Rhyne Howard Fights Back Tears After Atlanta Dream’s WNBA Finals Breakthrough: 'It Didn’t Hit Me'

Atlanta Dream star Rhyne Howard is relishing the opportunity to compete for a WNBA Championship after helping the franchise reach the WNBA Finals.

With one week remaining before the start of the best-of-seven series, Howard reflected on what this achievement meant to a team that has worked for years to reach it.

“It didn’t hit me until a little later, but when it did, it was like…yeah,” Howard said fighting tears on Tuesday.

“We just worked so hard to get here, and it’s been a rough five years. So to finally be here, it’s not something we just let go of easily.”

The best part of being in sports media is getting to see these athletes grow, achieve more success & reach milestones they’ve dreamed of for some time.

So when I asked Dream’s Rhyne Howard about the moment she knew they were going to the WNBA Finals, I got emotional with her.

The former No. 1 overall pick out of Kentucky has played a significant role in Atlanta’s success this season. Across 43 games played, the four-time WNBA All-Star averaged 17.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game while shooting 40.5% from the field this season. She also led the league in steals with 2.3 per game.

The Dream final run this postseason was the cherry on top of a successful season, putting the franchise within striking range for a WNBA Championship.

Howard has also watched Atlanta’s culture develop over the years, making the team’s postseason breakthrough especially meaningful.

“And, you know, people wanted to come to Atlanta and be a part of the culture and be a part of what we’re building. To see it really from the start, when it felt like just us, it’s been great to be a part of it. It really feels like we helped build it, and not just going along for the ride,” Howard said.

Fellow Dream star Angel Reese also praised Howard’s leadership, emphasizing the impact she has made beyond her shooting.

“She’s a sneaky assassin. Even when she wasn’t shooting the ball well (on Oct. 4 against New York), she kept pouring into everybody and being there for everyone. It just goes to show how great a leader she is,” Reese said.

“She’s been here from the beginning in Atlanta, and I always tell her — when (Allisha Gray went down), I was like, ‘We’re doing this for you. We’re doing this for (Allisha) because you guys have poured and done a lot for Atlanta, and you guys deserve this moment.’”

As Atlanta prepares for the Finals, Howard’s experience, defensive production, and leadership will remain a key factor for the Dream’s championship hopes.