The Indiana Fever have pulled off the unthinkable! With DeWanna Bonner no longer on the roster and Caitlin Clark out with a groin injury, things weren’t looking all that good. They were up against the best team in the league, which had only lost twice all season. So many hurdles, but none too big for Stephanie White and her resilient team! Instead, they delivered a historic 74-59 win against the Minnesota Lynx and brought home their first-ever WNBA Commissioner’s Cup. And leading the charge? None other than Natasha Howard.
After getting drafted by the Fever in 2014, Natasha Howard has gone on to carve out a pretty impressive career for herself! Following two seasons in Indiana, Howard went on to have stints at Lynx, Storm, Liberty, and Dallas Wings. She ended up becoming a WNBA champion three times, as well as winning the defensive player of the year in 2019. This summer gave Natasha Howard a chance to return to where it all started. And what a comeback it has been.
The 2x All-Star entered this season with a clear mission. “One thing for me, I actually want to win MVP. I was close to getting it in 2019, but that’s years behind now. But winning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. But at the end, it’s holding that [championship] trophy.” While many in the beginning made fun of this statement, no one is laughing anymore!
The Fever were down by 13 points at one stage. It looked like an impossible task to win the game– but Natasha Howard wasn’t going to back down easily. The 3x WNBA champion led from the front with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists. As the Fever pulled off the impossible, Howard achieved what she set out to do at the beginning of the season. Her performance in the final earned her a well-deserved unanimous Commissioner’s Cup MVP.
Natasha Howard is officially your unanimous Commissioner’s Cup Presented by @coinbase MVP. Howard recorded 16 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists in an Indiana Fever win vs. the Minnesota Lynx. pic.twitter.com/mD7KePU36D
— WNBA Communications (@WNBAComms) July 2, 2025
Along with her share of the $500,000 prize pool and $120,000 in cryptocurrency from Coinbase, Howard is also taking home an extra $5,000 for being crowned MVP. Good day at work, eh?
The Indiana Fever had one strategy heading into the offseason–add veteran leadership to guide their young core. DeWanna Bonner and Natasha Howard were the marquee additions for the Fever this season. Both brought in championship-winning experience to the team, which was needed.
While Bonner has since moved on, citing compatibility issues, Howard has not only remained but thrived. Averaging 11.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, Howard has managed to create an impact on both sides of the court effectively. She’s a perfect example of why every successful team needs the right mix of youth and experience to truly compete.
Her teammates knew exactly how valuable she was to their success. And after the win, Kelsey Mitchell gave the MVP her flowers!
Kelsey Mitchell praises Natasha Howard
When Natasha Howard was introduced by the Fever’s president, it was made clear that the 33-year-old wasn’t brought in just for her on-court abilities. Her role was to help protect the locker room culture and help instill a winning mentality in the locker room. It’s fair to say that she has done a fabulous job so far!
Kelsey Mitchell had nothing but praise for the veteran, highlighting just how much of an impact Natasha Howard has made since day one. “Natasha is a pro that flies under the radar in this league, and not a lot of people respect what she does or brings to the table. She’s won at every level,” she said.
Howard has achieved what she set out to do… in some ways. But her contribution to the team is undeniable. The Fever will now be hoping Caitlin Clark returns soon, so they can ride the momentum from this cup win and put together a winning run. Will they be able to do it? It remains to be seen.
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