WNBA History Made as Rhyne Howard Passes Sabrina Ionescu With Record Breaking 129th Triple

· Yahoo Sports

The hardest part of chasing a record is often the stretch before the make. A player can be one shot from history, yet every miss makes that finish feel farther away.

Visit syntagm.co.za for more information.

That was the spot Rhyne Howard faced Thursday against Connecticut. The Atlanta Dream guard entered the game tied with Sabrina Ionescu’s single-season mark of 128 made 3-pointers, then watched her first eight attempts fall short before getting the shot she needed.

Rhyne Howard refused to let the misses change her night

Howard’s record chase had already become a story for the whole season, but Thursday was a different story. She didn’t make her outside shots early on, and by the fourth quarter, she was still trying to make the one shot that would let her break Ionescu’s record. 

Rhyne Howard, a two-time WNBA All-Star with the Atlanta Dream, will play for Team USA in 3×3 basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Instead of letting her missed shots bring her down, Howard kept shooting. With 6:45 left in the fourth, she finally made her 129th shot.

The reaction showed how long she had waited. Howard raised her hands as if to ask for the missed shots to stop, then sat on the bench with her head down. Her teammates gathered around her and turned it into a celebration after she left the game. 

The record came during a pretty balanced performance. Howard ended up with 10 points, eight assists, six rebounds, four steals, and one block. This milestone capped off a season filled with records. 

Howard made 100 three-pointers in just 31 games, becoming the fastest player in WNBA history to do that. Earlier in the season, she also became the youngest player in league history to reach 400 career three-pointers, doing so in 147 games.

Angel Reese trusted Rhyne Howard before the shot finally fell

Angel Reese has been showing all season that Howard should keep shooting, even if some shots don’t go in. Reese shared her thoughts after Thursday’s record was broken.

“I tell (Rhy) every time, ‘shooters shoot’. If you miss, I’m here to grab the rebound. She continues to be impressive. There’s a reason she leads the league in (3-pointers). There’s a reason you’re the best 3-point shooter in this league. Whether you’re 1-for-18 or 9-for-9, just keep shooting,” Reese said.

Jul 13, 2026; College Park, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) celebrates after a basket by guard Rhyne Howard (10) against the Los Angeles Sparks in the fourth quarter at Gateway Center Arena at College Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Her message was about more than just one record. Howard’s shooting makes her one of Atlanta’s main offensive players, and that trust helps her stay aggressive even when the game starts off rough. 

Howard has already proved that one record can lead to another. Thursday was different because her biggest shot came after a tough stretch in the game. “I’m breaking a 3-point record every year, so I expect to do that,” Howard said after the win. “It’s what I love to do, and I’ll keep doing it.” 

Sep 10, 2025; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard (10) interacts with Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles (31) as she is interviewed after a game at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

The record will be remembered, but how Howard got there might be the most interesting part of the night. She missed eight straight threes, but she kept shooting and finally made the one that put her at the top all alone. That type of moment tells the story of a shooter better than a perfect 9-for-9 performance could.

More WNBA News:

Read full story at source