LEXINGTON, Ky. — A former Wildcat has received one of the WNBA's highest honors. Rhyne Howard, the former UK women's basketball star and No. 1 draft pick, was crowned the 2022 Rookie of the Year after receiving 53 of 56 possible votes from a national panel, the WNBA announced Thursday.
What You Need To Know
- Rhyne Howard has been crowned the WNBA's Rookie of the Year
- The former Wildcat received 53 of 56 possible votes from a national panel
- Howard played and started in 34 games for the Dream, averaging 16.2 points per game
In honor of being named the WNBA Rookie of the Year, Howard will receive $5,150 and a specially designed trophy by Tiffany & Co. Also receiving votes for the award: Washington Mystics center/forward and former Ole Miss Rebel Shakira Austin received two votes, and Indiana Fever forward and former Baylor Bear NaLyssa Smith received one vote.
Howard is just the second Rookie of the Year product out of the Atlanta Dream. She is also just the fourth WNBA No. 1 Draft Pick to sweep all WNBA Rookie of the Month honors (May – August) and be named WNBA Rookie of the Year.
The Cleveland, Tennessee, native was also named the Associated Press’ Rookie of the Year on Aug. 16.
The Wildcat played and started in 34 games for the Dream, averaging 16.2 points per game, which was the 11th most in the league at the end of the regular season, for a combined 552 points this season, which was the 10th most in the league at the end of the regular season.
Howard has added 4.5 rebounds per game, 2.8 assists per game, 1.4 steals per game and has swatted 26 blocks in 2022.
During her banner rookie year, Howard also boasted the following accolades:
- Invited to compete in the WNBA All-Star Game and 3-Point Contest
- Most three-pointers made (85) and attempted (248) in a rookie season in league history, and the most made and attempted by any Atlanta Dream player in franchise history
- Most points scored in a rookie season (552) in franchise history, making her the first Dream rookie to ever eclipse 500 points in one season
- Most 10+ point games (30), 15+ point games (20) and 20+ point games (11) of any rookie in Dream history
- Most defensive rebounds (127) in a season by any Dream rookie in franchise history
- Became the first rookie in league history to record four 3-point field goals and four blocks in their debut game