Howard charts leadership growth ahead of Dream Finals bid

Drafted in 2022, now All-Defensive First Team

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

Leading the way in Atlanta 🗣️ Rhyne Howard reflects on how her leadership has evolved since being drafted by the @Atl Via @WNBA on X

What happened: Rhyne Howard traced how her leadership changed since her 2022 draft arrival in Atlanta. Atlanta meets the Valkyries in the 2026 WNBA Finals.

Why it matters: Atlanta reached its first Finals since 2013, putting a premium on homegrown leadership. Howard, Reese and Canada swept All-Defensive honors to anchor that run.

By the numbers: Howard became the youngest player to reach 500 career threes in September. She scored 21 points with 2 rebounds in her most recent outing.

What to watch: The 2026 WNBA Finals open with Atlanta facing the Valkyries. Howard's opening defensive assignments will set the early tone.

Sources

@WNBA 2026-10-16T21:57:03.974515+00:00

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