Tag: Rhyne Howard

Caitlin Clark tied Rhyne Howard for the WNBA rookie record for 3-pointers in a season with the latter guarding the attempt

Alright, this is pretty cool.

Indiana Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark made even more WNBA rookie history on Monday night against the Atlanta Dream.

On her fourth 3-pointer of the night, Clark tied Dream guard Rhyne Howard for the WNBA rookie record for 3-pointers in a season with 85.

To make it even cooler of a moment, Clark made the basket with Howard guarding the attempt for Atlanta.

Making history while the person who holds the record is trying to stop is high theater, as Clark knows how to keep things cinematic during her rookie campaign.

Howard is one of the best 3-point shooters in the WNBA, and Clark tying her rookie record while she’s in pursuit to stop is pretty fascinating.

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Team USA 3×3 hooper Rhyne Howard launched the coldest OT game-winning shot against Canada

Rhyne, please. Those women have families.

Happy Friday to Rhyne Howard and to Rhyne Howard only.

For days, we’ve wondered why Team USA 3×3 basketball teams have been so bad. There are a number of factors, but suddenly, things are grooving and moving right along. The women’s team lost its first three games of pool play but has now won three straight thanks to some seriously gritty effort.

The team won two matchups Friday, including a back-and-forth thriller with Canada that went into overtime. During extra play, Canada scored very quickly by drawing the U.S. to one area and backdoor cutting to the basket for an easy score. But on the next play — with a body all over her — Rhyne Howard DRAINED a game-winning two-point heave. SWISH. BOOM. BANGGGG. EAGLE SCREECHES. HELLO, USA. HELLO, HUGE WIN.

The shot was absolutely filthy and simply incredible because Howard has been ice-cold from two-point land, but she nailed a shot when it counted.

Fans were super impressed with the bucket and started dropping all kinds of celebratory tweets on social media.

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2024 Summer Olympics: Tuesday’s best bets, picks and predictions

Analyzing Tuesday’s Summer Olympics odds and lines, with expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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The 2024 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, run through Aug. 11 in Paris, France. We’ll review the best bets for Tuesday. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines for the best bets and prop plays for Tuesday’s Olympic action, and make our expert Summer Olympic picks and predictions.

Each day we’ll check out the best bets, as well as the top prop plays when applicable.

For Tuesday, July 30, it’s another busy day of Olympic action. We’ll get plenty of men’s and women’s badminton, women’s handball, men’s and women’s shooting, men’s volleyball, men’s and women’s rowing, men’s and women’s beach volleyball, men’s field hockey, judo, men’s and women’s table tennis, men’s water polo, men’s basketball, men’s and women’s boxing, equestrian, men’s and women’s swimming, men’s archery, men’s and women’s sailing, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s cycling, women’s fencing, women’s rugby, women’s canoe, men’s soccer, men’s and women’s surfing, men’s and women’s 3×3 basketball, among others.

Medals will be awarded in team shooting, mixed table tennis, judo, women’s artistic gymnastics, women’s rugby, women’s fencing, men’s and women’s swimming and men’s and women’s surfing.

Tuesday’s 2024 Olympics best bets

Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 7:26 a.m. ET.

Men’s 3×3 basketball: LATVIA -1.5 (-106) vs. Lithuania

In the Men’s pool round of 3×3 basketball, Latvia looks to get off to a quick start in defense of its gold medal from the Tokyo games. Latvia matches up with fellow Baltic nation Lithuania at 12:35 p.m. ET.

Latvia will have Francis Lacis, Karlis Lasmanis, Nauris Miezis and Zigmars Raimo on the roster as it looks to successfully defend its gold medal in the inaugural Olympics competition of this event in the 2020 games. Lasmanis and Miezis were on the roster for gold in Tokyo, too.

The Latvians are tied with host France for the 3rd-shortest odds (+600) to win the gold medal behind co-favorites USA and Serbia (+170 each). On the flip side, Lithuania (+1400) has rather poor odds.

