Rhyne Howard dominates former Kentucky coach's team

On3 image — Photo by Eddie Justice | UK Athletics

Rhyne Howard made a statement this weekend.

Digging into the numbers

On Sunday afternoon, the Kentucky legend led the Atlanta Dream to a convincing 75-66 victory over the Indiana Fever. Howard had a dominant performance, dropping a team-high 16 points on 6-11 shooting from the field. Additionally, she recorded five rebounds, two assists and a +/- of +8.

Of course, no game is complete without Howard breaking a record. Although it is discreet, the former Wildcat made history again on Sunday. Making two 3-pointers in the triumph, Howard tied the WNBA record for most 3-pointers made in a player’s first three career games against the Indiana Fever.

It's been #RhyneTime here in the 3rd! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/DcqZHzxIv9
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) June 5, 2022

Rhyne Howard and Nia Coffey showing up on defense and offense here. Big wings who can switch on defense and hit shots so important. Even with Coffey's shot sometimes abandoning her.
— Peter Kilkelly (@5outbasketball) June 5, 2022

Howard’s record-setting numbers aren’t empty statistics. The Dream are 3-0 against the Fever this season, winning by an average margin of 12.3 points per game. Ironically, a former ‘Cat is at the receiving end of Howard’s record-setting performances.

Rhyne Howard’s connection to the Fever

Former Kentucky special assistant to the head coach Lin Dunn is currently the Fever’s interim general manager. Dunn began her role at Kentucky in 2016 and joined the Fever this Febuary. In other words, Dunn knows Howard’s ability all too well.

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In fact, Dunn predicted Howard’s success before she was even drafted.

“Rhyne is uniquely prepared for the next level. I think there are a couple of players, two or three players in this draft that I think are going to have a smooth transition into the pros and are not only going to play but they’re going to have an impact, and I think Rhyne Howard is one of those players,” Dunn said in a teleconference on April 7.

Unfortunately for Dunn and the Fever, who owned the No. 2 and No. 4 pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, her prediciton was devastatingly accurate. Howard has already won WNBA Rookie of the Month, been named an Eastern Conference Player of the Week and is a probable All-Star. In a fairy-tale styled twist, Dunn’s fantastic fortune-telling predicted her own team’s fate.