LEXINGTON, Ky. — Four months after being the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft, former University of Kentucky stand out, Rhyne Howard is named the 2022 Associated Press WNBA Rookie of the Year. 

Howard started in 34 games for the Atlanta Dream this season, averaging 16.2 points per game, the 11th most in the league. She also averaged 4.5 rebounds per game, 2.8 assists per game and 1.4 steals this season.

The former Wildcat was named the league’s rookie of the month for four straight months–May through August. Howard, who was the first Kentucky player to go No. 1 in the draft, plays close to home, having grown up about 90 minutes from Atlanta.

(AP Photo)

In Atlanta’s loss at Las Vegas on Aug. 9, Howard broke Tamika Catchings’ record for the most 3-point field goals scored during a rookie season at 77. She wrapped up the regular season with 85 3s in New York. 

Howard made an impression in her inaugural WNBA season. She is the first rookie in WNBA history to record four 3-point field goals and four blocks in her debut game. Howard was named the WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week and AP Player of the Week after her first week on the court for the Dream. She also scored the most points by a rookie on May 15 in a game against Indiana.

Howard’s coach, Tanisha Wright, was also named the AP WNBA Coach of the Year.  

The WNBA is scheduled to release its league awards in late August.