Natasha Howard

File:Howard 20161011.jpg

File:Natasha Howard (foreground) and Alysha Clark (cropped).jpg

Howard was selected 5th overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2014 WNBA draft.{{Cite web |title=Fever choose Natasha Howard, Natalie Achonwa in draft |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/2014/04/14/fever-choose-natahsa-howard-natalie-achonwa-draft/7720777/ |access-date=2021-11-16 |website=The Indianapolis Star |language=en-US}} Howard started off the 2014 season hot scoring 16 points and 21 points in her first two games as a professional. The 21 point performance was a career high in points. Howard averaged 7.0 points and 3.1 rebounds per game in her rookie season in Indiana.{{cite web |title=Lynx Acquire Forward Natasha Howard from Indiana |url=https://lynx.wnba.com/news/lynx-acquire-forward-natasha-howard-from-indiana |website=Minnesota Lynx |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |access-date=3 February 2025 |location=Minneapolis/St. Paul |date=February 2, 2016}}

During her second season with Indiana, Howard regressed in both points and rebounding, averaging 4.2 points and 2.6 rebounds. The only times that Howard scored in double figures were an August 4 loss to the Chicago Sky, when she scored 13 points, and on a September 1 win against the Connecticut Sun, when she scored 10 points. During her second season, the Fever reached the WNBA Finals, where they faced off against the Minnesota Lynx. The Fever ultimately lost the series 3–2, but Howard didn't miss a single shot throughout the entire Finals, going 8 for 8 from the floor in five games and 3 for 3 free throws.{{cite web |title=Natasha Howard Game Log |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/h/howarna01w/gamelog-playoffs/ |website=Basketball Reference |publisher=Sports Reference, LLC |access-date=3 February 2025 |location=Philadalphia, Pennsylvania}}

On February 2, 2016, the Fever traded Howard to the Minnesota Lynx in a sign-and-trade deal to acquire Devereaux Peters.{{Cite news |url=http://www.wnba.com/news/fever-lynx-trade-natasha-howard-devereaux-peters/ |title=Fever, Lynx Trade Natasha Howard, Devereaux Peters – WNBA.com – Official Site of the WNBA |work=WNBA.com – Official Site of the WNBA |access-date=2017-09-09 |language=en-US}}

During her first season with the Lynx, Howard was part of the post rotation that included Sylvia Fowles, Rebekkah Brunson, and Janel McCarville. She became a key contributor off the bench for the Lynx the entire season. In her first game against Indiana since the trade, Howard scored 11 points, on 5–5 shooting, and grabbed 3 rebounds. She matched her career high of 21 points in a July 2 win against the San Antonio Stars. Howard, once again, reached the WNBA Finals for a 2nd consecutive season, although the Lynx fell to the Los Angeles Sparks 3 games to 2.

In her second season with the Lynx, Howard continued with her bench role, contributing with her scoring and rebounding, helping the Lynx back to championship contention. The Lynx returned to the Finals, making it Howard's third appearance in the finals. This time, in a finals rematch against the Sparks, the Lynx won 3 games to 2, earning Howard her first championship.

On February 7, 2018, Howard was traded to the Seattle Storm in exchange for a second round pick in the 2018 WNBA draft.{{cite web |date=February 7, 2018 |access-date=February 9, 2018 |website=WNBA.com |title=Storm Acquire Natasha Howard in Trade With Lynx |url=http://www.wnba.com/news/storm-acquire-natasha-howard-trade-lynx/}} In the 2018 season, Howard would be the starting power forward for the Storm. She would have the best season of her career in Seattle as she averaged career-highs in scoring, blocks, rebounds, assists and steals. Howard would also be named to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team and was second in the league in blocks. The Storm finished with a league-best 26–8 record. They would receive a double-bye to the semi-finals. In the semi-finals series, the Storm would defeat the Phoenix Mercury in five games advancing to the Finals, making this Howard's fourth consecutive finals appearance. In the Finals, the Storm would defeat the Washington Mystics in a three-game sweep. In Game 3, Howard scored a new career-high 29 points along with 14 rebounds.[http://www.wnba.com/news/the-perfect-storm-seattle-returns-to-glory-with-collective-effort/ The Perfect Storm: Seattle Returns To Glory With Collective Effort]

