Rhyne Howard has emerged as a pivotal figure for the Atlanta Dream during their recent 88-82 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday, delivering 15 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. This performance, complemented by her ongoing efforts to build strong chemistry with Brittney Griner and take on increased leadership duties, underscores her critical role in the Dream’s ascent this season.
Amid Jordin Canada’s absence due to a right knee injury, Howard has stepped up to handle more playmaking responsibilities, demonstrating her adaptability and commitment to the team‘s success. As the Dream prepare to face the Seattle Storm next, Howard’s development in both scoring and defense remains central to Atlanta’s ambitions.
Howard’s Expanded Role and Team Impact
With Canada sidelined for the first six games after sustaining a knee injury in preseason, the Dream have leaned heavily on Howard’s all-around contributions. She is averaging 15 points per game while reaching personal bests with 5.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists, showcasing her growing influence beyond scoring. Head coach Karl Smesko highlighted Howard’s defensive prowess, calling her “an elite wing defender” with the versatility to guard various positions.
“She’s off to a really good start for us in terms of distributing the ball and defending on the other end,”
—Karl Smesko, Head Coach
Smesko also noted the coaching team remains unsure when Canada will return, but confirmed her progress is encouraging. Meanwhile, Howard has logged a career-high 36.2 minutes per game, managing the extra workload despite dips in shooting efficiency, with field-goal and three-point percentages at career lows of 30.4% and 26.2% respectively. The coach emphasized that these numbers reflect a small sample size and do not diminish her overall consistency.
“She’s exerting a lot of effort on the defensive end. She’s really competing on that end, and then she’s bringing up the ball and getting us into things. Then we’re going to ask her to be an efficient scorer on top of that. It’s just a lot to ask. But there have been several games where she has had three or four shots rim in and out. And as soon as they start falling, we’re going to have a huge game and the efficiency will come with everything else.”
—Karl Smesko, Head Coach
Building Chemistry with Brittney Griner
Howard credits her off-court friendship with Brittney Griner as a foundational element in their immediate on-court success during their first season as teammates. Their previous experiences with Team USA allowed them to develop mutual respect and understanding, easing their transition into a shared system at Atlanta.
She explained how familiarity with Griner’s playing style and preferences facilitates their partnership, enabling open communication and adjustments without conflict.
“Having that genuine friendship off the court definitely helps when you’re on the court. It helps knowing what type of player she is, what type of person she is and what type of looks she likes. We’re able to be open with each other about what we’re seeing and what we don’t like from each other,”
Howard said.
Howard emphasized the importance of respect and openness throughout the whole team, creating an environment free from unnecessary disputes.
One of the key aspects of their collaboration is their two-player dynamic, where Howard’s ability to come off screens and draw defensive attention creates valuable opportunities for Griner inside, while Griner’s ability to attract defenders opens perimeter shots for Howard and others.
“I think our two-man game is the biggest help because being able to come off the screen and have all the attention, it makes for an easier pass to her. For her to draw the attention on the inside, it makes for open shots for us on the perimeter. To be able to have somebody who is both a great scorer and myself, and also have great passers is great. We’re both very unselfish players. Oftentimes, we both probably hear that we’re a little too unselfish. But being able to have that and the selflessness and want for everybody to be successful is the key.”
—Rhyne Howard, Player
Adapting Leadership in a Challenging Season
Howard acknowledges that stepping into a playmaking role has broadened her leadership responsibilities, especially with Canada’s absence. Balancing scoring and creating opportunities for teammates has tested her adaptability and growth.
“Whenever somebody goes down, you always have to give a little bit more. So playing the point guard position obviously has helped my leadership. But I’m still being able to playmake both on and off the ball. I think that’s really been helpful for our team. I haven’t been scoring a lot, but I’m still making other plays. So we’re still winning by a lot. So it’s like, ‘Does she even have to score a lot?’ Knowing that I can still have a great game offensively. It’ll only be that more dangerous when it all comes together.”
—Rhyne Howard, Player
Looking ahead to the full roster returning, Howard envisions the team being recognized as a powerful contender.
“I think they’re going to start calling us a ‘Super Team.’ When we get everybody back, they’re going to be trying to investigate us.”
—Rhyne Howard, Player
Insights into Team Culture and Off-Court Activities
Beyond the court, Howard discussed how participation in events like Unrivaled, a competitive 3-on-3 format, has aided the team’s mental and physical preparation. The event blends elements of physicality and strategy, contributing to players’ development in ways that translate to the traditional five-on-five game.
“It was fun. I think everybody getting a chance to see what 3-on-3 is like was very beneficial. It was a little more 5-on-5 technique because there was a full court and timeouts. But the physicality is still the same. To be able to have the physical game in 3-on-3 and bring it to 5-on-5 helps with the mental aspect and the physical energy to have and maintain. I think that’s been helpful, not just for me, but for everybody.”
—Rhyne Howard, Player
She also described the friendly atmosphere surrounding Unrivaled, where players balance competition and camaraderie.
“I think it was fun. Obviously, a lot of people call it ‘summer camp.’ Everybody is down there making TikTok’s and just having fun. It was good to still be able to do the thing that you love, while still staying at home and being able to see the people that you love.”
—Rhyne Howard, Player
Handling Physical Play and On-Court Rivalries
Howard addressed a recent physical encounter with Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, clarifying that her intense defense is part of her commitment to stopping opponents and not personal confrontation.
“I’m coming. Your goal on defense is not to let your opponent score and not let them get easy looks. It happened to be with her, but it could happen with anybody, just with the way I’m approaching the defensive side of the ball. So it’s nothing there. It wasn’t anything negative. I was just trying to do my job.”
—Rhyne Howard, Player
The competitive spirit also extends to friendly social media exchanges, such as Howard’s playful banter with fellow player Lexie Hull, which reflects the close relationships players maintain off the court despite on-court competition.
Howard explained their interactions strengthened at Unrivaled and continue as a testament to strong friendships that can coexist with rivalry.
“We’ve always been pretty good friends. But definitely at ‘Unrivaled,’ it made our friendships become stronger. Even after ‘Unrivaled,’ I had gone to Indy and spent time with her and hung out. Our friendship, we’re always going to be close. So to be able to joke with her and post on Instagram and put her on there, it gives people a look that we actually are friends. People can still be friends and go at each other on the court.”
Looking Forward: The Future of the Atlanta Dream
As Rhyne Howard continues to develop her leadership and deepen her chemistry with Brittney Griner, the Atlanta Dream are positioned to build on their strong start. The return of Jordin Canada promises to ease Howard’s high usage and restore balance, allowing the team to unleash its full potential.
Coach Smesko’s confidence in Howard’s versatility on both ends of the court marks her as a cornerstone for the Dream’s future success. The evolving dynamics suggest that as individual players return to health and synchronicity improves, Atlanta could emerge as a dominant force in the WNBA.
Overall, Howard’s dedication to leading with unselfish play and fostering strong connections with teammates like Griner highlight the qualities driving the Dream’s rise this season and beyond.