Rhyne Howard tabbed as Top 20 player in WNBA by ESPN

Rhyne Howard is one of the best women’s basketball players in the world. In fact, she’s among the Top 20 players in the WNBA.

ESPN has Howard listed as the 20th-best player in the WNBA heading into the season. She’s just behind center Brittney Griner (No. 17) who signed with the Atlanta Dream this offseason after 11 years with the Phoenix Mercury. Three-point specialist Allisha Gray (No. 23) is the third and final Dream player to make the Top 25.

Here is the full list, if you’re itching to know the rankings:

1. A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)
2. Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx)
3. Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty)
4. Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever)
5. Alyssa Thomas (Phoenix Mercury)
6. Jonquel Jones (New York Liberty)
7. Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty)
8. Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle Storm)
9. Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces)
10. Kelsey Plum (Los Angeles Sparks)
11. Kahleah Cooper (Phoenix Mercury)
12. Satou Sabally (Phoenix Mercury)
13. Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever)
14. Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings)
15. Kayla McBride (Minnesota Lynx)
16. Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces)
17. Brittney Griner (Atlanta Dream)
18. Skylar Diggins (Seattle Storm)
19. Jewell Loyd (Las Vegas Aces)
20. Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream)
21. Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever)
22. Dearica Hamby (Los Angeles Sparks)
23. Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream)
24. Ezi Magbegor (Seattle Storm)
25. Angel Reese (Chicago Sky)

“This could be a breakout campaign for Howard, who won Rookie of the Year and has made two All-Star teams but has yet to help the Dream past the first round of the playoffs,” ESPN wrote about the former Wildcat. “Howard’s value was evident by her absence last year: Atlanta went 1-9 in the 10 games Howard missed leading up to the Olympic break. She averaged 19.0 PPG after the Olympics as the Dream went 8-8 to reach the playoffs. Now, Atlanta has more frontcourt talent with the additions of Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones, raising expectations.”

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