Rhyne Howard expected to go No. 1 in 2022 WNBA Draft

Earlier this week, the selection order for the 2022 WNBA Draft was finalized. For the first time since 1999, the Washington Mystics are owners of the top overall pick. Despite having the third-best probability to snag the best pick, the odds fell in their favor. Washington’s prize? The chance to draft Kentucky’s Rhyne Howard.

Looking across several WNBA mock drafts, Howard is the running favorite to go among the top two to either the Mystics or Indiana Fever at No. 2. Falling to No. 3 seems to be out of the question barring something unforeseen. Baylor’s NaLyssa Smith is the other target constantly mentioned alongside her name. However, the majority of those mocks have Howard going No. 1, including ESPN’s.

Here’s what they had to say about Howard.

(Coach/GM Mike) Thibault talked about going after the best overall player, and that could be the 6-foot-2 Howard. Does she have the mindset and consistency to become a franchise-changing force? She wouldn’t have to be that right away, if Washington is healthy for 2022. Howard likely would have been the top pick last year had she been eligible for the draft. She seems to have a pro-ready game and could learn a lot from the veterans in Washington.

Michelle Vope, ESPN

If Howard were to go No. 1 overall, she would become the first Kentucky Women’s Basketball player to do so. Previously, Evelyn Akhator going No. 3 to the Dallas Wings in 2017 was the program’s top pro pick. Howard will become the seventh-ever WNBA Draft pick for UK, as well.

The professional potential for Howard was apparent the moment she stepped on campus. She was named national Freshman of the Year before winning SEC Player of the Year as a sophomore and junior. Now a senior, she’s expected to three-peat for the conference award and even break the barrier of finally winning National Player of the Year.

Through 10 games in 2021-22, the versatile 6-foot-2 guard is posting insane figures of 18.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 3.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks per outing. She’s doing this while shooting 45.7 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from distance (in the midst of a cold streak, actually), and 77.4 percent from the free-throw line. When Kentucky returns to play on Dec. 30 against Auburn, she will need just four points to pass Victoria Dunlap for third-most in program history.

By the time Howard hangs it up at Kentucky, she’ll go down as one of the all-time greats. Appreciate it while she’s still around.