NFL
By: Nick Andre
The Atlanta Dream are 2-2 through their first four games of the season. Don’t worry, it’s not time to hit the panic button yet. However, the Dream would like to make adjustments now before it’s too late. Many storylines have been big topics through week one of the WNBA season. As the Dream look to continue their reign as playoff contenders, it all starts with their All-Star guard Rhyne Howard.
Rhyne Howard is a star amongst stars in Atlanta. Her name shines bright as fans in the city acknowledge what she has done for the city in her four-year career. Ever since her arrival in 2022, Howard was the centerpiece in the Dream’s rebuild. The franchise knew they had a star on their hands and took advantage of surrounding her with quality talent that could help her win.
There’s a reason why Howard is beloved in Atlanta. She’s a fun-spirited person and her personality also shows on the basketball court. Howard is one of the premier scorers in the WNBA with her tremendous three-point shooting. While stars like Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu receive credit for their incredible shooting, Howard should also be in the conversation as one of the best shooters in the league.
While Howard can score the basketball at a high level, she has been challenged to impact the game in other ways. Leadership has always been a role that Howard has been in. You can date back to her days at Kentucky as she led them as one of the top contenders in the SEC. However, leading a WNBA franchise was a new challenge for Howard. Luckily, she’s embraced her role as the centerpiece of the team and has found ways to carry the team.
One way is Howard continuing to build team chemistry, certainly, fans have seen many of the Dream’s TikTok dances across social media. That’s where the chemistry begins. The dances show a sign of trust for Howard. The rest of her teammates have her trust that she has the best intentions for them. It also carries over to the court as Howard finds ways to bring the best out of her team.
Howard’s leadership shows in her communication. It’s about taking time to talk with your teammates and allowing them to understand. Howard can encourage her teammates while also showing criticism for their mistakes. Communication is a form of art in basketball that makes a team great. Howard’s communication has played a huge role in why she’s beloved by her team.
Encouragement is also where trust rolls back around. Howard understands the talent that she’s surrounded with. Therefore, her goal is to help maximize their game with her playmaking. Passing is an area where we’ve seen the growth of Rhyne Howard. As the defense focuses on her offense, she elevates the Dream by continuing to find teammates in their spots to score the ball. Through three games, Howard has averaged 3.6 assists. No, that’s not a lot compared to other guards in the WNBA. However, she’s continued to help her teammates provide offense that doesn’t show in the stat sheet.
While Howard has elevated her game as a passer, don’t forget she can also score the ball at a high level. Howard understands when to take over offensively. When her team is in a funk, that’s her time to shine and provide a spark for the Dream. Surely, it’s a big responsibility to put a team on your back offensively. However, Howard shows that she’s built for it. As a professional scorer, Howard has provided many high-scoring games that have led to Dream wins.
It’s safe to say that as you read this, the Atlanta Dream walks to the beat of Rhyne Howard’s drum. As the franchise player, she must lead her team in multiple ways. Sure, it’s great to watch Howard explode for big-scoring performances. However, game plans change every game. Howard’s leadership is a reason why the Dream have remained in playoff contention. As the season continues, she’ll continue to find ways to bring the best out of her team.
