Glow Edges Rhythm in Thrilling 80–78 Finish Behind Mack’s Clutch Heroics

In a game that came down to the final seconds, Glow secured an 80–78 victory over Rhythm at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on Wednesday morning, delivering one of the most exciting finishes of the young season.

With 5.5 seconds remaining in regulation, forward Natasha Mack calmly knocked down the go-ahead jumper to seal the win and cap a gritty performance that showcased Glow’s resilience from start to finish.

A Back-and-Forth Battle

Neither team led by more than six points all game, and the matchup marked the 11th time in league history that a contest was decided by two points or fewer — the narrowest margin of victory this season.

Glow (1–0) trailed by one entering the fourth quarter but held Rhythm to just 17 points in the final frame. After Gardner tied the game at 78-all with 28.2 seconds remaining, Tina Charles briefly gave Rhythm the advantage from the free-throw line. But Mack responded when it mattered most, sinking the decisive basket and preserving the victory after a missed layup attempt by Rhythm in the closing seconds.

Mack Leads the Way

Making her debut as captain, Mack delivered a standout double-double performance with 14 points and a season-high 17 rebounds. She also added three blocked shots, continuing her dominance on the defensive end. Through seven games this season, Mack has recorded three or more blocks five times and now ranks second on the league’s all-time blocks list behind Emily Engstler.

Her leadership set the tone, as Glow captains improved to 14–15 all-time in their debut games over the past five seasons.

Balanced Attack Powers Glow

Glow had four players score in double figures:

• Jaylyn Sherrod led the team with a career-high 15 points and six assists, earning MVP 1 honors.

• Kayana Traylor added a season-high 15 points.

• Natasha Mack contributed 14 points and 17 rebounds.

• Sarah Ashlee Barker chipped in 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting.

Sherrod also earned a career-high 565 leaderboard points in the victory, while Mack collected 510 leaderboard points.

Glow’s balanced scoring effort proved critical in a tightly contested matchup where every possession mattered.

Rhythm’s Strong Showing

Despite the loss, Rhythm (0–1) showcased plenty of offensive firepower.

Rebekah Gardner paced Rhythm with 18 points, going 7-of-13 from the field and hitting three three-pointers to earn MVP 2 honors. She remains atop the overall leaderboard with 3,379 points.

Kaitlyn Chen added 14 points, while Tina Charles and Emma Cannon each scored 12. Zia Cooke contributed 11 points off the bench, extending her streak to 13 consecutive games in double figures dating back to the 2024 season.

Gardner and Cannon both recorded double-digit scoring performances for the sixth time in seven games this season.

Notable Milestones

• Glow improved to 6–1 on the season and has now won five consecutive games.

• Rhythm remains the only winless team in the league after falling to 0–7.

• Barker has scored 10 or more points in six straight games after opening the season with six points.

• Mack has recorded 15 or more rebounds in three of her first seven games this season.

What’s Next

Glow returns to action Friday, February 20 against Eclipse (6:30 p.m. CT), looking to extend its winning streak and continue climbing the standings.

Rhythm will face Gold Rush on Friday at 9 p.m. ET as they aim to capture their first win of the season.

If Wednesday’s thriller is any indication, Glow’s combination of clutch shot-making, interior dominance, and balanced scoring will make them a formidable force moving forward.