Rhyne Howard represents student-athletes of Kentucky with NIL bill

Kentucky women’s basketball superstar Rhyne Howard served as the face of student-athletes in the Commonwealth when Gov. Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 6 into law on Wednesday. With players now able to capitalize on name, image and likeness opportunities, Howard took the podium in Frankfort to speak on behalf of all student-athletes in Kentucky set to benefit from the new bill.

Chosen as the lone speaker among student-athletes — Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari and Louisville women’s basketball coach Jeff Walz also spoke — Howard was (unsurprisingly) a natural in the spotlight.

“First and foremost, I’m very honored to be here to speak on behalf of all the student-athletes in Kentucky,” Howard said. “I want to begin by thanking Governor Beshear and the state legislature for passing this bill to do what’s best for the athletes in Kentucky. I also want to thank Mr. (Mitch) Barnhart, Dr. (Eli) Capilouto, and (Executive Associate AD) Rachel Baker, amongst others, for guiding us every step of the way and doing everything they can to help us profit and benefit from this.

“On behalf of all student-athletes, we are very thankful for being able to be compensated for all the work we do. … We are one team and one Kentucky.”

Howard has solidified herself as the best player in women’s college basketball and will be one of the top picks in the upcoming 2022 WNBA Draft. Averaging 20.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per contest as a senior, her on-court greatness is clear. Her emergence and growth as a leader and model teammate, though, is what stands out for Kentucky women’s basketball coach Kyra Elzy.

“I’m so proud of her and how she’s grown up,” Elzy told KSR. “She’s evolved as a person and as a player. For her to be speaking at the State Capitol today, I’m like a proud second mom.”

Coaches and administrators from the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, Northern Kentucky, Murray State, Morehead State, Eastern Kentucky and Bellarmine University were all in attendance in Frankfort. Every major coach in the state, all there in support of SB 6. Everyone from John Calipari to Mark Stoops to Scott Satterfield to Scotty Davenport, the Capitol rotunda was packed with high-profile representatives.

It was Howard, though, that was swarmed by reporters after the bill’s signing. The media wanted to hear from the SEC Women’s Player of the Year about NIL. She was the star of the show, standing beside Beshear during the ceremony and receiving the pen he signed the bill with after the fact.

Howard used her time in front of cameras and microphones to make it clear that while NIL isn’t the be-all and end-all for student-athletes, it’s an important resource to have. For the work they put in to represent their respective universities, it’s deserved.

“It’s definitely opened up the door for so many possibilities,” Howard said. “I don’t really think too much about it because that’s not what the focus is, but it’s great to have it and be able to fall back on that.”

Winning games is the ultimate reward, but adding some pocket money while building long-term connections is certainly a bonus.

“Definitely happy. It’s a lot of work that we do, and for this to happen, it’s all paying off,” Howard said. “Obviously winning and stuff is paying off, but now when people advertise you, you get a part of it. You can help build with them, build a connection with the people who are advertising you as well as start connections with other people.

“… Especially at UK, a lot of our student-athletes have gained a lot from this. It’s allowed them to build better connections and get their names out there more, do more for themselves and their community.”

Howard took center stage on a historic day in Kentucky, representing the university with class both at the podium and in the ensuing media scrum. Taking the stage typically reserved for politicians at the Capitol, the Kentucky superstar proved to be more than an athlete. She was a leader, an advocate for student-athletes on the day Senate Bill 6 was signed into law.

Could politics be in Howard’s future? Never say never.

“Listen, the glass ceiling has been shattered,” Elzy told KSR. “We’re powerful women and anything is possible.”

Let’s start with a run in the NCAA Tournament. Then a successful career in the WNBA. After that, why not?