Rhyne Howard drops season-high 30 points in first game back from Olympics

After making back-to-back All-Star Teams and winning Rookie of the Year during her first two seasons in the WNBA, the injury bug took a bite out of Rhyne Howard in year three. While she’s still putting up impressive numbers for the Atlanta Dream, she missed nearly a month due to an ankle injury.

During her time away, Atlanta dropped seven straight games. Howard made her return in mid-July right before the 2024 Paris Olympics sent the WNBA into a month-long break, but it was another loss for the Dream. After a 7-9 start with a healthy Howard, Atlanta now sits on an 8-17 record with a little under half the season remaining.

That being said, the Dream’s losing streak could very well be at nine games, but thanks to Howard, a much-needed victory was added to the schedule.

On Friday night, Howard’s first game back since winning a bronze medal for Team USA in 3×3 Women’s Basketball, she dropped a season-high 30 points to go along with eight rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks in 38 minutes of action. The former Kentucky All-American shot 10-16 from the field, 5-9 from deep, and 5-6 from the free throw line.

Rhyne Howard put up a season-high performance in the Dream’s thrilling win over the Seattle Storm ⬇️

30 PTS
8 REB
2 STL
2 BLK
10-16 FG
5-9 3PT#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/S7alNEcrBo

— WNBA (@WNBA) August 17, 2024

More importantly, Atlanta ended its losing streak with an 83-81 win over the Seattle Storm. Howard also became the first player in franchise history with multiple games of at least 30 points and at least five three-pointers made.

In just 15 games played this season, Howard has posted consistent numbers. She’s averaging 16.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.1 steals in 31.8 minutes per outing. The 24-year-old is even shooting a career-high 40.6 percent overall, along with a 32.7 percent clip from deep and a 77 percent mark from the charity stripe.

Atlanta’s overall struggles and Howard’s injury prevented her from making a third All-Star Team, but she’s still one of the league’s best players. Only the top eight teams end up making the playoffs though. The Dream is currently ninth and two full games back of the Chicago Sky for the final playoff spot. But there are plenty of games left on the schedule to make up that gap.

A healthy Howard should make the postseason a realistic goal.