Dream’s Rhyne Howard leaves match against Lynx with ankle injury

Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard, the WNBA’s No. 1 overall draft pick and 2022 Rookie of the Year, left Wednesday’s game against Minnesota with what appeared to be a sprained ankle.

Howard was injured when she stepped on Minnesota guard Courtney Williams’ foot as she drove to the basket in the third quarter of the Dream’s 68-55 loss to the Lynx. Howard did not return to the game. Atlanta coach Tanisha Wright said after the game that there was no update on Howard and that she would be further evaluated on Thursday.

Howard, a two-time All-Star, is the second member of the 2024 U.S. Olympic 3×3 team to be injured in the past two days during a WNBA game. Los Angeles forward Cameron Brink suffered a torn ACL in her left knee Tuesday, will miss the remainder of the WNBA season and must be replaced on the 3×3 team.

Howard, TCU’s Hailey Van Lith and former Tennessee player Cierra Burdick are the other players on the Americans’ 3×3 team. The U.S. women won gold in 2021 in the inaugural Olympic 3×3 tournament with WNBA players Allisha Gray, Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum and Stefanie Dolson. Young and Plum of the Las Vegas Aces are part of the 5-on-5 team for the Paris Olympics.

A college star at Kentucky, Howard is averaging 15.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.2 steals for the Dream (6-7). She was limited to 6 points on 1-of-9 shooting and 5 rebounds Wednesday.