5 Things I Like

Who else but Nneka Ogwumike to finish out another exciting week of action in the WNBA?
After the New York Liberty clinched another Commissioner’s Cup appearance &#8211; their 3rd in four seasons &#8211; they skidded to the end of this week and were the victim of an Ogwumike game-winner on the road. It was an excellent way to end an exciting, nostalgia-filled contest as the league celebrated its inaugural tip-off between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Liberty, with multiple appearances by retired players from both franchises, archival footage throughout the game, and, finally, a buzzer-beater. 
It was the great cap off to a week that featured this clutch moment, the Atlanta Dream remaining a force, the Minnesota Lynx continuing to roll, the Washington Mystics pulling off two upsets, and Marina Mabrey doing Marina Mabrey things. 
<hr />
<h2>Sparks Snag Victory Over Liberty in 30th Anniversary Celebration</h2>
<div id="attachment_264349" style="width: 2010px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-264349" class="wp-image-264349 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/Thumbnail-2026-06-23T132230.519.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/Thumbnail-2026-06-23T132230.519.png 2000w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/Thumbnail-2026-06-23T132230.519-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/Thumbnail-2026-06-23T132230.519-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/Thumbnail-2026-06-23T132230.519-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/Thumbnail-2026-06-23T132230.519-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />The Los Angeles Sparks</div>
Appearances from Rebecca Lobo, Lisa Leslie, DeLisha Milton-Jones, and many other WNBA legends were a wonderful addition to what ended up being a fun one late in Los Angeles. Rae Burrell had 19 points off the bench, while Ogwumike paced all scorers with 24 in a big win for a Western Conference team just trying to stay afloat. 
With the buzzer beater, Ogwumike picked up her 3rd go-ahead shot in the last five seconds of a contest in her Sparks tenure &#8211; both from this season and her previous stop with the team &#8211; which is a franchise record. She surpassed Candace Parker with the bucket, adding even more flare to the make. 
“I’ve been with the Sparks for so long…it’s emotional seeing all these legends in the building, people who didn’t get paid their value who are still coming here supporting us. I’m so grateful,” said Ogwumike, through tears, in her postgame interview following her game-winner. 
It was an emotional contest filled with bittersweet and simply sweet memories for the league and its legends. Ogwumike is already a legend, but she added another page to her story in this contest.
<hr />
<h2>Dream Rolled Against Fever</h2>
As the Fever continue to try to find their footing defensively this season and figure out a proper order of operations for their top-heavy offense, the Dream seem to have found their place as a genuine contender in the Eastern Conference. These two teams clashed twice this week, and Atlanta snagged victories in both games. In their final game of this week, the Dream held the Fever to under 100 points. In that same game, Atlanta also broke their franchise record for most points scored in a game with 113. 
Angel Reese has been the leading force for the Dream so far over this recent stretch of dominant play, posting double-doubles as if it’s as easy as breathing. Her hitting her 1,000th career rebound in the Dream’s second win over Indiana this week just added to the sensational stat lines she’s been piecing together as of late. 
Consistent contributions from a healthy Jordin Canada, in addition to the clutch play of both Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray, have placed Atlanta right in the conversation with the Las Vegas Aces, Lynx, and Liberty ahead of this Fall’s postseason.
<hr />
<h2>Reeve Within Reach of Regular-Season Win Record</h2>
The Lynx began this year without Napheesa Collier and have still remained a force in the league despite that. Obviously, excellent play from rookie Olivia Miles, veterans Courtney Williams and Natasha Howard, Kayla McBride, and Nia Coffey has helped propel them to the top of the standings in her absence, but Reeve plays a humongous role in this effort. 
Reeve did not manage to get a win over the Mystics on Minnesota’s Pride Night,<a href="https://www.fox9.com/sports/cheryl-reeve-after-lynx-pride-night-loss-we-shouldve-done-gays.amp"> much to her joking chagrin</a>, but the Lynx did secure a victory over the Golden State Valkyries and Sparks prior to that loss. She’s at 364 regular-season wins over her career and could break former Connecticut Sun and Mystics head coach Mike Thibault’s record (379) very, very soon.
<hr />
<h2>Mystics Post Two Upset Wins Over Liberty, Lynx</h2>
<div id="attachment_264350" style="width: 2010px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-264350" class="wp-image-264350 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/Thumbnail-2026-06-23T132704.532.png" alt="" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/Thumbnail-2026-06-23T132704.532.png 2000w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/Thumbnail-2026-06-23T132704.532-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/Thumbnail-2026-06-23T132704.532-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/Thumbnail-2026-06-23T132704.532-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/Thumbnail-2026-06-23T132704.532-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" />The Washington Mystics</div>
Just when you think the Mystics are about to enter the doldrums again, they rope you back in with two victories over contenders in Minnesota and New York. They did this behind huge games from Sonia Citron, with the wing averaging 18.5 points per game across those two contests, in addition to eight assists and five steals in the team’s win over the Liberty.
Of note, rookie Cotie McMahon also had 15 points off the bench for the Mystics in their win over Minnesota &#8211; she outscored the Lynx’s entire bench. 
We all know the future is very bright in Washington. Citron, Kiki Iriafen, Georgia Amoore, and Shakira Austin all form a core that could very well be contending in the next few years as the rest of the league’s current star power gets older. But they’re struggling to find consistency. These two wins could stand to push them into a nice groove that propels them up the standings ahead of this year’s All-Star break.
<hr />
<h2>Mabrey’s Career-High Adds Notch to Early Tempo Tenure</h2>
Marina Mabrey has been sensational since landing with the Tempo in the expansion draft this past offseason, and her career-high 37-point explosion against her former team, the Sun, was just more proof that Toronto’s selection of her is paying off. 
Mabrey is shooting just over 39 percent from the three-point range this season, which is the third-best clip of her career. She hit nine three-pointers in the Tempo’s weekend win over the Sun, which helped them to complete a comeback against a struggling Connecticut squad. 
The light has always been green for Mabrey, who is now playing for her sixth team in eight seasons. But she’s the leader of a young backcourt in Toronto now, and she’s never seen the hoop look so enticing. Utilizing the gravity of Brittney Sykes (when healthy), Kiki Rice (when healthy), and Maria Conde is only going to make her a scarier scorer.

