Rhyne Howard wore a jacket honoring her friend Terrence Clarke at the WNBA all-star weekend. (Twitter Photo)
Former Kentucky All-American Rhyne Howard will be playing in her first WNBA All-Star this afternoon in Chicago in her rookie season after she competed in the skills competition Saturday.
Howard has had a sensational start to her rookie season and today’s game on ABC-TV at 1 p.m. EST will give her another chance to showcase her game.
Here is some of what she had to say at Saturday’s press conference.
Q. Rhyne, I walked out to the court where the skills contest is going to be and where everyone was practicing, and the announcer was talking about how for the skills contest each of you are going to be paired with a young person. I’m curious as to what you know about the young person you’re going to be paired with, and can you tell us about the impact you’d like to have on that person and just young people in general by performing in the skills contest?
RHYNE HOWARD: I only know the name, and we just figured that out like 30 minutes ago. But I plan to just be a player that they can look up to and have that hard working mentality that they can try to achieve.
Q. Just to follow up, this is your first All-Star Game. What are some, I guess, tricks of the trade that you’ve heard from maybe your teammates on this team or maybe from Tiffany Hayes, who I believe has been an All-Star, if she’s given you some advice?
RHYNE HOWARD: Like advice about being an All-Star?
Q. Yes.
RHYNE HOWARD: Just be yourself. I got that from Ariel Atkins.
Q. Rhyne, how has it been just this year has been such a whirlwind, going from competing with Kentucky to getting drafted first overall and now getting that experience playing in Atlanta? What has all of that been like, particularly the part about playing in Atlanta?
RHYNE HOWARD: Atlanta is a really fun city and it’s super great. It’s a sports city, so all of our games are close to sold out or sold out. Just to be in there and be around that environment is just fun in itself. I couldn’t imagine going to somewhere where it’s like super empty, not that I’m saying other places are, but I think Atlanta is a great place for a rookie.
Q. Rhyne, question for you: In your first season in the WNBA you are in the All-Star Game. What does it mean for you about your season and about everything that you would like to share with your career and everything about basketball? What does it mean for you?
RHYNE HOWARD: This is just a great experience, and just a great opportunity to be a part of, so what it means to me, just that I’ve been working hard and that it’s coming to fruition.
Q. Rhyne, you and Kelsey Plum are the only two players that are in all three skills contest, 3-point contest and All-Star Game. Can you talk about what that means for you as a player and what that means about your versatility, and also, are you excited for all three?
RHYNE HOWARD: I’m super excited for all three. They asked me if I wanted to do it, I was like, sure, just put me in it. But I think that just shows like me and Kelsey, like we can both shoot, we can both play make. I feel like amongst other players, but I feel like that’s just a part of All-Star Weekend is just having fun, and I feel like those events are fun.
Q. Rhyne, I want to get your thoughts on questions about playing in the WNBA up until your first All-Star appearance in your very first season.
