Starting 5: Ex-Kentucky basketball star headed to Olympics, St. X coach honored, more

Former Kentucky women's basketball star Rhyne Howard has been a key player for the Atlanta Dream since she was drafted and now will try to lead Team USA to a gold medal in Paris.

Howard, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, has led the Dream in scoring since her rookie season, averaging 16.2, 17.5 and 16.2 points per game, respectively.

Howard was selected for the 2024 Olympics 3x3 team, Team USA Basketball announced last week.

Last Tuesday, she became the youngest player (24 years and 43 days) in WNBA history to reach 200 career 3-pointers.

Around the city: Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center among possible sites for 2026 FIFA World Cup training

Lynn Family Sports Vision & Training Center is in the running to become a base camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

FIFA recently announced an early list of available locations that may host one of the 48 teams in the World Cup.

These hubs are where eligible teams will spend most of their time during the World Cup's group stage.

"We're honored to be in the running as a base camp site for the 2026 World Cup," James O'Connor, Soccer Holdings' president, said in a statement. "This is a testament to the continued investment from our ownership group, lockstep partnership with city officials and strong community support surrounding our clubs. The same fields that are home to the young kids in our academy's juniors program all the way up to high-level professionals could propel a nation toward the World Cup. All of Louisville should be proud of how far we've come as a soccer city in such a short amount of time."

Around the state: Former St. Xavier lacrosse coach Scott Howe will be inducted into NILCA Class of 2024 Hall of Fame

Longtime St. Xavier coach Scott Howe will be inducted into the 2024 Hall of Fame class of the National Interscholastic Lacrosse Coaches Association on Oct. 12 at the Milleridge Inn in Jericho, New York.

The former Tigers coach won 16 state championships from 2001 to 2023 and earned Coach of the Year honors five times. He now is coaching Oldham County's team.

Howe went 326-124 over 23 seasons with the Tigers.

In 2015, Howe was inducted into the Kentucky US Lacrosse chapter's inaugural Hall of Fame class.

Howe played lacrosse at the University of Virginia, where he was a member of the 1972 national championship team.

More: Gatorade Kentucky Boys Soccer Player of the Year: Collegiate star Nick Harshaw earns honor

Path to Paris: More than 20 Louisville swimmers scheduled to participate at U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials

The U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials are underway at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Twenty-one University of Louisville swimmers are scheduled to participate.

The top two finishers in 28 events will qualify for Team USA.

Former Louisville volleyball player Anna Stevenson Hall was selected as an alternate on the U.S. women's national team for the Paris Olympics.

The former Cardinal, a two-time All-American, played professionally in Turkey and Italy. She is playing for the LOVB Madison volleyball team.

Current U of L volleyball player Phekran Kong has been selected for the 2024 women's collegiate national team.

Last year, Kong recorded 203 kills, hit .319 and was named to the AVCA All-East Region team.

Mark your calendars

• Racing Louisville FC is scheduled to visit Angel City FC at 10 p.m. Wednesday.

• Louisville City FC is set to visit the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Louisville City FC is scheduled to host Rhode Island FC at 8 p.m. Saturday.

• The Louisville Bats will visit the Omaha Storm Chasers at 1:05 p.m. Tuesday. The series continues with games scheduled at 8:05 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 7:05 p.m. Saturday and 6:05 p.m. June 23.

Reach sports reporter Prince James Story at pstory@gannett.com and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Ex-Kentucky star makes Team USA; Louisville might host World Cup team