Rhyne Howard is the WNBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week and her achievement is significant. In this case, the Atlanta Dream rookie is the first rookie to win the award in the first week of their WNBA career since forward Tamika Catchings in 2002 with the Indiana Fever. What’s more, Howard is the first Dream rookie ever to earn Player of the Week honors.
Furthermore, Rhyne is the Dream’s first WNBA Player of the Week since guard Tiffany Hayes reached the feat in 2018 and the first rookie to win the award since the 2019 season.
The former Kentucky Wildcat averaged 20.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in the first week of her career. The guard started in all four games and led the Dream in scoring in each of the squad’s three wins.
For the eastern conference, @howard_rhyne is already averaging 20.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 2.3 APG in just her first week.
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 16, 2022
We are impressed 👏 pic.twitter.com/wD1c6W4lUi
She led the Dream to a 66-59 victory over the Dallas Wings in her first game in the WNBA. Howard hit four shots from downtown as well as getting four blocks. She’s the first player in WNBA history to reach the feat in their debut game.
In addition, her 12 three-point attempts versus the Wings are the most by a Dream player since Renee Montgomery. Montgomery took 13 attempts from beyond the arc in a matchup versus the Chicago Sky in 2019.
Howard and her Season So Far
Source: @KentuckyWBB
Rhyne had 21 points in a 77-75 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks in her second WNBA game. Moreover, Howard added eight boards and converted five three-point field goals.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK‼️
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) May 16, 2022
Rhyne Howard is your @WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week🔥#DoItForTheDream pic.twitter.com/FwEeoJPzbR
In addition, Howard tied the record for third-most points scored in a game by a Dream rookie with 33 points in a win against the Fever. Howard’s 17 points in the first quarter versus Indiana is tied for the third-most scored in a quarter by a rookie player in the league. At any rate, the 17 points are the most ever scored by a rookie in the first quarter of any game in WNBA history.
All things considered, Rhyne had 83 points through her first four games in the league. She’s just the sixth rookie in league history to score 80 over that time. On the other hand, Howard is playing like the top pick in this year’s WNBA Draft without reservation.
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