Back the defending champs, especially with the experienced Lasmanis and Miezis leading the charge.

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Men’s 3×3 basketball: FRANCE -2.5 (-122) vs. Poland

The host nation gets underway at 4:05 p.m. ET at La Concorde, and the Poles aren’t expected to offer much resistance.

As mentioned above, France is tied with defending gold medalists Latvia (+600) for the 3rd-shortest odds to secure gold in Paris.

Poland (+4000) is the biggest long shot.

Lucas Dussoulier, Jules Rambaut, Franck Seguela and Timothe Vergiat comprise the roster for the French side. This assortment should get off to a quick start, especially with the backing of the home crowd, against a team not expected to do much. BET FRANCE -2.5 (+122).

Women’s 3×3 basketball: USA -5.5 (-122) vs. Germany

Team USA enters the event as the gold medal favorite, led by WNBA stars Dearica Hamby (LA Sparks) and Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream), TCU’s Hailey Van Lith and retired WNBA veteran Cierra Burdick. This game is scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m. ET.

Burdick, who played at the University of Tennessee 2011-15 before a 5-year WNBA career with 7 teams, was a member on the 2022 US World Cup team as well as the 2023 US World Cup champions in Vienna, along with Van Lith.

Van Lith transferred to TCU in the offseason after starring at Louisville for 3 seasons and at LSU her senior year last season.

The Americans also won gold in Santiago, Chile in the 2023 Pan American Games with Burdick on the roster.

Germany should serve as nothing more than a speed bump as Team USA gets off to a fast start in its quest for a 2nd consecutive gold medal.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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More USA TODAY Summer Olympics coverage:
News | Medal count | Meet Team USA

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2024 Olympic Games 3×3 men’s and women’s schedule announced

The USA 3×3 men’s and women’s national teams are slated to compete July 30-Aug. 5 in Paris.

With a little more than a month until the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony, FIBA announced the official schedule for the 3×3 basketball competition. The United States 3×3 men’s and women’s national teams are slated to compete July 30-Aug. 5 at Place de la Concorde.

The competition has eight teams on the men’s and women’s sides. Each team will play every other country before a play-in for teams placed third through sixth. The top two teams advance directly to the semifinals, and the bottom two teams in both pools will be eliminated.

“With less than 40 days to the Opening Ceremony in Paris, we are excited to know USA Basketball’s 3×3 pool play schedule as Games preparations continue,” said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball CEO. “We are looking forward to cheering the women’s team as they defend Olympic gold and watching the men’s squad compete for the first time on the Olympic stage.”

The American women, who are the reigning Olympic champions, face Germany in the first 3×3 game at 11:30 a.m. ET on July 30. The women’s roster consists of four athletes, including Cameron Brink, Cierra Burdick, Rhyne Howard and Hailey Van Lith. The team’s head coach is Jennifer Rizzotti, assisted by coach Tammi Reiss. 

The men open group play against Serbia on July 30, followed by Poland on July 31 with both games starting at 4:35 p.m. ET. The roster consists of Canyon Barry, Jimmer Fredette, Kareem Maddox and Dylan Travis, with head coach Joe Lewandowski and assistant James Fraschilla rounding out the team.

Broadcast information, opponent rosters and more will be announced at a later date.

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The U.S. Olympics 3×3 women’s roster featuring Rhyne Howard and Cameron Brink is almost too stacked

Rhyne Howard, Cameron Brink and Hailey Van Lith is a nightmare 3×3 for the other Olympics teams.

Atlanta Dream star Rhyne Howard and Los Angeles Sparks rookie Cameron Brink will headline the women’s 3×3 national team, and we send our condolences to the competition.

Cameron Brink has absolutely been tearing it up during her rookie season. Now she will team up with Atlanta Dream guard and two-time WNBA All-Star Rhyne Howard — with a little help from TCU Horned Frogs transfer Hailey Van Lith and former WNBA player Cierra Burdick — to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The other teams are in trouble, we fear.

