ATLANTA ― Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard will not play in Sunday’s matchup against the Las Vegas Aces (1:30 p.m. ET, NBC, Peacock).
Howard has been ruled out and is in the concussion protocol. The team did not provide an immediate update on when Howard’s injury occurred. A source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to USA TODAY that Howard’s concussion happened earlier in the week.
Ahead of Sunday, Howard played 37 minutes against the Dallas Wings on May 12. She finished with 14 points on 21.4% shooting from the field, with four assists, three rebounds and one steal.
During the first two games of the season, the Atlanta guard is averaging 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and two steals per game.
WNBA power rankings: Breakout players for each team after opening weekend
2026: Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)
2025: Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)
2024: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever (Iowa)
2023: Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever (South Carolina)
2022: Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream (Kentucky)
2021: Charli Collier, Dallas Wings (Texas)
2020: Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty (Oregon)
2019: Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces (Notre Dame)
2018: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces (South Carolina)
2017: Kelsey Plum, San Antonio Stars (Washington)
2016: Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm (Connecticut)
2015: Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm (Notre Dame)
2014: Chiney Ogwumike, Connecticut Sun (Stanford)
2013: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury (Baylor)
2012: Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks (Stanford)
2011: Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx (Connecticut)
2010: Tina Charles, Connecticut Sun (Connecticut)
2009: Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta Dream (Louisville)
2008: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks (Tennessee)
2007: Lindsey Harding, Phoenix Mercury (Duke)
2006: Seimone Augustus, Minnesota Lynx (LSU)
2005: Janel McCarville, Charlotte Sting (Minnesota)
2004: Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury (Connecticut)
2003: LaToya Thomas, Cleveland Rockers (Mississippi State)
2002: Sue Bird, Seattle Storm (Connecticut)
2001: Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm (Canberra Capitals, Australia)
2000: Ann Wauters, Cleveland Rockers (USV Olympic, France)
1999: Chamique Holdsclaw, Washington Mystics (Tennessee)
1998: Margo Dydek, Utah Starzz (Fota Porta Gdynia, Poland)
1997: Tina Thompson, Houston Comets (Southern California)1 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2026: Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)
1 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2026: Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)
2 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2025: Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings (Connecticut)
3 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2024: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever (Iowa)
4 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2023: Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever (South Carolina)
5 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2022: Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream (Kentucky)
6 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2021: Charli Collier, Dallas Wings (Texas)
7 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2020: Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty (Oregon)
8 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2019: Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces (Notre Dame)
9 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2018: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces (South Carolina)
10 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2017: Kelsey Plum, San Antonio Stars (Washington)
11 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2016: Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm (Connecticut)
12 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2015: Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm (Notre Dame)
13 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2014: Chiney Ogwumike, Connecticut Sun (Stanford)
14 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2013: Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury (Baylor)
15 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2012: Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks (Stanford)
16 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2011: Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx (Connecticut)
17 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2010: Tina Charles, Connecticut Sun (Connecticut)
18 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2009: Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta Dream (Louisville)
19 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2008: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks (Tennessee)
20 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2007: Lindsey Harding, Phoenix Mercury (Duke)
21 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2006: Seimone Augustus, Minnesota Lynx (LSU)
22 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2005: Janel McCarville, Charlotte Sting (Minnesota)
23 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2004: Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury (Connecticut)
24 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2003: LaToya Thomas, Cleveland Rockers (Mississippi State)
25 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2002: Sue Bird, Seattle Storm (Connecticut)
26 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2001: Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm (Canberra Capitals, Australia)
27 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
2000: Ann Wauters, Cleveland Rockers (USV Olympic, France)
28 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
1999: Chamique Holdsclaw, Washington Mystics (Tennessee)
29 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
1998: Margo Dydek, Utah Starzz (Fota Porta Gdynia, Poland)
30 / 30
WNBA No. 1 overall draft picks by year
1997: Tina Thompson, Houston Comets (Southern California)
Without Howard, the Dream will have its hands full facing Las Vegas.
The Aces are on a 3-game winning streak, which includes a 101-94 win over the Connecticut Sun on May 15. Reigning MVP A’ja Wilson scored a historic 45 points in the matchup, while newcomer Chennedy Carter added 18 points off the bench.
Atlanta heads into Sunday’s matchup riding a two-game win streak, including a 19-point comeback win against the Minnesota Lynx. The Dream hope to continue their winning ways with a victory over the Aces, who have won the last five head-to-head matchups between the two teams.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rhyne Howard injury update: Dream star ruled out vs. Aces
