Natasha Howard is returning to the Indiana Fever, according to reports
Key points
- Natasha Howard is expected to get a max contract with the Indiana Fever
- Howard was selected fifth in the 2015 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever
- What this means for the Fever’s search for roles with the team of Satou Sabally and NaLyssa Smith
Natasha Howard is returning to Indiana.
According to a report from ESPN, veteran power forward Natasha Howard will sign with the Indiana Fever for the 2025 season, and will return to the team that drafted her 10 years ago.
Indiana originally selected Howard fifth in the 2015 WNBA Draft, and she played two seasons for Indiana before being traded to Minnesota. Howard became a defensive player after leaving Indiana, winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2019. This time around, she will immediately strengthen Indiana’s defensive scheme.
Howard will bring a veteran, championship-winning presence to the frontcourt as a three-time WNBA champion — with Minnesota in 2017, and with Seattle in ’18 and ’20. Her 6-2 frame and 10 years of experience make her a perfect pairing with Fever center Aliyah Boston, who is going into her third year.
Howard, now 33, is coming off a partial season with the Dallas Wings after breaking her foot in the season-opener. That injury kept her out for more than a month, but it didn’t slow her performance on the court when she returned. In 27 games last season, Howard averaged 17.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game — the second-best season point average of her career.
What this means for the Indiana Fever and Satou Sabally
This signing also means that Howard’s former teammate, Satou Sabally, likely won’t be coming to the Fever. Sabally, who was cored by Dallas but is actively seeking a trade out of the franchise, was rumored to be interested in the Fever, but she held meetings with New York and Phoenix during the free agency negotiation period.
What this means for NaLyssa Smith’s role with the Indiana Fever
Howard, who will receive a nearly max salary, will likely move straight into the No. 4 spot in the Fever’s starting lineup. This raises the question of what the Fever plan to do with forward NaLyssa Smith, who has held that spot since being drafted in 2022. Compared to her first few years on the Fever, Smith had a poor year in 2024, averaging 10.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. She was sent to the bench twice in favor of Tami Fagbenle, and was vocal about her frustration with her lack of playing time.
The Fever have two options with Smith: they can keep her on the roster and ask her to accept less playing time off the bench in 2025, they can trade her, or they can agree to a contract buyout. Either way, Smith’s role on the team will change dramatically with this signing.
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