Dream's Howard, part of U.S. 3×3 team, injured

Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard, the No. 1 WNBA draft pick and Rookie of the Year in 2022, left Wednesday’s game at Minnesota with what appeared to be an ankle sprain.

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

Howard, a two-time All-Star, is the second member of the 2024 U.S. 3×3 Olympic 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 on Tuesday, will miss the rest 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 remaining players on the Americans’ 3×3 team. The United States women won gold in 2021 in the inaugural 3×3 Olympic tournament with WNBA players Allisha Gray, Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum and Stefanie Dolson. The Las Vegas Aces‘ Young and Plum are on the 5-on-5 team for the Paris Olympics.

A college star for 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.