Rhyne Howard faces challenge as Dream trail WNBA Finals

Rhyne Howard is under pressure to improve her shooting as the Atlanta Dream trail the Golden State Valkyries 1-0 in the WNBA Finals. The Dream lost the opening game 68-64 on 17 October, and Howard's shooting struggles have contributed to the team's deficit in the best-of-five series.

Atlanta Dream currently top the WNBA standings with 30 wins and 14 losses from 44 games, maintaining a strong goal difference of +302. Their recent form before the finals included four wins in five matches, with the only loss being the narrow defeat to the Valkyries in the first final game.

The Dream will look to level the series in Game 2 on 20 October against the Valkyries. Success in this match is crucial to keep their championship hopes alive and to avoid falling further behind in the series.

Golden State Valkyries hold a 1-0 lead after their victory in the first final game. The Dream must overcome Howard's shooting slump and leverage their strong season form to challenge the Valkyries in the upcoming fixture.

Atlanta Dream's recent results include wins against the New York Liberty and Washington Mystics, showing resilience and scoring ability. However, they will need to replicate this performance in the finals to bounce back and extend the series beyond Game 1.