What drives Natasha Howard to leave everything on the floor? Because crashing the boards, diving on loose balls, and clogging up passing lanes are tasks she’d gladly pick each time. Or as she puts it, “It’s being the snake of the defense. Just communicating, being that extra push for our team. We need a stop? I’m going to get that stop for our team.” 400 steals isn’t a small number, and when combined with the rest of her stats–over two thousand rebounds, and over three hundred blocks–it reflects the passion and desire to win that she brings every single day.
The fact is, the Indiana Fever star knows exactly how she can impact the game to win. While her offensive capabilities are nothing to scoff at, logging over 4000 points throughout her career, defense is where she shines. Not to mention, Howard’s lofty ambitions of winning MVP, as well as her impressive performance during the Commissioner’s Cup Final, showcased what she still had in store. She has single-handedly won games for the Indiana Fever. Don’t believe us? Let us show you exactly how!
The ‘Wings of Steel’ effect
Let’s get real for a second… Natasha Howard is one of the best on-ball defenders in the league. Does that sound like an outrageous statement? Well, considering her impact on the court, it really shouldn’t. Defense is primarily a game of mindset and hustle, and luckily for the Indiana Fever, Howard is fluent in both. Even in year 11, the six-foot-two forward wants to win games for her team and inspire her younger teammates towards victory.
She said as much after Indiana’s 2nd victory over Dallas. “When my teammates see me hustling on the defensive end, that gets them going, as well,” Natasha Howard said. “When they see me going, they follow my lead, and that’s one thing I like about the way I play.” Even Stephanie White had nothing but praise for the WNBA vet after that game. The Fever HC said that Howard’s defensive consistency and hustle “has opened things up and taken a little of the pressure off.”
May 24, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever forwards Natasha Howard (6) and Aliyah Boston (7) high-five during a game between the Indiana Fever and the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Grace Smith/USA Today Network via Imagn Images
And we haven’t even gotten to the physical tools she possesses that will enable her to succeed. Howard can guard positions 1-5, which is no joke, and a large part of it is because of her “wings of steel.” Standing at just six feet two inches tall, the Indiana Fever vet is pretty average-sized for a forward in the WNBA, but what exactly sets her apart? Her wingspan. A six-foot-six wingspan means that Natasha Howard can keep up with the best, and most physical, of them all, while her shorter frame lets her stay low for all the steals and deflections.
Howard has maintained her active hands and low defensive posture throughout an eleven-year WNBA career. She averaged over 1.3 steals per game between 2019-2024, with the number going as high as 2.0 SPG during Seattle’s 2020 championship run. Her career 1.1 steals per game ranks top-15 all-time for players that are 6’2 and over, and lands her in cohorts of legends like Candace Parker.
Way back in 2019, during Howard’s reign as the DPOY, she proved just how good of a shot blocker she truly is. She averaged 1.7 blocks a game, even while providing significant contributions to Seattle’s offense. Yet again, that’s her wingspan coming into play, and it shows what kind of motor the Fever star has. Not to mention, her 2.9 personal fouls per game means that she doesn’t play dirty. It’s almost like the six-foot-two forward is stubborn, not wanting a single shot to hit her team’s hoop, and not wanting to give them the satisfaction of some free throws. Natasha Howard’s defensive stubbornness and defensive hustle have led to even the biggest names falling short in front of her.
How Natasha Howard mutes the WNBA’s loudest offenses!
At the end of the day, a good defender will make any scorer uncomfortable. It’s not always about blocks, steals, or turnovers; sometimes it’s just about the pressure that they apply. Needless to say, Natasha Howard has a resume that can measure up against anyone in the entire WNBA. We’ve seen enough of her stats in isolation; what happens when we look at the league’s best players and their numbers against the Indiana Fever wing?
One of Natasha Howard’s better performances, not going too far back into her career, was her Commissioner’s Cup Finals MVP against the Minnesota Lynx. Although her 16-point double-double was quite impressive, it was the defensive side of things that caught eyes. Namely, how she locked up Napheesa Collier, an MVP candidate, and restricted her to just 33% from the field. Howard forced 5 turnovers out of Collier, and that won them the game right then and there.
Jun 27, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings forward NaLyssa Smith (1) grabs a rebound in front of Indiana Fever forward Natasha Howard (6) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
But if we want to look back and notice all the trends, we can start with the case study of Arike Ogunbowale versus Natasha Howard. The Dallas Wings guard goes by her ability to hit long-range shots. Averaging over 20 points per game on about 40% shooting means that Ogunbowale knows her way around. However, against Howard, she can’t muster up the same kind of numbers. In the ten games that Howard has guarded the Wings guard, Arike’s scoring averages and efficiencies have taken a dive bomb, dropping to about 17 points on just 34% from the field!
And if we zoom in on some other long-standing matchups, such as against former Indiana teammate DeWanna Bonner, and other big names like Sabrina Ionescu, and Kelsey Plum, the picture starts to become that much clearer! In each scenario, Natasha Howard’s on-ball pressure causes the opposition’s points per game and/or efficiency to drop by at least a couple points.
However, that’s not all the Indiana Fever forward does to impact the game defensively. There are things that Howard does that can’t be seen in the statsheet, and sometimes, they matter the most.
A silent assassin? Or a defensive architect?
Aside from guarding isolation plays, there’s a lot that Natasha Howard brings to the table every time she steps on the court. The six-foot-two forward is a hustler by nature, and her basketball IQ is something to look out for.
Her six-foot-six wingspan and her incredible athleticism allow for Howard to contest shots that no one would expect. On top of that, her nimble steps and active hands mean that denying the ball in the post is child’s play for the Indiana Fever vet. Natasha Howard might be undersized, but no one’s posting her up without their fair share of work.
Jun 10, 2025; College Park, Georgia, USA; Indiana Fever forward Natasha Howard (6) dribbles against the Atlanta Dream at Gateway Center Arena at College Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
After joining the Indiana Fever, Howard has been doing an excellent job of showing her defensive presence. She’s averaging 1 steal per game while playing limited minutes (24.1 MPG) by anticipating and reacting. The veteran forward is looking for dribble handoffs, she’s denying post seals early, and she can guard both sides of a pick-and-roll. But other than that, she’s a natural leader on the court! Howard communicates really well on defense, calling out screens and methodically disrupting plays.
Even opponent coaches have nothing but praise for the six-foot-two forward! “She’s constantly moving, cutting off the ball and (being) a good separator in ball screens,” Wings coach Chris Koclanes said about Howard after Indiana’s dominant win over Dallas a few days ago. “She’s a good complement to everyone they have on the floor with her cutting, her movement and the pressure she puts on the paint and the rim.”
While the way she plays the game can be a little underappreciated by statistics and public perception, there’s no doubt that Natasha Howard is truly a defensive anchor. Even at age 33, she has helped improve Indiana’s defense, bringing its efficiency up from #11 to #4 in the entire league!
Time hasn’t passed her by, and her story still has many chapters left… But are you ready to be a part of her story during this year’s All-Star Weekend? Stay tuned as we continue to celebrate #ItsHerMoment with Natasha Howard at the Bullseye Event Center, Indianapolis on July 18, 4:00PM brought to you exclusively by EssentiallySports!
The post Natasha Howard’s Ironclad Defense: Redefining Elite Standards in the WNBA appeared first on EssentiallySports.
