Two top talents join Rhyne Howard on the Atlanta Dream
Don’t worry, Rhyne. Help is on the way.
On April 11, the Atlanta Dream added two top talents in the first round of the 2023 WNBA Draft. Stanford guard Haley Jones was the Dream’s No. 6 pick. The Atlanta franchise then picked up South Carolina forward Laeticia Amihere just two spots later.
Two fantastic picks for a team that needs the help. Despite a Rhyne Howard WNBA Rookie of the Year campaign last season, the Dream finished 14-22 and missed the playoffs. Howard was also a WNBA All-Star as a first-year player, finishing with per-game averages of 16.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.6 steals while shooting over 34 percent from beyond the arc.
This year, the youthful squad looks primed to make the postseason and then some with Howard set for year two as a pro and more help around her.
Haley Jones brings a winning mentality
After all, Jones knows a thing or two about winning. In four years at Stanford, Jones averaged 13 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while boosting her team to a National Championship in 2021; a crowning achievement that almost makes you overlook her three Pac-12 titles.
The point forward is a do-it-all player, who legitimately isn’t sure what position she’ll play in the WNBA. However, she is certain she’ll bring a willingness to learn.
“I’m going to try to do it all as I’ve been doing at the college level, but really hone in on certain things: finding my spots, playing transition, facilitating,” Jones said in an interview with Holly Rowe immediately after being drafted. “I’m excited to get to the next level and learn from the best.”
Amihere is here for the highlights
While Jones brings fundamentals to the Dream, Amihere brings raw power. The 6-foot-4 star initially found fame when she became the first Canadian woman to dunk a ball in-game.
She was 16 years old.
Now almost 22, Amihere is a powerhouse. The Ontario native averaged 7.1 points per outing on 48% shooting last season for the Gamecocks but consistently showed glimpses of greatness.
In the 2021 NCAA Tournament, Amihere set a March Madness record, recording nine blocks against Texas. In the 2023 SEC Tournament, Amihere nearly doubled her season-scoring average while shooting 60% from the field. South Carolina Dawn Staley head coach believes in Amihere’s potential.
“Of all the players that will make that transition to the league, she’ll probably transition the best,” Staley said in an interview with Sports Illustrated. “Probably not any of them besides Aliyah (Boston) has a legitimate chance of starting for a franchise. … But she’ll play her natural position off the bench and will be a bang off the bench for a WNBA team.”
With Rhyne Howard coming off a fantastic offseason in Italy, the Dream’s upcoming season could be a “bang,” as well. The 2023 WNBA season begins in late May with Atlanta’s first game coming on May 20 against the Dallas Wings at 1:00 p.m. on ABC.
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