This roster includes three members of the 2023 3×3 national team — Brink, Van Lith and Burdick — that won gold at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 World Cup. Plus, Burdick was also on the 2014 USA squad that won gold. Did we mention that Brink’s ridiculous blocking abilities will pair nicely with Howard’s ability to break ankles? May the odds be ever in your favor.

Here’s a quick reminder on how 3×3 basketball works. Per the official Olympic site, 3×3 basketball is played on half a court with two competing teams. Each team has three players who will play on the same basket.

The goal is to get the highest score at the end of a 10-minute period or be the first team to score 21 points. The typical 3-point line that players use in most forms of basketball is instead a two-point line, and any shot made inside the line will be considered one point.

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Hailey Van Lith joins seasoned pros on FIBA 3×3 roster ahead of Paris

The teams were composed of players various levels, including the WNBA, NCAA and Athletes Unlimited.

If you are a phenomenal player, it doesn’t matter if you are still in college or a seasoned professional player. USA Basketball was represented by two teams at the 2024 FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series opener with players from the WNBA, NCAA, Athletes Unlimited and the international level.

After winning the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, the United States is looking to repeat in Paris. Team USA consisted of Hailey Van Lith, Cierra Burdick, Lexie Hull and Rhyne Howard. The other roster, Team Springfield, boasted Allisha Gray, Cameron Brink, Dearica Hamby and Linnae Harper.

Team USA took second to Canada in the final at the Springfield stop of the series, falling short, 20-18. The teams competing in the series consisted of athletes from Canada, France, Germany and Puerto Rico.

The 3×3 game is a bit different than the 5×5 full-court basketball. For example, 3×3 is played on a half-court with a 10-minute game clock. The first team to score 21 points via 1-point field goals or 2-pointers behind the arc is victorious. If neither team reaches 21 before time expires, the team with the most points wins.

“I just like how free-flowing it is; there’s a lot of room for error,” Brink said. “If you mess up, you just have to move on to the next possession immediately.”

The FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series “offers women a chance to play 3×3 at the highest competitive level regularly, representing a unique opportunity to bring new countries and players into the limelight and to recognize the best and upcoming players in the industry.” The event culminates in a 3×3 World Cup and then the Olympic Games in Paris.

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Aliyah Boston sees ‘the game in a different way’ as a studio analyst

Boston believes being an analyst for the Big Ten this season will enable her to see the game in a different way.

Indiana Fever forward-center Aliyah Boston will be a studio analyst for Big Ten women’s basketball coverage this season on Peacock. She was also announced as one of the members of the new cohort of WNBA marketing and promotional agreements, which will keep her stateside this offseason.

“I am super excited to be working with the Big Ten,” Boston said on NBC Sports. “I think the Big Ten as a whole is just a talented conference. Being a top athlete allows for me to be comfortable with this in the sense that I see the game in a different way versus just being on the outside looking in. I’ve been able to play against some of these girls. I’ve been playing basketball since I was 9 years old, so really just to be able to see what’s happening and be able to understand it like this, I think, is really going to help me.”

She joins other players with studio jobs, including Los Angeles Sparks players Chiney Ogwumike and Lexie Brown. Former No. 1 overall pick Rhyne Howard also recently announced an offseason job in collegiate basketball with her hire at the University of Florida as the assistant coach and director of player personnel. She will also be joining Boston as one of the players selected for the WNBA marketing and promotional agreements.

Players are starting to have more choices when it comes to staying stateside for the offseason or playing abroad. It was recently announced that Rutgers alum Kahleah Copper will also stay in the United States this offseason as the Director of Athletic Culture and Professional Development on the Scarlet Knights women’s basketball staff for the 2023-24 season.

Olympic gold medalist and two-time WNBA All-Star Ariel Atkins will be joining Michigan’s staff as the assistant coach for player development.

“I’m excited to be joining the Michigan staff, working next to Coach Arico, being on the other side of the ball and sharing my knowledge and experience with the players,” Atkins said.

