April 12, 2022 (New York) – 2022 No. 1 WNBA Draft pick Rhyne Howard and WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Photo: WNBA Enterprises, LLC.
The Top Three Go as Predicted
Kentucky guard Rhyne Howard heard her name called as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft Monday night in New York City. The Atlanta Dream selected the two-time SEC Player of the Year and Kentucky’s all-time top three-point shooter.
“Rhyne is a versatile wing who can score the ball in a variety of ways,” Dream general manager Dan Padover said. “Her athleticism and basketball IQ will be the backbone of her future success in this league. She’s a great kid from nearby, and we think she will be a key piece for the future of this basketball team.”
In her first interview as a pro, the 6-2 phenom said she wanted to bring her “competitive spirit and the will to never give up and always fight” to the Dream, as well as her ability to “maintain my composure and stay calm, cool, and collected.”
“I think that’s what really helped me to become successful, and I just really want to have an impact on the team, like when I get there, and just continue to make everyone better.”
Over her college career, Howard averaged 20.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 33 minutes per game.
“Rhyne is a special talent with a multi-faceted skillset. She’s going to be a great addition to our team,” Dream head coach Tanisha Wright said. “She has a quiet competitiveness that I love, and I think the level of play in our league will bring something special out of her, which I’m really excited to see.”
Smith and Austin Round Out the Top Three
The Indiana Fever chose Baylor forward NaLyssa Smith with their second overall pick. Smith, a two-time Big 12 Player of the Year, averaged 15.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per contest during her college campaign and 22.1 points plus 11.5 rebounds per game her senior year.
“NaLyssa will have an immediate impact on the Indiana Fever…
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