In 2019, Howard would have a breakout season. She would be voted into the 2019 WNBA All-Star Game, making it her first all-star appearance. On July 17, 2019, Howard scored a new career-high 33 points in a 90–79 victory over the Minnesota Lynx.[https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/jul/17/natasha-howard-scores-career-high-33-storm-close-s/ Natasha Howard scores career-high 33, Storm close strong in win at Minnesota] Howard would finish the season average a new career-high in scoring, rebounds, assists and steals. She was made a WNBA All-Star and named to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team for the second time while also winning the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. The Storm finished as the number 6 seed with an 18–16 record. The Storm, however, could not defend their title in the playoffs as they were eliminated in the second-round elimination game by the Los Angeles Sparks.

In 2020, the season was delayed and shortened to 22 games in a bubble at IMG Academy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Howard played all 22 games, the Storm had a fully active roster with everyone healthy and available as they finished the season 18–4 with the number 2 seed, receiving a double-bye to the semi-finals. In the playoff semi-finals they defeated the Minnesota Lynx in a three-game sweep, going back to the Finals for the second time in three years. In the Finals, the Storm swept the Las Vegas Aces to win the series, earning Howard her third WNBA championship.

In 2021, Howard was acquired by the New York Liberty in a three-team trade deal.[https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/10/sports/basketball/liberty-trade-natasha-walker.html Liberty Trade Top Scorer but Add the All-Star Natasha Howard Kia Nurse, the team's leading scorer last season, is headed to Phoenix. The Liberty also sent the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft to Seattle as part of the deal for Howard.]

In January 2023, Howard was traded to the Dallas Wings in a three-team deal.{{cite web |title=Dallas Wings Acquire Natasha Howard and Crystal Dangerfield |url=https://wings.wnba.com/news/dallas-wings-acquire-natasha-howard-and-crystal-dangerfield/ |website=wings.wnba.com |publisher=WNBA |access-date=17 January 2023}}

Howard signed a one-year $214,666 contract with the Indiana Fever as a free agent on February 2, 2025.{{cite web |title=Transactions |url=https://www.wnba.com/players/transactions?transaction=&team=fever&month=0 |website=WNBA.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |access-date=5 February 2025 |date=February 2, 2025 |quote=Natasha Howard signed a Contract with the Indiana Fever.}}{{cite web |title=Natasha Howard |url=https://www.spotrac.com/wnba/player/_/id/29956/natasha-howard |website=The Spotrac Newsletter |access-date=4 February 2025 |quote=Natasha Howard signed a 1 year, $214,666 contract with the Indiana Fever, including $214,666 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $214,666. In 2025, Howard will earn a base salary of $214,666, while carrying a cap hit of $214,666 and a dead cap value of $214,666.}}{{cite news |last1=Springer |first1=Michael |title=3-time WNBA champ Natasha Howard returns to Indiana Fever after nearly a decade |url=https://www.wishtv.com/sports/indiana-fever/indiana-fever-natasha-howard/ |access-date=4 February 2025 |work=WISH-TV |publisher=Circle City Broadcasting |date=February 3, 2025 |location=Indianapolis |quote=The Indiana Fever announced Monday they have signed free agent forward Natasha Howard, who previously played with the Fever in 2014 and 2015.}} Bringing Howard back to Indiana was one of the priorities for the Fever's front office, which had been completely restructured after the 2024 season.{{cite news |last1=Peterson |first1=Chloe |title=Natasha Howard learned the ropes from one Fever legend. She hopes to help mold the next. |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/basketball/wnba/fever/2025/02/19/wnba-free-agency-how-selfish-approach-led-natasha-howard-to-indiana-fever-lessons-caitlin-clark/78642319007/ |access-date=19 February 2025 |work=Indianapolis Star |publisher=Gannett |date=19 February 2025 |location=Indianapolis, Indiana |quote='I think it was Day 1 when I got this job, Kelly and I were on the phone, and we had two things on our to-do list: re-sign Kelsey Mitchell and bring back Natasha Howard,' (Gever GM Amber)Cox said.}}

