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Rhyne Howard 2022 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year

No. 1 overall Draft pick, AT&T WNBA All-Star, four-time Kia WNBA Rookie of the Month, AP Rookie of the Year and now Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year - guard Rhyne Howard took the league by storm in 2022.

On Thursday, August 25, the WNBA announced Howard as the 2022 KIA WNBA Rookie of the Year, receiving 53 votes from a national panel of 56 sportswriters and broadcasters. Washington Mystics center/forward Shakira Austin received two votes and Indiana Fever forward NaLyssa Smith received one vote.

She is the Dream's second-ever WNBA Rookie of the Year after franchise-legend Angel McCoughtry took home the honor in 2009. She is just the fourth No. 1 overall selection to sweep all WNBA Rookie of the Month honors and be named Rookie of the Year.

Records Shattered

Most WNBA Rookie of the Month awards in franchise history with four, making Howard just the fourth player in history to win the award four times in a season and the seventh to ever sweep all league Rookie of the Month awards.

Most three-pointers made (85) and attempted (248) in a rookie season in league history, and the most made and attempted by any Dream player in franchise history.

First- (33) and second-most (28) points scored in a game by a rookie in the WNBA in 2022, and holds five of the top seven scoring games by a rookie this season.

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.

Howard averaged 16.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.59 steals in 31.3 minutes in 34 games (all starts) this season. She led all WNBA rookies in points, assists, steals and minutes per game. Among all WNBA players, Howard ranked 11th in scoring average and tied for fifth in steals. She also finished third in the league in three-pointers made with 85, a single-season record by a WNBA rookie.

In honor of being named the 2022 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year, Howard will receive $5,150 and a specially designed trophy by Tiffany & Co.

Highlights | Photos | WNBA Press Release

Season in Review

In early April, the Atlanta Dream traded up for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, knowing exactly who they wanted with that selection.

They chose 6-2 guard Rhyne Howard out of Kentucky with the first pick in the Draft. A two-time SEC Player of the Year and USBWA National Freshman of the Year, Howard averaged 20.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game in her four years as a Wildcat.

May 7 - Atlanta at Dallas

In her WNBA debut, Howard dropped 16 points off of nothing but three-pointers against the Dallas Wings to give the Dream their first win of the season. She added on four blocks, four assists and two steals, making her the first player in WNBA history to record four three's and four blocks in their professional debut.

May 15 - 33-Point Game at Indiana

Howard put up 33 points with three steals in a win over the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 15, 2022, securing her spot as the WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week and the Associated Press Player of the Week for the first week of the 2022 WNBA season.

She became the first rookie to win the WNBA Player of the Week award to open their WNBA career since Tamika Catchings in 2002, the first rookie to earn the honor at all since the 2019 season, and the first Dream player to win it since Tiffany Hayes in 2018.

Her 33 points tied the record for the third-most points ever scored in a game by a Dream rookie, and her 17 first-quarter points tied for the third-most scored in a quarter by a first-year player in the WNBA, and the most ever scored by a rookie in the first quarter of any WNBA game.

July 10: 2022 AT&T WNBA All-Star

Howard was named a WNBA All-Star midway through her rookie season, making her the second Dream rookie to ever be invited to the All-Star game (Shoni Schimmel in 2011). She also competed in the WNBA Skills Challenge and the MTN DEW 3 Point Competition as the first Dream player to ever compete in all three events over All-Star weekend.

She recorded 13 points with five rebounds, four assists and a steal to help Team Wilson defeat Team Stewart 134-112 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. 

Four-Time Kia WNBA Rookie of the Month

Howard made Dream history with four consecutive Rookie of the Month honors, just the fourth player in league history (award instituted in 2009) and the seventh to ever sweep all monthly rookie awards in a season.

Rhyne Howard's 2022 Accolades

  • AT&T WNBA All-Star
  • Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year
  • Associated Press Rookie of the Year
  • Kia WNBA Rookie of the Month (August)
  • Kia WNBA Rookie of the Month (July)
  • Kia WNBA Rookie of the Month (June)
  • Kia WNBA Rookie of the Month (May)
  • WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week - May 15
  • Associated Press Player of the Week - May 16

About the Atlanta Dream

The Atlanta Dream is a professional women’s basketball team based in Atlanta, Ga. that strives to build a place where our team, our fans and our city come together to represent the community we seek to serve. We enter our 15th year in 2022 with new ownership, new leadership, and a commitment to building the best franchise in the WNBA. We celebrate diversity, represent Atlanta, reward innovation and imagination, and aim to empower women both on and off the court. The team currently plays home games at the Gateway Center Arena @ College Park and has qualified for the WNBA Playoffs in nine of its first 15 seasons. To learn more about the Dream and purchase 2023 season tickets, mini plans and single game tickets, please visit dream.wnba.com/season-tickets or call 877-977-7729.

About Kia America

Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia America continues to top automotive quality surveys and is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands. Kia serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA, WNBA, and NBA G League and offers a complete range of vehicles sold through a network of more than 750 dealers in the U.S., including several cars and SUVs proudly assembled in America.

For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com. To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert.

Created By
Kelsey Bibik
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Credits:

Photos: Adam Hagy, Jeff Haynes, Bee Trofort, Michelle Farsi, Casey Sykes, Kena Krutsinger, Stephen Gosling