TEMPO GUARD KIKI RICE VOTED TO ASSOCIATED PRESS ALL-ROOKIE TEAM 

Toronto Tempo guard Kiki Rice was voted to the Associated Press (AP) All-Rookie Team, as announced on Sunday.

Rice started in 20 of the 28 games she appeared in and averaged 13.4 points (fourth among rookies), 3.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.8 steals, and 27.1 minutes. She shot 47.2 percent from the field, including 35.1 percent from the three-point line and 86.9 percent from the free throw line.

Despite missing some time due to an ankle injury, Rice proved herself as one of the best rookies in this class. In the Tempo’s final game of the season, she poured in a career-high 28 points and grabbed a career-high tying eight rebounds at Connecticut. Only eight rookies in WNBA history have scored more points with zero turnovers than Kiki’s 28 points in that game. Rice delivered headline performances all season, including becoming the first rookie in WNBA history on August 10 at Atlanta to come off the bench and post at least 18 points and six assists with zero turnovers in a game. Only ten reserves have posted this stat line in league history.

On August 12 at Dallas, she became the first primary defender to hold Paige Bueckers scoreless in the first half of a WNBA game in her career. Rice also had seven games with zero turnovers this season – all seven of those games saw 17+ minutes of play on the floor.

The rising rookie star scored in double-digits in 21 of her 28 games played, which is the second highest percentage of games with double-digit points amongst rookies (min. 15 10+ pt games). She went on an 11-game streak of double-digit scoring from August 10 to September 20. She averaged 16.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists over that stretch.

This marks the first-ever league AP honour for the rookie and the first in franchise history.

Source: Toronto Tempo PR