History was made Monday night as former Bradley Central star Rhyne Howard was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft by the Atlanta Dream at Spring Studios in New York.
It marked the first time a Chattanooga-area athlete was taken with the top overall pick in a professional sports draft.
“I’m shaking right now,” said a visibly emotional Howard during ESPN’s national telecast. “I had a sigh of relief because this is a dream come true. It’s hard to believe it’s real.”
The late Reggie White, a Howard High graduate, was taken with the fourth overall selection in the 1984 United States Football League draft, marking the highest any area athlete had previously been drafted.
Howard helped Bradley Central win four district and three region titles and in her senior season was named the 2018 Gatorade Player of the Year and Tennessee’s Miss Basketball. She then went on to earn MVP honors as part of the 18-under USA national squad that won gold.