American professional basketball player, three-time WNBA champion, Defensive Player of the Year, All-WNBA forward, and Commissioner’s Cup MVP.
Natasha Howard was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, where she attended Morrison R. Waite High School. She became one of the country’s leading high school players, averaging 24.7 points, 11 rebounds, and 2.6 assists as a senior while guiding Waite to the state championship game. Her honours included Ohio Ms. Basketball, McDonald’s All-American selection, and co-MVP recognition at the 2010 McDonald’s All-American Game.
Howard attended Florida State University from 2010 to 2014. A versatile forward, she became one of the most productive players in programme history, finishing with 1,811 points, a school-record 1,047 rebounds, 186 blocks, and 41 double-doubles. During her senior season, she averaged 20.5 points and 9.3 rebounds, set a school single-game scoring record with 40 points, and earned All-America, All-ACC First Team, and ACC All-Defensive Team recognition.
The Indiana Fever selected Howard fifth overall in the 2014 WNBA Draft. She showed immediate promise as a rookie and helped Indiana reach the 2015 WNBA Finals. During that championship series, she made every field-goal and free-throw attempt she took, although the Fever lost to Minnesota in five games.
Howard was traded to the Minnesota Lynx in 2016 and became a valuable frontcourt reserve. She reached the WNBA Finals in both of her seasons with Minnesota and won her first championship in 2017. Her ability to defend multiple positions, rebound, and score efficiently made her an important contributor within the Lynx’s experienced rotation.
A trade to the Seattle Storm in 2018 transformed Howard’s career. Given a larger role as a starter, she produced career highs across several statistical categories, won the WNBA Most Improved Player Award, and helped Seattle capture the championship. In the deciding game of the Finals, she recorded 29 points and 14 rebounds.
Howard reached another level in 2019, earning her first WNBA All-Star selection, All-WNBA First Team honours, a second consecutive All-Defensive First Team selection, and the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. She averaged 18.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game, establishing herself as one of the league’s leading two-way forwards. She won her third championship with Seattle in 2020.
Howard later played for the New York Liberty and Dallas Wings, continuing to contribute as a scorer, rebounder, and defensive leader. She returned to Indiana in 2025, helping the Fever win their first Commissioner’s Cup championship and earning the tournament’s MVP award. In 2026, she rejoined the Minnesota Lynx.
Howard has participated in several USA Basketball programmes, including the 2016 USA Select Team, the 2022 World Cup Qualifying Team, and senior national team training camps. During a 2016 exhibition against the United States Olympic team, she scored a game-high 24 points off the bench.
In 2022, Howard helped the United States complete an undefeated FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifying campaign with victories over Belgium and Puerto Rico. She has continued to participate in senior national team and 3x3 development camps, remaining part of the wider USA Basketball player pool.
Howard has also enjoyed an extensive international club career. She has played professionally in Israel, Turkey, South Korea, China, Italy, and Russia. With Fenerbahçe, she won consecutive EuroLeague Women championships in 2023 and 2024, Turkish League titles, the Turkish Cup, and the FIBA Europe SuperCup Women.
Natasha Howard plays primarily as a power forward and is recognised for defensive versatility, athleticism, rebounding, and efficient interior scoring. She can guard several positions, protect the rim, disrupt passing lanes, and switch onto perimeter players. Offensively, she finishes effectively around the basket, runs the floor well, and can create opportunities through movement and offensive rebounds. Her energy, mobility, and defensive instincts have made her a valuable contributor on championship teams.
Howard is the daughter of Latasha Howard and studied social science at Florida State University. She has identified Kevin Durant as an important sporting role model because of his work ethic and community involvement. Howard is married to Jac’Eil Duckworth Howard, with their wedding featured on the television series Basketball Wives. She has generally maintained a private personal life while using her professional experience to mentor younger teammates.
Natasha Howard’s legacy is defined by adaptability, defensive excellence, and championship success. She developed from a limited-role young player into a WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, All-WNBA selection, and reliable offensive contributor. Her career demonstrates how expanded opportunity and continued development can transform a talented role player into one of the league’s most complete forwards.´
Her three WNBA championships with two franchises, success in Europe, and ability to contribute across multiple teams reflect her versatility and professionalism. Howard has remained effective in different systems and roles, bringing defence, rebounding, leadership, and championship experience wherever she has played.
Natasha Howard’s high school honours include Ohio Ms. Basketball, McDonald’s All-American selection, and co-MVP of the 2010 McDonald’s All-American Game. At Florida State, she earned two All-ACC selections, two ACC All-Defensive Team honours, All-America recognition, and finished as the programme’s career leader in rebounds and double-doubles.
Professionally, Howard has won three WNBA championships: with Minnesota in 2017 and Seattle in 2018 and 2020. She received the 2018 WNBA Most Improved Player Award, the 2019 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, All-WNBA First Team recognition, two All-Defensive First Team selections, and multiple WNBA All-Star selections. In 2025, she won the Commissioner’s Cup with Indiana and was named the competition’s MVP.
Her overseas honours include two EuroLeague Women championships, two Turkish League titles, the Turkish Cup, and the FIBA Europe SuperCup Women.
Natasha Howard is an American professional basketball player known for her defensive versatility, rebounding, efficient scoring, and championship experience. Born on September 2, 1991, in Toledo, Ohio, she developed into one of the WNBA’s most accomplished two-way forwards after starring at Morrison R. Waite High School and Florida State University.
Selected fifth overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2014 WNBA Draft, Howard has played for Indiana, Minnesota, Seattle, New York, and Dallas. She won three WNBA championships with the Minnesota Lynx and Seattle Storm, earned the 2018 WNBA Most Improved Player Award, and was named WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and All-WNBA First Team in 2019. Howard returned to Indiana in 2025, helping the Fever win the Commissioner’s Cup and earning tournament MVP honours, before rejoining the Minnesota Lynx in 2026. She has also won major club titles in Europe.
