Natasha Howard Shines in Lynx Victory Over Sky
In a Saturday afternoon matchup between the Minnesota Lynx and the Chicago Sky, stars like Skyler Diggins, Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride, Camila Cardoso, and Olivia Miles took the court. Yet, it was Natasha Howard who emerged as the game’s standout player.
Howard delivered an impressive performance, scoring 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting, along with 14 rebounds and five assists. Her efforts helped the Lynx outpace the Sky by a solid 16 points over the span of 33 minutes. Notably, no other player managed to score more than 16 points or pull down more than nine rebounds in the entire game.
At 34, Howard’s signing as a free agent this summer was somewhat low-key. Last season, she started for the Indiana Fever but didn’t exactly light it up, averaging 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game—nothing particularly eye-catching.
However, this season has been a different story. Howard has become a crucial asset for the Lynx, who have jumped to a 4-2 start. Her role has been vital not just in fortifying Minnesota’s defense, but also as a key player on offense.
Howard Helps Lynx Navigate Offseason Challenges
The Lynx faced significant challenges in the offseason, losing two important frontcourt players, Alana Smith and Jessica Shepherd, to free agency. Both signed lucrative deals with the Dallas Wings—Smith for three years at $3.7 million, and Shepherd for two years at $2.05 million.
To complicate matters, last season’s MVP runner-up, Napheesa Collier, hasn’t yet debuted this season due to recovering from ankle surgery. One might assume the Lynx’s frontcourt would struggle without these players. Despite these obstacles, Howard has successfully led the way, alongside guards Williams, McBride, and Miles.
With 14 years of WNBA experience, Howard has encountered offensive demands in past seasons and is now in her fourth season averaging over 16 points per game.
This offseason brought several impactful free agent additions. Britney Sykes and Marina Mabry shone at Toronto Tempo, while Chennedy Carter made a notable impact off the bench for the Las Vegas Aces, and Bridget Carleton is having a standout season with the Portland Fires.
Still, Howard stands out as one of the most influential players. Remarkably, she’s shown more effectiveness this season than Smith, who won last year’s Defensive Player of the Year yet managed only 4.3 points in 17.8 minutes per game.
Having signed a two-year contract worth $1.4 million with the Lynx, Howard is averaging 17 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. Her stellar showing against the Chicago Sky reinforces the notion that she’s one of the most underrated free agent acquisitions this year.
