Bird's Eye View with Sue Bird

Episode: Rhyne Howard on the Dream’s Title Hopes, Using Doubt as Motivation, and Her Kentucky Years
Date: August 29, 2025

Overview

In this episode, WNBA legend Sue Bird sits down with Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream star and a rising face of the league. The candid conversation traces Rhyne’s basketball journey—from her high school days in Tennessee and standout Kentucky career, to being drafted No. 1 overall, adjusting to pro life, and transforming into the cornerstone of a title-contending Dream roster. Rhyne opens up about using doubt as motivation, how her versatile game has evolved, the impact of her mother and coaches, and what it’s like helping Atlanta chase its first championship.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Early Life and High School: Foundations of a Star

• Versatility Began Early: From Cleveland, Tennessee, Rhyne was always a “big guard”—skilled on both ends thanks to her mother “RJ,” who coached her in defense-first basketball ([10:18–12:34]).
• Playing for Her Mom: Challenging but invaluable. “Some people might hate it in the moment, but when you look back, it’s like you’re super grateful for it.” —Rhyne ([11:30])
• Early Rankings and Motivation: Rhyne was ranked just 31st overall in her class, which she felt was an underestimation. Doubt from others consistently fueled her fire:

  “I know that I get motivated by like underrated stuff and, like, disrespect and stuff like that.” —Rhyne ([15:27])

Kentucky Years: Adapting, Dominating, and Overcoming Adversity

• Offensive Growth: Shooting was less central to her high school game. In college, the midrange and 3-pointer became essential as the competition and physicality ramped up ([13:38]).
• Playing Through Doubt: Rhyne’s versatility, unpredictability, and pace became her calling cards, though outsiders sometimes misread her calm as a lack of “motor” ([19:20–20:47]):

  “If you don’t understand, that’s really your problem, because I know what I’m bringing to my team.” —Rhyne ([19:49])

• Coaching Change: The sudden retirement of Kentucky coach Matt Mitchell and her mother’s insistence she “finish what you started” kept her from transferring ([24:13]).
• Senior-Year Pressure: Being projected No. 1 pick led to anxieties about perception, leadership, and her legacy at Kentucky ([26:39–27:57]).

WNBA Journey: Rookie Year, Leadership, and the Atlanta Dream

• Getting Drafted #1: The pre-draft process was intense, with teams like Washington evaluating her closely. Atlanta’s direct approach clicked:

  “I told them in my meeting that I liked it better when I was the one interviewing you.” —Rhyne ([30:36])

• Immediate Impact: Rhyne stepped onto the WNBA court highly prepared, “breaking records week one” and feeling right away that Atlanta gave her the keys ([35:06–36:45]).
• Leadership & Support: Vets like Erica Wheeler and Kia Vaughn guided her; her lack of pressure to immediately lead allowed her natural confidence and drive to shine through ([40:34]).

Motivation, Confidence, and Style of Play

• Doubt as Fuel: Rhyne consistently uses outside skepticism as motivation at every level—from college rankings to all-star snubs:

  “I didn’t get named [All-Star] and I came out and dropped 40… I think that was key.” —Rhyne ([44:47])

• Where Else Confidence Comes From: Rhyne models a mentality that she’s “the best player on the court,” seeking proof in competition and peer respect ([45:45]).
• On Scoring Mindset:

  “I think you have to be a little crazy ... you just kind of—it’s the you-can’t-see-me feeling.” —Rhyne ([53:05–53:29])

The Evolving League and New Atlanta Dream Era

• League Changes: Rhyne credits increased visibility, fandom, and charter flights to the arrival of star-studded rookie classes and the league finally responding to player demands ([57:55]).
• Atlanta’s Transformation:
  • New coach Carl Smesko’s “threes and layups” philosophy (Big Wheeze) meets a retooled roster with all-around threats ([61:36–66:46]).
  • Emphasis on analytics has resulted in top-tier offense, rebounding, and efficient shot selection—key ingredients for the Dream’s title hopes ([65:08–66:54]).
• The BG & Bree Jones Effect:
  • Brittany Griner (BG) and Brionna Jones bring championship pedigree. BG’s presence is “super easy on both our lives because now she has more around her … and I have more open threes.” ([67:16])

Adversity and Playoff Expectations

• Handling Her Injury: Missing 11 games let Rhyne appreciate her teammates’ growth and the true character of this roster ([73:48]).
• Playoff Lessons: After first-round exits, the focus is on playing to strengths and sticking to the system under Big Wheeze, especially given the experience BG and Bree Jones bring ([76:08–78:39]).
• Championship Mindset:

