AP Checklist/Bryan Woolston
The Atlanta Dream selected Kentucky big title Rhyne Howard with the No. 1 overall steal within the 2022 WNBA draft on Monday.
WNBA @WNBA
The 2d @Howard_Rhyne heard her title called because the #1 steal within the #WNBADraft presented by @statefarm pic.twitter.com/99Y8dA25sv
Bleacher Document @BleacherReport
With the No. 1 steal within the WNBA draft, the Atlanta Dream non-public selected Rhyne Howard ⭐️
Howard’s averages at Kentucky this season:
20.5 PPG
7.4 RPG
3.3 APG pic.twitter.com/htYki8cucP
ESPN @espn
With the first steal of the 2022 #WNBADraft, the @AtlantaDream plan cease @KentuckyWBB‘s Rhyne Howard 👏 pic.twitter.com/ns6nKWg1tU
She’s the first Kentucky participant selected first overall within the WNBA draft.
SEC Community @SECNetwork
Top Cats 😼 @UKAthletics
Rhyne Howard joins an irregular neighborhood of Wildcats to be drafted No. 1 overall‼️ pic.twitter.com/uKwCgCAHHn
First-Three hundred and sixty five days authorized supervisor Dan Padover made his most aggressive plod of the offseason when Atlanta jumped to the pause of the draft, leaping ahead of the Indiana Fever.
Howard and Baylor’s NaLyssa Smith were broadly viewed because the pause two gamers within the 2022 draft class. As soon as the Dream occupied the No. 1 space, Howard modified into the firm consensus current to be the first title off the board.
Maria Martin @Ria_Martin
Right here’s the inner behold of the @AtlantaDream Struggle Room. #1 overall and they plan cease Kentucky’s Rhyne Howard. Dream GM Dan Padover asserting the steal over the phone. A truly frigid 2d for this franchise. They knew who they wanted at 1. They got her! Welcome to the A Rhyne. pic.twitter.com/DoQ3RBx3Uq
Chennedy Carter had a shining start to her WNBA profession, averaging 16.1 points and 3.4 assists via 27 games. Carter is now a member of the Los Angeles Sparks, nonetheless, following a 2021 season that seen her accumulate suspended by the Dream for habits detrimental to the crew.
Courtney Williams, a 2021 All-Star who led the crew with 16.5 points per sport, returned to the Connecticut Solar this offseason as properly.
That left Atlanta in need of a younger scorer to lead the offense in 2022 and beyond.
Howard averaged 20.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists as a senior for the Wildcats. She shot 44.1 percent from the discipline and displayed lawful fluctuate (38.3 percent on threes). Per Her Hoop Stats, she averaged 1.12 points per scoring strive and ranked 10th in Division I in offensive gain shares (8.5).
buckets @buckets
the chip on rhyne howard’s shoulders paid off. high steal within the wnba draft pic.twitter.com/BpBbkY4fIS
The 6’2″ guard shall be a lawful fit alongside Aari McDonald.
For the Dream, languishing in mediocrity would’ve been better than what they persisted following a 23-gain season in 2018. Atlanta blended to gain 23 games between 2019 and 2021 and had to handle a reputedly no longer at all-ending series of off-court strife.
Poaching Padover, a two-time WNBA govt of the Three hundred and sixty five days, used to be a tone-setter, though.
A rebuild might furthermore no longer happen in a single day. The Dream non-public four gamers underneath contract beyond this coming Three hundred and sixty five days, illustrating how the group is in a transitional length. Padover will non-public a ton of salary-cap space in 2023 with which to construct up fast upgrades to the roster.
Deciding on Howard is step one in Atlanta’s quest for a first-rate-ever WNBA title.
