Rhyne Howard replacing Elena Delle Donne in 2023 WNBA All-Star Game

All is right in the world. Rhyne Howard is back in the WNBA All-Star Game.

After being left off of the initial roster, it was announced on Tuesday night by Commissioner Cathy Engelbert that Howard has been tabbed as an injury replacement for Washington Mystics forward Elena Delle Donne. The Atlanta Dream guard, now in her second WNBA season after being drafted No. 1 overall in 2022, will play in her second All-Star appearance after making the team as a rookie last season.

Although she’s being added as an injury replacement, Howard more than deserved her spot. The 23-year-old is averaging 18.7 points (10th in the WNBA), 4.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game — all better than her rookie year — on shooting splits of 43.6/40.3/77.8.

The 2023 WNBA All-Star Game is set for Saturday, July 15 at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. It will begin live on ABC at 5:30 p.m. EST.

The announcement we’ve been waiting for…@howard_rhyne IS HEADED TO VEGAS. 🏀⭐️ pic.twitter.com/OIry82QAJX

— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) July 11, 2023

Howard has recently propelled the Dream (10-8) to an active five-game winning streak. During that stretch, the former Kentucky Wildcat has been on fire, upping her per-game averages to 24.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.2 steals on insane shooting splits of 55.8/47.6/83.3. She even exploded for a new career-high of 43 points (one off the Dream franchise record) on July 2 in a win over the Los Angeles Sparks.

After Howard’s name was left off the All-Star Game roster as a starter and reserve in early July, she began to elevate her game on the hardwood. It’s no secret that she felt like she was snubbed from the event the first time around, and her WNBA peers were even going to bat for her on social media to say she should make the team.

Howard will suit up for Team Wilson, where she’ll join a pair of her Dream teammates in the All-Star Game: Allisha Gray and Cheyenne Parker. She becomes just the fourth player in franchise history to earn multiple All-Star bids.

2023 WNBA All-Star Breakdown by Team

Las Vegas Aces (4) – A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum 
Atlanta Dream (3) – Allisha Gray, Cheyenne Parker, Rhyne Howard 
New York Liberty (3) – Breanna Stewart, Courtney Vandersloot, Sabrina Ionescu 
Connecticut Sun (2) – Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner 
Dallas Wings (2) – Arike Ogunbowale, Satou Sabally 
Indiana Fever (2) – Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell 
Seattle Storm (2) – Jewell Loyd, Ezi Magbegor  
Chicago Sky (1) – Kahleah Copper 
Los Angeles Sparks (1) – Nneka Ogwumike  
Minnesota Lynx (1) – Napheesa Collier 
Phoenix Mercury (1) – Brittney Griner