INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Fever are anticipating the addition of forward Natasha Howard as free agency approaches, marking the arrival of a two-time All-Star to their already impressive lineup, which includes point guard Caitlin Clark and two other All-Stars. This information comes from a source close to the situation, who requested to remain anonymous as official contract signings cannot be finalized until Saturday.
At 33 years old, Howard had a challenging start to the previous season due to a broken foot but managed to achieve impressive averages of 17.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.3 steals across 27 games played with the Dallas Wings. Standing 6-foot-2, Howard is poised to enhance Indiana’s frontcourt and provide a vital defensive boost to a team that was ranked third in the league for scoring last season. In addition to her scoring ability, she was named to the WNBA’s all-defensive team in both 2018 and 2019, also winning the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2019.
Howard’s addition to the Fever roster is further reinforced by her impressive championship background. She secured WNBA titles in 2017 with the Minnesota Lynx—the team that Caitlin Clark supported during her childhood—and also claimed two more championships in 2018 and 2020 with the Seattle Storm. Furthermore, Howard has gained experience on international fronts, contributing to EuroLeague championship teams in both 2023 and 2024, along with victories in the Turkish league for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, as well as a title win in the 2023 FIBA EuroCup Super Women tournament.
This acquisition is particularly beneficial for a youthful and aspiring squad that managed to rebound from a rough 1-10 start last season to finish with a respectable 20-20 record, securing a playoff berth for the first time since 2016. Howard’s experience could be a crucial asset in further developing last year’s WNBA Rookies of the Year, Caitlin Clark and 6-5 forward Aliyah Boston, both of whom were All-Stars last season.
Earlier this week, the Fever also retained All-Star shooting guard Kelsey Mitchell, ensuring the core team remains intact as they aim for a deeper playoff journey next season after their first-round exit last year. With the likely signing of Howard, the Fever’s roster is shaping up to be even more formidable.
Howard’s history with the Fever traces back to being their fifth overall pick in the 2014 draft. After two years, she was traded to the Minnesota Lynx and has since played for various teams, including the Seattle Storm, the New York Liberty, and the Dallas Wings, in addition to professional stints in countries like Israel, Cyprus, China, Italy, Russia, and Turkey.
Over her 11 seasons in the WNBA, Howard has consistently demonstrated excellence, averaging at least 15 points in five of the last six years and starting at least 30 games in eight of those seasons. Notably, she earned the Most Improved Player award in 2018, was voted to the first-team all-WNBA in 2019, and has previously worked under the Fever’s new head coach Stephanie White during White’s initial coaching tenure with the team.