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5 Things I Like: Week Six 2026

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Atlanta Dream Top Plays vs. Indiana Fever

Fantastic Finishes

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WILD ENDING: Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream 06/18/2026

Top Plays 2026

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Top Plays of the Day, 06/18/2026

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Atlanta Dream Top Plays vs. Toronto Tempo

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Top Plays of the Day, 06/14/2026

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WILD ENDING: Chicago Sky vs. Atlanta Dream (06/09/2026)

As expected, the tip-off to Commissioner’s Cup action has brought potential contenders to the forefront of the league. The Minnesota Lynx, sans Napheesa Collier, continued to thrive this week, while the New York Liberty currently lead the way in the Eastern Conference through one week of the Cup following an up-and-down start to their season. 
The standings have the Lynx with the largest point differential in the Cup through one week (+57), but the Dallas Wings are on their tail with a 2-0 record in Cup play and a 31+ point differential. The Liberty only have a +23 differential, while the Atlanta Dream sit behind them in wins but have a greater point differential (+36). 
These are the five things that really popped off the screen for me through this first week of Cup action. 
<hr />
<h2>Shepard Continues to Shine</h2>
<div id="attachment_262969" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-262969" class="wp-image-262969" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2279479823-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2279479823-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2279479823-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2279479823-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2279479823-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2279479823-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2279479823-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />Jessica Shepard #32 of the Dallas Wings</div>
Not many could’ve seen Shepard being one of the best free agent signings from the 2026 season. 
 
