Rhyne Howard with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert Monday after being the first UK player ever picked No. 1 in the draft. (Photo by WNBA)
Rhyne Howard’s historic career at the University of Kentucky added one final accomplishment — she became the first UK player to be picked No. 1 in the WNBA draft.
The Atlanta Dream picked Howard no. 1 Monday night meaning she will play about 75 miles from her hometown in Cleveland, Tenn.
“Rhyne is a versatile wing who can score the ball in a variety of ways,” said Atlanta general manager Dan Padover. “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.”
The 6-2 Howard scored 2,290 points at UK and was a two-time Southeastern Conference Player of the Year. Howard, 21, started 114 games at UK. She was the only player in the nation last season to have over 600 points, 200 rebounds, 100 assists, 70 steals and 35 blocks. She averaged 20.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 33 minutes per game during her career.
“To go first, I don’t even have words for it right now. I’m still kind of shaking. But it is super exciting, and I’m proud of what I’ve done, proud of myself, and thankful for everyone that’s been on this journey with me and that’s helped me to get here,” Howard said after her selection. “By the end of my first season, a goal is really Rookie of the Year, but I want to be part of a winning team. That’s the end goal.”
Howard did not win a regular-season SEC title at UK but did help the Cats win the SEC tourney for the first time in 40 years last season. However, she did not get to a Final Four and this year UK went out in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
She said she “blocked” out WNBA thoughts during the UK season to focus on what she could do to help UK win.
“I wanted to be there for my team and focus on where my shoes were, and I knew that wouldn’t have been possible if I was focusing on the next level, which was months to come so early,” Howard said.
“But actually it wasn’t too difficult because my teammates, like they obviously knew what the next level was, but I was like, hey, I’m here for y’all, like whatever y’all need me to do, I’ll do it, and I was just there to compete and just work with them and play with them. It was like my last year in college, so…”
Dream coach Tanisha Wright likes Howard’s “quiet competitiveness” and believes competition in the WNBA will “bring something special” out of Howard.
Howard said she met with Dream officials a few times and said she was “basically selling myself” and proving to Atlanta why she should be the No. 1 pick.
She believes her success at UK will translate to the WNBA.
“I just want to do that by my competitive spirit and the will to never give up and always fight and just maintain my composure and stay calm, cool, and collected,” Howard said. “I think that’s what really helped me to become successful and I just really want to have an impact on the team.”
“I personally do think I’m ready just because I’m so competitive. But I am ready to just keep improving on how hard I’m working, just the little things that teams are going to need. I personally think I’m very versatile, so whatever position I’m playing, I like to match for those positions, and if they need me to work on something specific, so whatever the case may be, I’m willing to do it.”
One Response
I agree she will do very well in the WNBA. It’s telling that when she played on the USA teams, she was named the MVP.