A deeper look into Rhyne Howard's WNBA preseason debut

At least through one game, it doesn’t look like Rhyne Howard will have trouble adjusting to the WNBA.

In her preseason debut on Sunday evening, Howard dropped 15 points and five rebounds in just 18 minutes of play. Howard’s impressive performance boosted the Atlanta Dream to a convincing 88-69 victory over the Washington Mystics.

No. 1 overall pick Rhyne Howard was all smiles in her preseason WNBA debut 😀

🏀 15 Pts
🏀 5 Reb
🏀 3-5 3-PT FG pic.twitter.com/o8W6ReApaS

— espnW (@espnW) April 24, 2022

For Howard, the performance is nothing short of her expectations. After being drafted, the 6-foot-2 guard discussed her goals for her rookie campaign.

“A goal is Rookie of the Year, but I want to be a part of a winning team,” Howard said.

A deeper look into Howard’s stats shows she is certainly on track to accomplish her lofty goals. On Sunday, Howard shot 3-5 from beyond the arc. Moreover, Howard was a nuisance on defense, recording two steals and two blocks.

Howard’s 15 points were the second-most on the team. Further, Howard’s had a ridiculous +/- of +30, the highest on the team. In her first appearance in the WNBA, Howard looked like a hardened pro.

Rhyne Howard settles old scores

Not only did Howard outplay WNBA veterans, but also fellow up-and-coming star Shakira Austin. The former Ole Miss forward recorded three points and 12 rebounds in the contest. Howard outperforming Austin represented more than a few figures in a boxscore.

The Washington Mystics originally owned the No. 1 pick in 2022 WNBA Draft and were likely the future home of Howard. Just over a week before draft night, the Mystics traded the pick to the Dream. Howard’s Sunday show was a message to the Mystics.

An exciting coincidence

As excited as Atlanta Dream fans already are by Howard’s standout showing, they may not realize the weight of Howard’s performance. Eerily, Howard put up remarkably similar numbers in her debut at Kentucky.

On Nov. 7, 2018, Howard put up 15 points, six rebounds and two steals in her first game as a Wildcat. Additionally, Howard shot 3-5 from downtown. Obviously, the WNBA is a far cry from college basketball, but if Howard’s debut performances indicate her future with a team, the Atlanta Dream has a lot to look forward to.

The Dream will play one more preseason game this Sunday, May 1 against the Connecticut Sun before the season-opener the following Saturday, May 7 against the Dallas Wings. Howard’s official WNBA debut will tip off in Dallas at 8:00 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network.