{{WNBA player statistics legend}}

Stats current through end of 2024 season

{{WNBA player statistics start|caption=WNBA regular season statistics{{cite web |title=Natasha Howard WNBA Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/h/howarna01w.html |website=Basketball Reference}}}}

|-

| align="left" | 2014

| align="left" | Indiana

| 34 || 15 || 17.0 || .443 || .000 || .594 || 3.1 || 0.6 || 0.8 || 0.6 || 1.5 || 7.0

|-

| align="left" | 2015

| align="left" | Indiana

| 30 || 2 || 11.4 || .379 || .000 || .721 || 2.6 || 0.4 || 0.4 || 0.4 || 0.9 || 4.2

|-

| align="left" | 2016

| align="left" | Minnesota

| 34 || 1 || 14.6 || .574 || .200 || .677 || 3.6 || 0.8 || 0.7 || 0.7 || 1.1 || 6.7

|-

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2017^†

| align="left" | Minnesota

| 34 || 0 || 11.7 || .484 || .214 || .733 || 2.4 || 0.7 || 0.5 || 0.6 ||0.7 || 4.3

|-

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2018^†

| align="left" | Seattle

| 34 || 33 || 25.6 || .547 || .327 || .798 || 6.4 || 1.0 || 1.2 || 1.9 || 1.8 || 13.2

|-

| align="left" | 2019

| align="left" | Seattle

| 34 || 34 || 31.3 || .439 || .308 || .810 || 8.2 || 2.1 || 2.2 || 1.7 || 2.9 || 18.1

|-

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2020^†

| align="left" | Seattle

| 22 || 22 || 21.0 || .530 || .350 || .778 || 7.1 || 1.0 || 1.7 || 0.6 || 2.1 || 9.5

|-

| align="left" | 2021

| align="left" | New York

| 13 || 13 || 27.5 || .494 || .333 || .774 || 7.2 || 1.7 || 1.3 || 0.5 || 3.8 || 16.2

|-

| align="left" | 2022

| align="left" | New York

| 35 || 35 || 29.9 || .482 || .326 || .715 || 7.3 || 2.3 || 1.3 || 1.0 || 3.2 || 15.1

|-

| align="left" | 2023

| align="left" | Dallas

| 39 || 39 || 33.1 || .458 || .299 || .815 || 8.0 || 2.6 || 1.3 || 1.2 || 2.8 || 16.5

|-

| align="left" | {{wnbay|2024}}

| align="left" | Dallas

| 27 || 26 || 30.6 || .456 || .200 || .718 || 6.7 || 2.9 || 1.3 || 0.8 || 3.1 || 17.6

|- class="sortbottom"

| rowspan=2 align="left" | Career

| align="left" | 11 years, 5 teams

| 336|| 220 || 23.0 || .476 || .297 || .750 || 5.6 || 1.5 || 1.1 || 1.0 || 2.1 || 11.5

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;"| All-Star

| 2 || 1 || 19.0 || .529 || .500 || — || 4.0 || 1.0 || 0.5 || 0.0 || 1.0 || 11.0

{{S-end}}

{{WNBA player statistics start|caption=WNBA playoff statistics}}

|-

| align="left" | 2014

| align="left" | Indiana

| 4 || 0 || 3.7 || .167 || .000 || 1.000 || 1.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.5 || 1.0

|-

| align="left" | 2015

| align="left" | Indiana

| 9 || 0 || 7.1 || .917 || .000 || 1.000 || 0.6 || 0.3 || 0.3 || 0.1 || 0.5 || 2.8

