2022 WNBA Players of the Week: Week 1
Howard is first rookie to receive honor in first week of their career in 20 years
Games include May 6-15
Rookie Rhyne Howard of the Atlanta Dream (3-1 record during the week) averaged 20.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 2.3 apg (Eastern Conference Player of the Week).
- Howard is the first rookie to win the award in the first week of their WNBA career since Tamika Catchings in 2002.
- She is the first Dream rookie to ever earn the WNBA Player of the Week award.
- Howard tied the record for third-most points scored in a game by an Atlanta rookie with 33 points in a win over the Indiana Fever on May 15. With 17 points in the first quarter, she earned the most points ever scored by a rookie in the first quarter of any WNBA game.Â
Fifth-year forward A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces (3-1 record during the week) averaged 15.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg and 3.75 bpg (Western Conference Player of the Week).
- Â It is the seventh player of the week award for the fifth-year pro, tying her with Aces Head Coach Becky Hammon for the franchise record
- Wilson led the Aces to a 3-1 record to start the season, which is tied for the top mark in the league.
- She leads the WNBA in blocked shots per game (3.75), and is second in rebounding (11.0).
- Wilson has a league-best three double-doubles on the year, and is one of only three players averaging a double-double on the season (15.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg).
