Tag: Rhyne Howard

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:

Rhyne Howard hopes to have impact on WNBA like Candace Parker

Howard made Atlanta Dream history on Sunday as the fastest player to reach 1,000 career points.

Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard recently became the fastest player in WNBA history to make 150 career 3-pointers. And in the Dream’s win over the Washington Mystics on Sunday, Howard made franchise history as the fastest player to reach 1,000 points.

Howard was the first pick in the 2022 WNBA draft when the Dream selected her out of Kentucky. She was the first player ever drafted No. 1 overall in the WNBA draft in school history and left the program as the all-time top 3-point shooter and a two-time SEC Player of the Year. Howard was named the WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2022.

This season, Howard is averaging 17.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. Although she only had 11 points in Atlanta’s win against Washington, it was all she needed to reach the franchise record. She also recorded five rebounds, five steals and two blocks in the win.

When asked what impact she hopes to leave on the WNBA, Howard said: “Obviously, you see people breaking records every day, and you always see, ‘Since Candace Parker.’ I want to have an impact like that.”

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Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard became the fastest player to reach 150 3-pointers

The Dream defeated the Mercury on Tuesday at home in front of their eighth sellout crowd this season.

The Atlanta Dream defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 78-65, on Tuesday at home in front of their eighth sellout crowd this season. Rhyne Howard put on a show and became the fastest player in WNBA history to make 150 career 3-pointers.

“She’s that good,” Dream head coach Tanisha Wright said. “She’s a generational talent. Not too many people like her come through our league, so when we see those, we gotta appreciate them in the moment.”

The previous record was held by Katie Smith, who reached 150 career triples in 65 games, but Howard reached the milestone in 57 games.

The Dream had bench players score 42 points in their win against Phoenix. Howard had 10 points, three rebounds and two steals. This season, Howard is averaging 18.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.

Atlanta returns to action on Thursday against the New York Liberty.

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Naz Hillmon records impressive record in Athletes Unlimited game

Naz Hillmon broke the Athletes Unlimited single-game leaderboard points record.

Naz Hillmon broke the Athletes Unlimited single-game leaderboard points record with 834 points. The scoring system for Athletes Unlimited is different from traditional scoring systems. This system allows players to earn points for more than just scoring, which rewards players with other skill sets such as ball thieves, bigs who block and rebounding gawds.

Hillmon played college basketball at Michigan and was its first All-American in its women’s basketball program. She was the first Michigan basketball player – male or female – in school history to score 2,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds. Hillmon recorded a double-double in the team’s four games in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, finishing her career with 52 total.

She was drafted 15th overall by the Atlanta Dream in the 2022 WNBA draft and started in 12 of 24 games played in her first season. Before the start of the 2023 WNBA season, Hillmon joined Athletes Unlimited for its second season of play and she is turning heads.

Even her Atlanta Dream teammate Rhyne Howard, who was drafted first overall in the 2022 WNBA draft, noticed Hillmon’s stellar performance.

Since Hillmon was top four in points in Week 2 of Athletes Unlimited, she was selected as a team captain and drafted a new team for Week 3. To learn more about Athletes Unlimited and its scoring system, look at the video below:

The Athletes Unlimited basketball season ends on March 25. The WNBA 2023 season kicks off on May 19. Hillmon and the Dream play against the Dallas Wings on May 20 at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.

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2023 WNBA draft is April 10 and to be televised exclusively on ESPN

This year’s draft class is exceptionally talented with South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston leading the way.

The 2023 WNBA draft will be held on Monday, April 10. It will be exclusively televised on ESPN from 7-9 p.m. EST and available on the ESPN app.

According to the WNBA’s website, fans have multiple ways to get involved with the draft and follow along:

Launching in March, Draft Central on wnba.com will enable fans to access multiple offerings in the days leading up to the draft. Elements will include an interactive draft board; prospect profiles with insights powered by SAP; in-depth features on the top draft prospects; coverage of all draft events; and more.

Fans will also be able to access an array of content across WNBA channels that will include the unique stories and personalities of the prospects via Instagram and TikTok; a Twitter Spaces mock draft debate; cross platform live coverage including the Orange Carpet and more.

The draft consists of three rounds and 36 picks. The WNBA only has 144 roster spots, so the higher a player is picked the larger likelihood they will make a roster. Only a small percentage of players drafted make a WNBA roster.

The league is looking to expand in the next few years, but has no concrete plans for expanded rosters. Leagues such as Athletes Unlimited provide 44 more roster spots for elite basketball players to play domestically, but many opine it is still not enough to harness the sheer talent of women’s basketball players in the United States.

However, the top picks of the draft are almost guaranteed a spot. The last 10 No. 1 overall draft picks were:

2013: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury

2014: Chiney Ogwumike, Connecticut Sun

2015: Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm

2016: Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm

2017: Kelsey Plum, Las Vegas Aces (formerly San Antonio Stars)

2018: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

2019: Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces

2020: Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty

2021: Charli Collier, Dallas Wings

2022: Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream

The WNBA held its 22nd annual draft lottery on Nov. 11 to determine the order. The Indiana Fever received the first pick. The Minnesota Lynx have the second pick. The Atlanta Dream are third and the Washington Mystics (via Los Angeles Sparks) have the fourth pick.

The full lineup of picks for the first round is below:

Pick Team
1 Indiana Fever
2 Minnesota Lynx
3 Atlanta Dream
4 Washington Mystics (via Los Angeles)
5 Chicago Sky (via Phoenix)
6 New York Liberty
7 Indiana Fever (via Dallas)
8 Atlanta Dream (via Washington)
9 Seattle Storm
10 Connecticut Sun
11 Dallas Wings (via Chicago)
12 Minnesota Lynx (via Las Vegas)

This year’s draft class is exceptionally talented with South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston leading the way. She is projected to go No. 1 in the draft and when you look at her 2022 accomplishments, not to mention her whole career, it is hard to disagree.

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To no one’s surprise, Rhyne Howard cruises to 2022 WNBA Rookie of the Year Award

Your WNBA Rookie of the Year, Rhyne Howard.

The 2022 WNBA Rookie of the Year Award belongs to the Atlanta Dream’s Rhyne Howard, the league announced on Thursday afternoon.

Howard received 53 of the 56 possible votes to put a bow on a fantastic rookie season in which she averaged 16.2 points per game, broke the rookie three-point record, earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors after her first week of games, and was named a WNBA All-Star.

With Howard winning Rookie of the Year, the award now returns to the draft’s No. 1-overall pick for the first time since 2018 when A’ja Wilson took home the honors.

It is also just the second time ever, and first since Angel McCoughtry in 2009, an Atlanta Dream player was named Rookie of the Year.

Here are some of the best moments from Rhyne Howard’s rookie season:

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