Each season, players of the WNBA are provided more opportunities to earn income while also being able to rest their bodies in the offseason. Brands and organizations seem to finally understand the value and insight these players can bring off the court.

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Dream guard Rhyne Howard feels future WNBA players won’t want to play overseas

While players have differing perspectives on staying home or playing overseas, the big change to seasons past is the choice.

Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard will be staying in the United States this offseason due to multiple job opportunities. Howard recently joined the University of Florida women’s basketball team as an assistant coach and director of player personnel while also being selected as one of the new cohort of players for WNBA marketing and promotional agreements.

Howard played last offseason in Italy for Famila Wuber Schio, but she did not feel like overseas play was what she wanted to do in the offseason. Many players don’t have a choice when it comes to taking a break during the offseason or playing overseas because of financial reasons. However, more opportunities are provided to these players to keep them stateside if they want to stay.

“Just being able to have that (freedom) to not go overseas and also find things where I can still make money, it’s helpful,” Howard told Andscape. “Especially for this generation. I feel like a lot of kids in my generation, and the generation coming up are not going to want to play overseas as well.”

Former Connecticut Sun forward Brionna Jones, and current free agent, has spent seven years in a row overseas. This year, she has also been selected for a WNBA marketing and promotional agreement.

“I’ve been playing for seven years (straight) now. This is my first offseason not playing,” Jones said.

Jones shared the benefits of staying home during the offseason, although she is a proponent of playing overseas.

“The top one is just being able to spend time with my family and friends,” Jones said. “Then being able to work on things specifically without having to think about (having a game). Just being able to have that time in between, rest my body and do all the recovery that I need to do when the WNBA season starts.”

While players have differing perspectives on staying home or playing overseas, the big change to seasons past is the choice. Many players can now choose to stay home or play abroad. In years past, players did not have the opportunity to stay in the United States. More opportunities will continue to arise stateside with the increased influx of sponsorship dollars into the league and increased viewership.

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WNBA roundtable: 6 stars (including Aliyah Boston!) share their most-embarrassing mid-game moments and more

We asked some WNBA stars the deeper questions, like things they probably don’t want many to know.

All offseason long, For The Win has been catching up with WNBA stars as they do things that are important to them, like promoting financial education for players or joining other basketball leagues to keep their skills fresh.

For the Win asked several players various questions to help fans get to know them a little better. We decided to use the time to learn more about what makes them tick – and dish on some less serious moments in the W.

Some athletes were also made available through the WNBA’s Player Marketing Agreement (PMA) program, which was designed to create a holistic player experience and additional opportunities for players to earn income throughout the year. The program also helps players build their personal brands while connecting them to league partners through tentpole events and culturally relevant spaces.

“It was part of our overall marketing strategy,” Head of League Operatios Bethany Donaphin explained. “We thought, ‘How can we highlight player stories and elevate players across the league in a multifaceted way?’ Being able to have a platform that allows us to support players while they support the growth of the league was important.”

Aliyah Boston, Rhyne Howard, Jewell Loyd, Napheesa Collier, Sydney Colson all got to share their stories with For The Win recently. Here’s what they had to say about the growth of the WNBA, their personal brands and some of their more unfortunate moments on the court.

 

These answers have been condensed and edited for clarity.

WNBA playoffs predictions: Will the Liberty crush the Aces’ chances of winning back-to-back?

For basketball heads everywhere, the WNBA playoffs are an out-of-body experience.

The WNBA playoffs are here. This is when regular season records mean nothing, and wins mean everything. It’s buzzer beaters, emphatically blocked shots, “what did I just see?” moments and scoring so good you’ll need a pulse check.

For basketball heads everywhere, this is an out-of-body experience. The level of play is elevated, and so are the expectations.

Will the Lynx fly too close to the Sun? (See what I did there?) Will the Liberty crush the Aces’ chances of winning back-to-back titles?

Who wins? Who’s out?

These are your 2023 WNBA playoff predictions: