What happened

Howard lifted the Dream to a 1-0 series lead in Game 1 with a game-high 26 points. She added five steals and two 3-pointers in a complete two-way showing. She became the second player in franchise history with a 25-5 playoff game.

Atlanta moved ahead 1-0 behind Howard's game-high output. The two 3-pointers extended the scoring line while the five steals anchored the defensive end. That balance defined Game 1 for the Dream.

Howard's 26 points led all scorers in Game 1. That top-line production paired with defensive activity proved decisive. It was the performance that lifted Atlanta to the series lead.

Why it matters

The five steals marked a postseason statement for Howard. That two-way output set the tone for the series ahead. Playoff openers reward players who control both ends, and Howard did exactly that.

Becoming the second player in franchise history with a 25-5 playoff game places Howard in rare company. The milestone underscores how difficult it is to pair a game-high scoring total with five steals. It also frames Game 1 as a historically significant Dream playoff performance.

A 1-0 series lead changes the math of a series. Atlanta now moves forward with momentum and the knowledge that its lead scorer also set the defensive standard. That combination is difficult to answer across a series.

By the numbers

Howard finished with 26 points, the game-high total in Game 1. She added five steals, the postseason two-way marker at the center of the night. She also hit two 3-pointers to complete the line.

The combined 25-5 output made Howard the second player in franchise history with a 25-5 playoff game. That history explains why the performance stands out beyond a single 1-0 lead. It was production and disruption in one line.

What to watch next

Game 2 comes next with Atlanta ahead 1-0. The focus will be whether Howard can again pair a game-high scoring threat with five-steal disruption. That two-way output set the tone in Game 1 and remains the standard for the series ahead.

For the Dream, the task is to build on a Game 1 lifted by Howard's 26 points, five steals and two 3-pointers. Another 25-5 level showing would reinforce the franchise-history significance. At minimum, Atlanta carries the advantage of a 1-0 series lead into Game 2.