|-

| align="left" | 2016

| align="left" | Minnesota

| 8 || 0 || 13.0 || .700 || .000 || .429 || 2.6 || 0.6 || 0.8 || 0.1 || 0.7 || 5.6

|-

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2017^†

| align="left" | Minnesota

| 7 || 0 || 5.6|| .200 || .000 || .800 || 0.9 || 0.0 || 0.2 || 0.0 || 0.5 || 1.1

|-

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2018^†

| align="left" | Seattle

| 8 || 8 || 31.5 || .573 || .500 || .850 || 8.3 || 1.5 || 1.0 || 1.3 || 2.2 || 15.8

|-

| align="left" | 2019

| align="left" | Seattle

| 2 || 2 || 28.8 || .400 || .429 || .750 || 9.0 || 4.0 || 2.0 || 1.5 || 2.0 || 11.0

|-

|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2020^†

| align="left" | Seattle

| 6 || 6 || 23.0 || .548 || .500 || .772 || 5.2 || 1.5 || 1.2 || 0.8 || 1.5 || 9.5

|-

| align="left" | 2021

| align="left" | New York

| 1 || 1 || 31.0 || .438 || .500 || .000 || 10.0 || 2.0 || 1.0 || 1.0 || 3.0 || 16.0

|-

| align="left" | 2022

| align="left" | New York

| 3 || 3 || 27.7 || .442 || .100 || 1.000 || 6.7 || 1.0 || 0.7 || 0.0 || 2.0 || 14.7

|-

| align="left" | 2023

| align="left" | Dallas

| 5 || 5 || 34.2 || .634 || .350 || .833 || 8.4 || 2.2 || 1.6 || 1.4 || 3.4 || 12.0

|- class="sortbottom"

| align="left" | Career

| align="left" | 10 years, 5 teams

| 53 || 25 || 18.0 || .500 || .371 || .794 || 4.2 || 1.0 || 0.8 || 0.5 || 1.4 || 7.7

{{S-end}}

{{WNBA player statistics start|caption=NCAA statistics{{Cite web |url=http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/careersearch |title=NCAA® Career Statistics |website=web1.ncaa.org |access-date=2016-05-03}}}}

|-

| width="10%" style="text-align:center;" | 2010–11

| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| Florida State

|32||32||25.5||.460||.368||.549||6.6||0.8||1.1||0.7||3.1||10.6

|-

| style="text-align:center;"| 2011–12

|31||31||30.2||.487||.190||.615||9.1||1.4||1.5||1.3||3.1||12.2

|-

| style="text-align:center;"| 2012–13

|33||31||26.8||.486||.000||.612||7.5||0.7||1.8||1.5||2.4||12.7

|-

| style="text-align:center;"| 2013–14

|33||33||31.2||.594||—||.650||9.3||0.5||2.1||2.3||2.7||20.5

|- class="sortbottom"

| colspan=2 align="center" | Career

|129||127||28.4||.516||.313||.617||8.1||0.9||1.6||1.4||2.8||14.0

{{S-end}}

Howard is married to Jac’Eil Duckworth Howard, and their wedding was shown as part of the 11th season of Basketball Wives.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.vh1.com/shows/basketball-wives#cast |title=Basketball Wives {{!}} vh1 |language=en-us |access-date=2024-10-15 |via=www.vh1.com}}{{Cite web |last=Pande |first=Ritvan |date=2024-08-20 |title=Who is Natasha Howard's Wife? Everything You Need to Know About Dallas Wings Star's Personal Life |url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/wnba-basketball-news-who-is-natasha-howards-wife-everything-you-need-to-know-about-dallas-wings-stars-personal-life/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=EssentiallySports |language=en}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Basketballstats|wnba=203827/natasha-howard}}
• [http://www.wnba.com/draft/2014/profiles/prospect_howard_natasha.html WNBA Rookie profile]
• [https://seminoles.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/natasha-howard/1767 Florida State Seminoles bio]

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