The former Minnesota Lynx forward had always shown flashes of being a threat as a facilitator and rebounder, but not to the extent that she’s showing it off with the Dallas Wings in 2026. She’s averaging 11.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists in addition to 13.5 points per game, and through the Wings’ current Cup run and winning streak, she has been leading the Wings in rebounds. 
It helps that Shepard is surrounded by shooting threats Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, and Arike Ogunbowale. She is free to roam thanks to the gravity that they attract, and it’s made even easier for Shepard when teams are giving attention to Dallas’ other frontcourt threat in Alanna Smith. She finally has the range to lead a team’s frontcourt in general and to shine with a young, up-and-coming group as a passer and defender. 
<hr />
<h2>Rhyne’s Electric Kick-off to the Cup</h2>
Howard took a while to get into a groove to begin the year for the Atlanta Dream, but she exploded for 36 points in the Dream’s first win of the Cup. Her 42 percent shooting from deep in their opening game against the Connecticut Sun helped Atlanta to set the tone for what’s currently their winning point differential in the Eastern Conference. 
Howard’s aggressiveness as a scorer is going to make or break Atlanta’s chances in a tight Eastern Conference overall. Between her and Allisha Gray, the Dream have enough perimeter firepower to force teams to respect the perimeter defensively, leaving players like Angel Reese and Madina Okot open in the post. In their loss to the Indiana Fever, Howard only took nine shots and five three-pointers- that’s simply not enough. 
The win over the Sun and Howard’s hand in it showed exactly what she has to offer as one of the league’s most valuable wings. 
<hr />
<h2>Aces Beginning to Roll</h2>
<div id="attachment_262968" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-262968" class="wp-image-262968" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2280624789-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="658" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2280624789-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2280624789-300x220.jpg 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2280624789-1024x749.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2280624789-768x562.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2280624789-1536x1124.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2026/06/GettyImages-2280624789-2048x1499.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" />A&#8217;ja Wilson #22 and Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces</div>
Jackie Young is an underrated cog in the machine that has been the Aces since 2019. When the guard is aggressive &#8211; just as Howard must be &#8211; it’s difficult to defend Las Vegas’ starting lineup. It’s death by a thousand cuts. If you double Young or Gray, they can both make you pay with drives and kick-outs to the perimeter, and A’ja Wilson lurks from all three levels as a threat. 
Young has been a big spark so far in Las Vegas’ Cup run, nearly recording a triple-double in their first Cup game against the Los Angeles Sparks with 16 points and nine assists, and hitting 27 points on 75 percent three-point shooting along with five rebounds and five assists in their second contest against the Golden State Valkyries. 
Her two-way prowess is beginning to rear its head again at the best time for Las Vegas, which is the third-best three-point shooting team in the league over the last five games and the third-best facilitating team in the league over that same stretch. A ton of that has to do with Young’s resurgence. 
<hr />
<h2>Minnesota Firing on All Cylinders Behind Miles</h2>
Olivia Miles’ circus assists and top-line defense have really begun to extend beyond a Rookie of the Year campaign. At this point, it might be fair to ask when Miles should enter the All-WNBA conversation in Year 1 as a first-team member. 
Without Collier, Minnesota has managed to snag a humongous point differential thanks to Miles’ team-leading 6.4 assists per game and 17.2 points per game. The rookie is not playing like one, and that’s a huge compliment. Behind her play, the team has dominated two of its three Cup games so far. 
Defensively, Miles continues to lead the league in defensive win shares. She stays with her assignment with seeming ease on defense, and her active hands become a huge problem when considering the threat she poses in transition alongside Courtney Williams. 
Minnesota is going to be dangerous if they manage to get Collier back by the time they could compete for the Cup championship. 
<hr />
<h2>Sykes Providing Tempo with momentum </h2>
While the Toronto Tempo might not be getting as much shine as the Portland Fire this season, with the Fire having a ton more high-octane wins this year, the Tempo are clearly beginning to find their footing thanks to their experienced coaching and their stars. Sykes has taken the reins recently for Toronto, averaging 17.4 points per game over their last five contests and scoring 25 against the Chicago Sky in a critical Eastern Conference matchup in Cup play. Her defense and rebounding have also been key to Toronto staying afloat. 
While Toronto figures out how to get through their next few contests without rookie guard Kiki Rice, who is down with an ankle sprain, Sykes seems to be the obvious next player up for Toronto as they try to gain consistency. The Cup offers them extra motivation to freely hoop, which is what Sykes and Marina Mabrey are often hellbent on doing.

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5 Things I Like: Commissioner's Cup 2026 (Part 1)

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Top Plays of the Day, 6/06/26

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Atlanta Dream Top Plays vs. Washington Mystics

Latest

Rhyne Howard

Accolades: 
<ul>
<li>2024 Bronze Medalist for 3&#215;3 Basketball at the Paris Olympic Games </li>
<li>3 x WNBA All-Star </li>
<li>WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2025)</li>
<li>WNBA Kia Rookie of the Year (2022)</li>
<li>Associated Press Rookie of the Year (2022)</li>
<li>WNBA Kia Rookie of the Month (August 2022)</li>
<li>WNBA Kia Rookie of the Month (July 2022)</li>
<li>WNBA Kia Rookie of the Month (June 2022)</li>
<li>WNBA Kia Rookie of the Month (May 2022)</li>
<li>WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week x3</li>
<li>Associated Press Player of the Week (5/16/22)</li>
</ul>
2025 Season with the Dream:
<ul>
<li data-start="0" data-end="170">
Now a three-time All-Star and Olympian, Rhyne Howard reaffirmed her status as the heartbeat of the Atlanta Dream in 2025 with another milestone-filled season.
</li>
<li data-start="171" data-end="383">
Early-season impact:
<ul data-start="202" data-end="383">
<li data-start="202" data-end="279">
Became the fifth all-time leading scorer in franchise history (5/20).
</li>
<li data-start="282" data-end="336">
Tied career-high 10 assists vs. Dallas (5/24).
</li>
<li data-start="339" data-end="383">
Dropped 33 points at Seattle (5/30).
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li data-start="384" data-end="722">
Historic June:
<ul data-start="409" data-end="722">
<li data-start="409" data-end="528">
Erupted for 36 points on June 13, setting a franchise record and tying a WNBA record with nine made threes.
</li>
<li data-start="531" data-end="722">
On June 15, became the fastest player in league history to reach 300 career threes (114 games) and the second-youngest ever to the mark — just three days behind Diana Taurasi.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li data-start="723" data-end="818">
Nearly recorded a triple-double in New York (6/17): 13 pts, 9 ast, 7 reb, 3 stl, 3 blk.
</li>
<li data-start="819" data-end="1028">
Added consistent scoring runs:
<ul data-start="856" data-end="1028">
<li data-start="856" data-end="886">
22 pts vs. Chicago (6/22).
</li>
<li data-start="889" data-end="924">
23 pts, 8 reb at Dallas (6/24).
</li>
<li data-start="927" data-end="973">
15 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast vs. Minnesota (6/27).
</li>
<li data-start="976" data-end="1028">
Steady all-around outing vs. Golden State (7/7).
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li data-start="1029" data-end="1178">
Returned from 11-game injury absence in August with dominant play:
<ul data-start="1106" data-end="1178">
<li data-start="1106" data-end="1143">
25 pts, 7 reb vs. Seattle (8/13).
</li>
<li data-start="1146" data-end="1178">
19 pts vs. Las Vegas (8/19).
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li data-start="1179" data-end="1403">
Delivered one of the most unique stat lines in WNBA history on August 29: 24 pts, 6 threes, and 6 blocks — the first player ever with six of each in a game and the only guard in 2025 to record six blocks.
</li>
<li data-start="1404" data-end="1767">
Closed regular season on fire:
<ul data-start="1445" data-end="1767">
<li data-start="1445" data-end="1478">
23 pts vs. Connecticut (9/1).
</li>
<li data-start="1481" data-end="1526">
Four straight team-leading scoring games.
</li>
<li data-start="1529" data-end="1657">
37 pts and nine threes vs. Los Angeles (9/5) — first player in WNBA history with multiple games of nine made threes.
</li>
<li data-start="1660" data-end="1767">
Became the first Dream player and ninth in league history to hit 100 threes in a season (9/10).
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li data-start="1768" data-end="1994">
Additional milestones:
<ul data-start="1797" data-end="1994">
<li data-start="1797" data-end="1835">
Surpassed 2,000 career points.
</li>
<li data-start="1838" data-end="1903">
Became the Dream’s all-time leader in threes made (8/15).
</li>
<li data-start="1906" data-end="1994">
Captured back-to-back Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors in September.
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li data-start="1995" data-end="2140" data-is-last-node="">
Season averages: 17.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.6 APG — showcasing her versatility, two-way excellence, and place among the league’s brightest stars.
</li>
</ul>
2024 Season with the Dream:
<ul>
<li>Played 30 games for the Dream in 2024, averaging 17.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.</li>
<li>Owns the franchise record for the most points scored by any Atlanta Dream player over a three-game span with 100 after dropping a season-high against Indiana (9/8).</li>
<li>Powered the Dream with a dominant performance against Dallas (9/6), totaling 33 points, three rebounds, six assists and one steal. She became the first Dream player since Angel McCoughtry in 2013 to put up consecutive 30+ point performances.</li>
<li>Headlined the Dream with a season-high of 31 points, with four rebounds, two steals and one assist against Phoenix (9/3). Marking the fifth 30pt+ game of her career, Howard moved to No. 2 in Dream franchise history for most 30pt+ games. She is also one of five Dream players to record two 30pt+ games in one season.</li>
<li>Passed Angel McCoughtry for No. 2 on the Dream’s All-Time 3-pointers list with her third 3-pointer of the game against Las Vegas (8/30).</li>
<li>Led the Dream with a dominant 30-point night against Seattle (8/16), with three rebounds and one steal. She marked both a season-high and the fourth time in her career reaching 30+ points and is now tied for No. 2 overall in Dream franchise history for 30+ point games. She also reached her ninth career game with 25+ points, bringing her to No. 3 overall in Dream franchise history for 25+ point games.</li>
<li>Won Bronze with the 2024 USA Basketball 3×3 Women’s National Team at the 2024 Paris Olympics as a first time olympian 8/5). She became the first Dream player to reach the Olympic podium since Angel McCoughtry in 2016.</li>
<li>With her first 3-pointer against Washington (6/11), she became the youngest player in WNBA history (24 years and 43 days) to reach 200 career 3-pointers, passing Diana Taurasi (24 years, 46 days).</li>
<li>Became the youngest player to record at least 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals in a game since Swin Cash in 2003 (5/26).</li>
</ul>
2023 Highlights with the Dream  
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="●" data-font="" data-listid="14" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;●&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Played and started in 39 regular season games with the Dream </li>
<li data-leveltext="●" data-font="" data-listid="14" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;●&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">In her first WNBA Playoff appearance in which she dropped 36 points, Rhyne Howard made both league and franchise history.  </li>
<li data-leveltext="●" data-font="" data-listid="14" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;●&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">With those 36 points she became the youngest player in WNBA history to score 30+ points in the postseason and scored the most ever points for a WNBA playoff debut.  </li>
<li data-leveltext="●" data-font="" data-listid="15" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;●&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">Recorded her first career double-double with a career-best 10 rebounds and a team-high 20 points in the Dream’s season opener at Dallas (5/20), adding two assists and 3 steals.  </li>
<li data-leveltext="●" data-font="" data-listid="15" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;●&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1">Dished out her highest assist count of her career with 8 against the Mystics (6/30) </li>
<li data-leveltext="●" data-font="" data-listid="15" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;●&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1">Scored a career-high and historic 43 points on 70% shooting (14/20) against the Sparks (7/2), becoming the only the second Dream player ever to score 40 + points.  </li>
<li data-leveltext="●" data-font="" data-listid="15" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;●&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1">Dropped 32 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals against Chicago (7/9) </li>
<li data-leveltext="●" data-font="" data-listid="15" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;●&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1">Became the fastest Dream player to reach 1000 career points (59 games) vs. the Mystics (7/30). </li>
<li data-leveltext="●" data-font="" data-listid="15" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;●&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="9" data-aria-level="1">Howard became the 10th player in WNBA history and first for the Dream to earn 14 games with 20+ points, 2+ 3PM, and 70 + FG % in under two seasons (5/30) </li>
</ul>
2022 Season (Atlanta): 
<ul>
<li>Put up 16 points off 4 three’s in her WNBA debut, with a team-leading 4 blocks and 2 steals. She is the first rookie in WNBA history to record 4 blocks and 4 made three-pointers in their debut.
<ul>
<li>Her 12 three-point attempts stands as the most by a Dream player since Renee Montgomery took 13 in 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Topped her previous game with 21 points off 5 made three’s and pulled down 8 rebounds in a win over Los Angeles (5/11).</li>
<li>Scored 33 points in win over Indiana (5/15) with 17 points in the first quarter alone, which was tied for the third-most scored in a single quarter by a first-year player in the WNBA and the most ever scored by a rookie in a first quarter of any WNBA game.</li>
<li>WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week (5/15) and AP Player of the Week (5/16).
<ul>
<li>The first rookie to win the award in the first week of their WNBA career since Tamika Catchings in 2002, and the first Dream rookie to ever earn the WNBA Player of the Week award.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Howard eclipsed 100 points in only five games, the seventh-most by a rookie in their first five games in league history. She reached 123 after the May 20th game against Washington, the sixth-most of any rookie in league history in that time span and the most by any Dream rookie.</li>
<li>Led the team with 25 points at Phoenix (6/10) off a season-high 6 made three&#8217;s.</li>
<li>Named the WNBA Kia Rookie of the Month for June: through the month of June, she averaged 14.3 points and 2.7 assists, making 5.3 field goals and 2.1 three-pointers per game, all of which ranked first among rookies.</li>
</ul>
Howard in the News:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNxPgOVkO8A">Bally Sports Southeast Halftime Feature on Rhyne Howard</a> with Tabitha Turner</li>
<li><a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/34458884/atlanta-dream-star-rhyne-howard-wins-wnba-rookie-year-award">Atlanta Dream star Rhyne Howard wins WNBA Rookie of the Year award</a> | M.A. Voepel for ESPN.com, August 25, 2022</li>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/23/sports/basketball/wnba-rhyne-howard-atlanta-dream.html">The Dream&#8217;s Clean-Slate Strategy Made Space for a Star: Rhyne Howard</a> | Erica Ayala for The New York Times, June 23, 2022</li>
<li><a href="https://girlsunited.essence.com/article/rhyne-howard-zaila-avant-garde-xbox/">WNBA Rookie Rhyne Howard Wants Young Black Girls in Sports To Feel &#8216;Invited To Play&#8217;</a> | D&#8217;Shonda Brown for Girls United, August 2, 2022</li>
<li><a href="https://www.slamonline.com/wnba/no-1-overall-pick-rhyne-howard-signs-multi-year-deal-with-jordan-brand/">No. 1 Overall Pick Rhyne Howard Signs Multi-Year Deal With Jordan Brand</a> | Brooks Warren for SLAM, May 6, 2022</li>
</ul>
College: Kentucky’s first player ever drafted No. 1 overall by a WNBA franchise. She leaves Lexington as the program’s all-time top three-point shooter and a two-time SEC Player of the Year. The 21-year-old from Cleveland, Tenn. started in 114 games over the course of her four-year career with the Wildcats. She totaled 2,290 career points and is one of only nine players in women’s basketball history to be named to the Associated Press First Team three times. She finished the 2021-22 season as the only player in the nation with over 600+ points, 200+ rebounds, 100+ assists, 70+ steals and 35+ blocks. During her college career, Howard averaged 20.1 points (20.5 in 31 games during the 2021-22 season alone), 6.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 33 minutes per game during her career. Personal: member of Zeta Phi Beta, a historically African American sorority. Organized a Unity Fair and Social Justice March on campus and was joined by dozens of student-athletes and hundreds of fellow community members. It was solely organized by the team and spearheaded by Howard, aimed to bring awareness to police brutality, inform their peers on how these issues affect the black community, encourage their peers to exercise their right to vote, demand justice for injustices, provide mental health information and resources, and spread love through tough times.
USA Basketball: 
<ul>
<li>Honors: 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup All-Star Five and 2018 FIBA Americas U18 Championship MVP.</li>
<li>Gold Medal: 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup (along with teammate Naz Hillmon) and 2018 FIBA Americas U18 Championship.</li>
<li>Silver Medal: 2019 Red Bull USA Basketball 3&#215;3 Nationals.</li>
<li>As a member of the 2018 USA U18 National Team, Howard helped her team earn a 6-0 record by starting in five of six games and averaged 8.5 points per game, 4.7 rebounds per game, and tied for a team-high with 3.0 assists per game.</li>
<li>Competed for Drive in the 2019 Red Bull USA Basketball 3&#215;3 Nationals where she helped lead her team to a silver medal and a 6-2 record where she scored 11 of her team’s 20 points in the championship game.</li>
<li>Member of the 2019 USA U19 World Cup Team that finished with a 7-0 record and earned the gold medal with a 74-70 overtime victory over Australia in Bangkok, Thailand. Howard started all seven games and averaged a team-high 13.1 points per game and added 5.1 rebounds per game.</li>
<li>Named to the 2021 USA Women&#8217;s AmeriCup Team on June 6, 2021.</li>
</ul>
Personal:
<ul>
<li>Daughter of Rhvonja “RJ” Avery, who played at the University of Florida, and James Howard.</li>
<li>Member of Zeta Phi Beta</li>
<li>Majored in Digital Media and Design</li>
</ul>

Rhyne Howard signed a Contract with the Atlanta Dream.

The Atlanta Dream extended a Restricted qualifying offer to Rhyne Howard.

Leads Dream to another win

Nets 24 points with full line

Secures strong all-around line

Totals 24 points in road win

Drops 24 points in loss

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