  “I think it’s gonna be a championship, wholeheartedly… We’ve built the house and … that’s the only way to go.” —Rhyne ([79:23])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

1. On Motivation and Doubt

   “When people doubt you is when you step up… I know that I get motivated by underrated stuff and, like, disrespect and stuff like that.”
   —Rhyne Howard ([15:27])

2. On “Effortless” Play vs. Motor Criticism

   “If you don’t understand, then that’s really your problem, because I know what I’m bringing to my team.”
   —Rhyne Howard ([19:49])

   “A lot of people come up … they’re like: ‘I really love how you play. You don’t get sped up. You just make it look so easy.’”
   —Rhyne Howard ([20:47])

3. On All-Star Snub Response

   “I didn’t get named [All-Star] and I came out and dropped 40. And the next day I was named replacement player. … Instead of just talking about it, I think that was key.”
   —Rhyne Howard ([44:47])

4. On Scorers’ Mindsets

   “I think all scorers have to have a little bit of that [delusion]. Because then it’s like, some people are out here shooting over two … but you don’t even feel like there’s two people there because you know you’re going to make it.”
   —Rhyne Howard ([53:31–53:43])

5. On Atlanta’s New System and Roster

   “Your guards are the threes and your bigs are the layups … For the pace, yes, we want to play fast, but we want to make smart decisions.”
   —Rhyne Howard ([65:36–65:43])

   “Now you have basically the two most—I would say most dominant post players at fives in our league on the same roster.”
   —Sue Bird ([72:45])

6. On the Team’s Playoff Standard

   “In the past years, we would often go away from what’s working. … We want to label ourself as the hardest working, toughest team.”
   —Rhyne Howard ([43:28], [76:31])

7. On the Goal for 2025

   “I think it’s gonna be a championship, wholeheartedly.”
   —Rhyne Howard ([79:23])

Structured Timeline & Timestamps

• [01:20]–[08:24]: Sue’s View—Efficiency legends (Elena Delle Donne, Paige Bueckers), history on midrange vs analytics
• [08:24–09:45]: Rhyne’s YouTube project, ATL Vibes, golf rivalry with Alicia Gray
• [09:45–13:38]: High school years, her mother’s coaching influence, playing both ends
• [13:38–16:17]: Transition to college, developing her jumper, “N1” stories, under-ranking motivation
• [16:50–19:49]: Kentucky decision, not considering Tennessee, college adjustment
• [19:20–20:47]: Narrative of her “motor”; learning to own her pace
• [22:16–24:13]: Coaching changes at Kentucky, considering transferring, finishing what she started
• [24:20–28:42]: Senior year pressures, doubters, focus on the moment
• [29:17–31:51]: Draft process details, reactions to Atlanta, learning about W
• [34:34–36:45]: Adjusting to the WNBA immediately, being handed the keys
• [37:07–41:22]: Friendship with Nas Hillmon, learning from veteran teammates
• [44:47]: All-Star snub response—dropped 40 points next game
• [45:45–48:47]: Sources of confidence and on-court mindset
• [51:22–52:25]: Three-on-three Olympic experience and lessons learned
• [53:05–53:43]: The “little delusion” required of elite scorers
• [57:06–58:33]: Changes in WNBA over four years—visibility, charters, next generation ready
• [59:04–61:30]: Goals for 2025—All-WNBA and All-Defensive
• [61:36–68:33]: Coach Carl Smesko (“Big Wheeze”), analytics, integrating BG and Bree Jones, team dynamics
• [70:23–71:13]: Alicia Gray’s breakout, team’s collective success
• [71:32–73:23]: Preseason disrespect, proving the doubters wrong, public perception
• [73:48–75:07]: Coming back from injury and staying connected
• [75:36–75:40]: First ejection—memorable return game
• [76:31–78:39]: Chasing a championship—playoff ambitions and lessons learned

Conclusion

This episode provides a revealing and entertaining look into Rhyne Howard’s competitive psyche, her evolution on and off the hardwood, and the Atlanta Dream's analytics-driven transformation into a contender. Rhyne’s humble self-awareness, use of doubt as rocket fuel, and focus on team success set the tone for her aspirations. As the Dream push toward a title, Howard has her sights set on being more than just the face of the franchise—she aims to help deliver Atlanta its first WNBA championship.