Rhyne Howard is a “pro” already to ESPN analyst LaChina Robinson. (Photo by Vicky Graff)
The 2022 WNBA Draft is Monday at 7 p.m. on ESPN in New York City and one of the first names, or maybe the first name, that WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will announce is expected to be Kentucky senior Rhyne Howard.
Here is what ESPN analysts LaChina Robinson and Rebecca Lobo had to say about Howard during a WNBA teleconference Friday.
Q. You just brought up Rhyne Howard there, but I wanted to ask both of you guys about Rhyne and just as she gets ready to begin her career as a pro, where do you guys think her game is right now in terms of traits that are already at a WNBA level and where you think she could still stand to improve once she gets selected on Monday night?
LaCHINA ROBINSON: I can start with that one. Rhyne is a pro. She’s a game changer. She’s an elite talent. When you look at all the different things she can do on the basketball court, she can score it from three, she has a pull-up game, she can get to the rim. There really just isn’t anything else from a scoring standpoint that you could ask for. She doesn’t need a lot of space to get her shot off or a lot of time. That’s important for a fast-paced league like the WNBA.
As far as improvement, I think just continuing to increase her sense of urgency on the court is something that I’m definitely looking forward to. Then at the next level when you’re guarding the best players in the world, I think every rookie could stand to improve on the defensive end.
REBECCA LOBO: I’ll just add quickly, it’s so important to be able to run the pick-and-roll. Rhyne Howard showed that she is excellent in that throughout her college career. Whether it’s looking for her own shot, she’s a very good passer, her ability to find her open teammates. Because of her size, she can play multiple positions.
And yeah, same, in terms of area of improvement, can that motor go consistently and really hard every single night. But it’s going to be exciting to see what she can do surrounded by WNBA-level talent. I think everyone is kind of eager to see what that’s going to look like.
Q. With the 12 prospects who will be attending the WNBA Draft on Monday, which player do you feel is the most pro ready? And the second part of that is with Washington trading with the Atlanta Dream for that first pick, what is your order of one, two, three in the draft on Monday?
REBECCA LOBO: I can start with the second part of that question. I think one, two, three is going to look (Rhyne) Howard, (NaLyssa) Smith, Shakira Austin. It just feels like that’s what it’s going to be with the teams who are picking where they are.
Then in terms of the player who’s most pro ready, I think both of the top two, if it goes in that way. I think Rhyne Howard, in particular offensively because of her experience playing a certain style of play, her game is very pro ready, and I think NaLyssa Smith because of what she can do. Rebounding translates. Getting out in transition and running and playing hard and having a relentless motor, those are all things that are going to translate.
There will be a little bit of a learning curve, of course, as there are for all players. But I think those two immediately will have minutes, especially if they go to those two teams, where they will have a lot of opportunity to play and will have a chance to feel their way through.
