Natasha Howard: 2025 Review

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00:01Welcome, and thank you for joining us today.

00:05Position, forward age, 34 years, pro, 12, signed, joined the Fever on February 2, 2025,

00:14initially selected by the Fever as the fifth overall pick in the 2014 WNBA draft from Florida

00:20State, key stats, played in all 44 regular season games, averaging 11.4 points with a shooting

00:26percentage of 55.2%, along with 6.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. In the playoffs,

00:33she averaged 9.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2 assists over 8 games.

00:40Honors, WNBA Commissioners' Cup MVP.

00:44Last season, Natasha Howard fulfilled the expectations of the Indiana Fever upon her

00:48return to the team. The Fever acquired Howard through free agency, aiming to leverage her

00:53extensive experience, to aid their young roster, in progressing towards a championship.

00:58Having been originally drafted by the Fever in 2014, and contributing to their journey to the

01:03WNBA Finals in her second year, Howard has built an impressive career across four other teams in

01:09the league. She has secured three championships, one with Minnesota and two with Seattle, and has

01:14been recognized as a two-time All-Star. In 2018, she was recognized as the most improved player in

01:20the league, and the following year, she earned the title of, Defensive Player of the Year.

01:25Returning to Indiana was a logical choice for Howard, who was enthusiastic about the opportunity

01:30to guide younger talents such as Aaliyah Boston, and, Kaitlyn Clark.

01:35I'm excited to be involved in this and to provide the leadership needed to teach this young team what

01:40it takes to achieve a championship, Howard expressed during her introductory press conference

01:45in February. She fulfilled this commitment by consistently performing well on the court,

01:50and serving as a seasoned presence in the locker room throughout the 2025 season.

01:55Howard played a pivotal role in the Fever's first road victory where she achieved a season high of

02:0026 points shooting 12 of 17, in a win against Atlanta on May 22nd. In June she recorded three

02:06double-doubles, one of which occurred on June 27th in Dallas, where she contributed significantly with 15

02:12points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. This strong performance continued just a few nights

02:19later when the Fever faced off against Minnesota. In the championship game of the Commissioner's Cup,

02:25the Lynx faced off against the Fever. The Lynx were considered strong contenders, boasting an

02:32impressive record of 14 wins and 2 losses, and their star player, Nafisa Collier, was a leading

02:38candidate for the WNBA MVP award. However the Fever outperformed Minnesota in all aspects of the game,

02:46with Howard standing out as the top player on the court. The veteran forward achieved a game high of

02:5116 points, secured 12 rebounds, provided 4 assists, and made 2 steals, contributing significantly to the

02:58victory. She played a crucial role in the Fever's defensive strategy, which restricted Minnesota to

03:04only 59 points overall and a mere 39 points during the last three quarters, effectively limiting

03:10Collier to a shooting performance of 6 for 18. Howard's exceptional performance earned her the title of

03:15Commissioner's Cup MVP, adding yet another honor to her already remarkable career. Throughout the

03:21remainder of the regular season, Howard maintained her high level of performance. She recorded six

03:26additional double-doubles and demonstrated remarkable efficiency as a scorer in the post. Her field goal

03:33percentage of 552 placed her third in the WNBA, and she was also among the league leaders in various

03:40statistical categories. In the realm of basketball, particularly in the WNBA, Howard has emerged as

03:47one of the top rebounders. Despite facing a season filled with injuries that sidelined many of her

03:53teammates, she remained a constant and reliable player, participating in every game. Her unwavering

03:59presence was crucial for the Fever, especially as they managed to secure an unexpected victory against

04:04the Atlanta Dream in the first round of the playoffs. Head coach Stephanie White highlighted

04:09Howard's role as a mentor, attributing a significant part of the team's success to her guidance.

04:15Tash is our veteran, White remarked. Her leadership throughout this season has been remarkable.

04:20We've experienced a lot of ups and downs, and she has been instrumental in navigating us through

04:25those challenges. In the first game of the WNBA semifinals, Howard showcased her skills by achieving

04:32a double-double, contributing 12 points and 11 rebounds in a decisive win against the Aces,

04:37who would go on to become the WNBA champions. When faced with adversity, she ensured that her

04:43teammates remained resilient and continued to fight until the final whistle. In Game 5, however,

04:48the team faced further challenges as All-WNBA player Kelsey Mitchell had to leave the game due to an

04:56injury in the third quarter, and All-WNBA center Aaliyah Boston also fouled out. Despite their efforts,

05:04Howard and her teammates continued to fight, managing to push the game into overtime,

05:08although they ultimately fell short. In the season's final game, Howard recorded 16 points,

05:147 rebounds, and 5 assists. As is the case for numerous players in the WNBA, Howard is preparing

05:21to enter free agency once more this offseason. It remains to be seen if her time in Indiana will

05:26be prolonged, but no matter what lies ahead, she made a notable impact on the franchise through her

05:31contributions both on and off the court during the 2025 season. What do you think makes a player

05:37truly invaluable to their team?

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