Rhyne Howard

Rhyne Howard was born in Chattanooga and raised in Cleveland, Tennessee. She attended Bradley Central High School, where she became one of the state’s leading basketball prospects. As a senior, she averaged 22.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.3 steals, and 4.1 assists per game while helping Bradley Central win more than 30 games and reach the Tennessee state tournament.

Howard was named the 2018 Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year and Tennessee Miss Basketball. She also participated in the Jordan Brand Classic and earned recognition as one of the country’s leading guards because of her size, athleticism, defensive activity, and ability to score from multiple areas of the court.

She joined the University of Kentucky in 2018 and made an immediate impact. As a freshman, Howard led the Wildcats in scoring and rebounding, averaging 16.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. She was named SEC Freshman of the Year and earned national freshman of the year honours from the USBWA, WBCA, and ESPN.

Howard’s scoring increased to 23.4 points per game during her sophomore season, ranking second nationally. She tied Kentucky’s single-game scoring record with 43 points against Alabama and set a programme record with 84 three-pointers during the season. Her performances earned her the first of two consecutive SEC Player of the Year awards.

As a junior, Howard averaged 20.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.5 steals. She was the only Division I player that season to combine more than 20 points and seven rebounds per game with at least 90 assists and 60 steals, reflecting her complete influence on both ends of the court.

During her senior season, Howard led Kentucky to its first SEC Tournament championship in 40 years. She scored 88 points across four tournament games and was named the competition’s Most Valuable Player after the Wildcats defeated Mississippi State, LSU, Tennessee, and top-ranked South Carolina. She completed her college career with 2,290 points, 789 rebounds, 334 assists, 262 steals, and 284 three-pointers.

Howard left Kentucky ranked second in programme history in scoring and first in career three-pointers. She averaged 20.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.3 steals across 114 games, earning First-Team All-SEC recognition in each of her four seasons.

The Atlanta Dream selected Howard first overall in the 2022 WNBA Draft, making her the first Kentucky women’s basketball player chosen with the top overall pick. She started all 34 games as a rookie and averaged 16.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.6 steals.

Howard was selected to the WNBA All-Star Game during her first season and won Rookie of the Month in each month from May through August. She was subsequently named WNBA Rookie of the Year and selected to the All-Rookie Team.

She increased her scoring average to 17.5 points in 2023 and helped Atlanta return to the playoffs. In her postseason debut against the Dallas Wings, Howard averaged a league-leading 28.5 points across two games, including an eight-three-pointer performance in Game 1.

Howard remained Atlanta’s central offensive player through the following seasons, contributing as a high-volume perimeter scorer, secondary playmaker, and active defender. In 2025, she averaged 17.5 points and a career-high 4.6 assists while earning WNBA All-Defensive Second Team recognition. Through the early part of the 2026 season, she was averaging 18.5 points while shooting improved percentages from the field and three-point range.

Howard began representing the United States at youth level in 2018. She led the national team to gold at the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship in Mexico and was named tournament MVP after averaging 17.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.

The following year, she helped the United States win the 2019 FIBA Under-19 Women’s World Cup in Thailand. Howard averaged 13.1 points and 5.1 rebounds while contributing to an undefeated championship campaign.

In 2021, Howard played for the senior United States team at the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup in Puerto Rico. She helped a young American squad win the gold medal and was named tournament MVP after leading the team in scoring.

Howard transitioned to international 3x3 basketball ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. She was selected for the United States Olympic team and helped the country recover from a difficult start to reach the medal round. The United States defeated Canada in the bronze-medal game, giving Howard her first Olympic medal.

Rhyne Howard plays primarily as a shooting guard but has the size and strength to operate across the perimeter. She is known for deep three-point range, pull-up shooting, transition scoring, and the ability to create shots against tight defence. Howard also contributes through passing, rebounding, steals, and shot blocking. Her 6 ft 2 in frame allows her to defend several positions, while her quick release and confidence make her a constant scoring threat.

Howard is the daughter of Rhvonja “RJ” Avery and James Howard. She has two brothers, RaShawn Avery and James Howard Jr., and two sisters, Love Howard and Takema Sexton.

She studied digital media and design at the University of Kentucky. Howard is also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, having been initiated through the university’s Iota Mu chapter.

Alongside her professional playing career, Howard joined the University of Florida women’s basketball staff as an assistant coach and director of player personnel in 2023. The offseason position has allowed her to contribute to player development and recruiting while continuing her WNBA career.

Rhyne Howard’s legacy is still developing, but she has already established herself as one of the most accomplished players in Kentucky women’s basketball history and the central figure in the Atlanta Dream’s current era.

Her combination of scoring, size, defence, and positional versatility made her a transformative college player. Howard helped Kentucky defeat several nationally ranked opponents, set major programme records, and led the Wildcats to a historic SEC Tournament championship.

Professionally, she immediately justified her status as the first overall draft pick by winning Rookie of the Year and becoming an All-Star in her first season. Her continued development as a passer and defender has strengthened her reputation as more than an individual scorer.

Howard’s Olympic medal, international MVP awards, and involvement in both the WNBA and Unrivaled demonstrate her growing influence across different forms of women’s basketball.

Rhyne Howard’s high school honours include the 2018 Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year award, Tennessee Miss Basketball, and selection for the Jordan Brand Classic.

At Kentucky, she was named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2019 and received national freshman of the year honours from the USBWA, WBCA, and ESPN. She became a two-time SEC Player of the Year, four-time First-Team All-SEC selection, three-time AP and USBWA First-Team All-American, and two-time WBCA Coaches’ All-American.

Howard was also selected to the SEC All-Defensive Team and won the 2022 SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player award. She finished her Kentucky career as the programme’s leader in three-pointers and second-leading scorer.

Professionally, Howard was selected first overall in the 2022 WNBA Draft and won WNBA Rookie of the Year and All-Rookie Team honours. She has earned multiple WNBA All-Star selections and was named to the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2025. She also received Second-Team All-Unrivaled recognition following the league’s inaugural season.

Internationally, Howard won gold at the 2018 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship, 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, and 2021 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup. She was named MVP of both the Under-18 Championship and the AmeriCup and won an Olympic bronze medal in 3x3 basketball at Paris 2024.

Rhyne Howard is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Dream, recognised for her scoring versatility, three-point shooting, defensive instincts, and ability to contribute across multiple positions. Born on April 29, 2000, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, she developed into one of the leading guards of her generation through standout careers at Bradley Central High School and the University of Kentucky.

Howard became a three-time First-Team All-American, two-time SEC Player of the Year, and the 2022 SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player at Kentucky. She was selected first overall by Atlanta in the 2022 WNBA Draft and immediately won Rookie of the Year while earning an All-Star selection. Howard has since developed into the Dream’s franchise player, adding further All-Star honours and WNBA All-Defensive recognition. Internationally, she won gold medals at youth and senior continental competitions before earning an Olympic bronze medal in 3x3 basketball at Paris 2024.