Why Natasha Howard's Indiana Fever Exit Was Inevitable

On April 12, news broke that veteran forward Natasha Howard had signed a two-year, $1.4 million deal with the Minnesota Lynx, thus ending her second stint with the Indiana Fever. When assessing Howard's 2025 campaign with Indiana, different people will likely come to different verdicts. Some will say that she was a successful signing, which is shown by her 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, and starting in all 44 of the Fever's regular season contests. While this was the lowest-scoring output she had since a COVID-shortened 2020 season, her scoring role was reduced because of the firepower around her. Her job was instead to get timely baskets and contribute on defense, both of which she did. But Howard also frustrated many Fever fans, largely because she didn't seem to fit well alongside Caitlin Clark. She didn't spread the floor with shooting (which is crucial when playing with No. 22), and doesn't have great hands and wasn't able to catch many of her passes; she wasn't particularly good in transition,