South Bound & Down
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SEC Women’s Basketball: SEC Players in the WNBA Roundup, Post-Regular Season Edition

By Elliot Reeder

COLLEGE PARK, GEORGIA - JUNE 11: Tyasha Harris #52 of the Connecticut Sun dribbles against the Atlanta Dream during the second half at Gateway Center Arena on June 11, 2023 in College Park, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, GEORGIA - JUNE 11: Tyasha Harris #52 of the Connecticut Sun dribbles against the Atlanta Dream during the second half at Gateway Center Arena on June 11, 2023 in College Park, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) /
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SEC Women's Basketball
Minnesota Lynx guard Tiffany Mitchell (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Atlanta Dream (19-21 record, #5 seed in Playoffs)

Speaking of the Wings big first round opponent, we now head to the team with arguably the best 1-2 punch of former SEC players.

Rhyne Howard (Kentucky) – Howard had another strong season in Year 2, improving off a Rookie of the Year 2022 season. Howard averaged 17.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG, and 3.5 APG on 38.5%/35.2%/78.8% shooting splits this year. Howard improved in every category from last year to this year (besides Free Throw percentage), a strong accomplishment when considering that the numbers were strong in 2022 as well. Howard ranked second among all former SEC players in points per game this season, barely edging out Bonner and teammate Allisha Gray. Howard also played in 39 games on the season, missing just one game.

Allisha Gray (South Carolina) – Gray’s first season in Atlanta was the best year of the former Gamecocks now 7-year career. Gray paired nicely with Howard, averaging 17.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG, and 3.1 APG on a strong 46.5% shooting from the field. Gray also shot 35.6% from deep and 82.4% from the line. Gray also played in a vast majority of the Dream’s games this season, appearing in and starting 38 of them. Also, as previously mentioned, Gray finished fourth among former SEC players in points per game.

Laeticia Amihere (South Carolina) – The Dream’s 2023 first round draft pick (No. 8 overall) played in half of the Dream’s games this season off the bench. The rookie out of South Carolina averaged 2.8 PPG and 1.0 RPG on the year while shooting 40.5% from the field. Amihere will now attempt to earn playoff minutes in the Dream’s first round series against the Wings.

Minnesota Lynx (19-21 record, #6 seed in Playoffs)

Tiffany Mitchell (South Carolina) – It was a tale of two seasons for Mitchell, pre-injury and post-injury. The South Carolina vet was on a strong run of play before an injury in the middle of the season. Since returning, Mitchell featured off the bench for a while before eventually returning to the starting lineup. Overall for the season, Mitchell averaged 7.3 PPG, 2.3 RPG, and 2.3 APG on 40.4% shooting. However, Mitchell averaged just 5.2/1.7/2.2 after the injury compared to 10.5/3.3/2.5 before the injury. It hasn’t been a bad year for Mitchell, the injury just came at a bad time when Mitchell was playing well. The Lynx could use Mitchell playing well if they are going to pull an upset in the first round.

Washington Mystics (19-21 record, #7 seed in Playoffs)

Shakira Austin (Ole Miss) – After missing roughly two months with an injury, Austin returned in August for the Mystics. While the second year player out of Ole Miss also has not been the same player since returning, it was an improved year 2 for Austin. On the year, Austin averaged 10 PPG and 7 RPG on 50% shooting from the field across 19 games (17 starts).

Chicago Sky (18-22 record, #8 seed in Playoffs

Isabelle Harrison (Tennessee) – Harrison missed the entire 2023 season with a knee injury, and will not play in the playoffs. Another unfortunate injury to a former Tennessee player.

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