WNBA DRAFT

April 11, 2022

Rhyne Howard

Atlanta Dream

Q. You helped put Kentucky's women's basketball on the map, on a national playing stage. How do you plan to translate your success at Kentucky into the WNBA now?

RHYNE HOWARD: I just want to do that by my competitive spirit and the will to never give up and always fight and just maintain my composure and stay calm, cool, and collected. I think that's what really helped me to become successful and I just really want to have an impact on the team, like when I get there and just continue to make everyone better.

Q. What does it mean to you to be drafted first and you go to a team I think 75 miles from where you grew up?

RHYNE HOWARD: Yeah, give or take. First off, for it to be so close is huge. It'll mean a lot of family and close friends will be able to come and support me. But to go first, I don't even have words for it right now. I'm still kind of shaking. But it is super exciting, and I'm proud of what I've done, proud of myself, and thankful for everyone that's been on this journey with me and that's helped me to get here.

Q. Can you just describe a little bit what you think about your game? Are you ready for the next level? What are some things that you're really excited to refine when you get to the league?

RHYNE HOWARD: I personally do think I'm ready just because I'm so competitive, like I mentioned before. But I am ready to just keep improving on how hard I'm working, just the little things that teams are going to need. So, I personally think I'm very versatile, so whatever position I'm playing, I like to match for those positions, and if they need me to work on something specific, so whatever the case may be, I'm willing to do it.

Q. I'm curious if you could talk a little bit about what it was like to compete in college this year, draft tonight, training camp in a few weeks now. Was that all on your mind as you were going through this collegiate season or were you kind of blocking it out?

RHYNE HOWARD: During the season I kind of blocked it out. I wanted to be there for my team and focus on where my shoes were, and I knew that wouldn't have been possible if I was focusing on the next level, which was months to come so early. But actually it wasn't too difficult because my teammates, like they obviously knew what the next level was, but I was like, hey, I'm here for y'all, like whatever y'all need me to do, I'll do it, and I was just there to compete and just work with them and play with them. It was like my last year in college, so...

Q. I'm just wondering what you think success would look like for you in the first year. What do you hope to accomplish by the end of your first season in the WNBA?

RHYNE HOWARD: By the end of my first season, a goal is really Rookie of the Year, but I want to be part of a winning team. That's the end goal.

Q. What were your conversations like with the Dream leading up to this and with Tanisha [Wright] and Renee Montgomery specifically, and what are they expecting from you in your first year?

RHYNE HOWARD: Yeah, so we met a couple of times, and they were just asking me simple questions like how do I lead or how do I compete, asked me like could I step up to the challenge and work hard every day, whether it's practice or games, and I was like, yeah, like I believe in myself and I believe I can, and I was just basically selling myself, like this is a business. So, I was just proving to them why I believe I'm the right fit for them.

Q. I want to know if you have any advice for little girls coming up playing basketball, wanting to make it to the league, even wanting to make it to the collegiate level. Obviously, you have success and you're going to be the poster for success after tonight and continuing into the future. What would you tell those little girls?

RHYNE HOWARD: Always believe in yourself. If somebody says you can't do it, then you have no choice but to prove that you can. Always work on your craft and keep those who want to see you succeed around you. Other than that, believe in yourself always, like never doubt yourself, because as soon as that happens, you won't achieve what you want.