Rhyne Howard posts a 20/10 game in WNBA year two debut

Former Kentucky superstar and WNBA Rookie of the Year, Rhyne Howard, picked up her second season as a pro right where she left off. In her year two debut, Howard had 20 points and 10 rebounds in the Atlanta Dream’s 85-78 loss to the Dallas Wings. She also had two assists, a block, and zero turnovers in her game-high 36 minutes on the court.

Howard made 4-12 shots from behind the arc, proving she is on a mission to improve on her record-setting 3-point shooting from last season when she made more 3s than any other rookie in WNBA history.

After the first quarter where she had eight points on 3-5 shooting, she said of her aggressiveness. “I have to put pressure on the defense. I can’t let the game come to me, I have to go out and hit shots. My teammates depend on me to get those early looks so I can become comfortable throughout the game.”

Not only did Howard win Rookie of the Year last season, but she also made the All-Star team. ESPN ranked her as the 23rd-best player in the WNBA coming into the season, a number that will only climb with more big performances as she had on Saturday.

Like many women’s basketball stars, Howard played abroad during the offseason, winning multiple championships for her Italian squad. She is now the face of the Atlanta franchise and likely will be for the foreseeable future.

The former No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft will be back in action for the Atlanta Dream against the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday at 8:00 p.m ET. The game will be featured live on Twitter.