals will feature the following matchups:

• Vinyl (Rhyne Howard and the Dream) vs. Phantom (Kelsey Plum and Aliyah Boston)
• Breeze (Dominique Malonga and Paige Bueckers) vs. Mist (Allisha Gray and Breanna Stewart)

Howard and Bueckers Share Respectful Moment

Following the game between the Wings and Dream, Paige Bueckers and Rhyne Howard shared a warm postgame exchange , demonstrating sportsmanship between the two rising stars.