Fever Star Gets Honest on Caitlin Clark 'First Impression' - Yahoo Sports
Fever Star Gets Honest on Caitlin Clark 'First Impression' originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
When Natasha Howard hit free agency after spending two years in Dallas with the Wings, she had a hunch that what she really wanted was to come back home. She entertained other offers this offseason, but her heart was always with Indiana, the team that drafted her in the first round back in 2014.
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It did not hurt, either, than the Fever play just a little more than 200 miles from Howard's hometown in Toledo, Ohio. The Fever badly wanted to bring Howard back to the team, hopeful of adding her veteran know-how and her defensive toughness.She is, after all, a three-time WNBA champion and a former Defensive Player of the Year.
She agreed to return to the Fever in January.
Shortly thereafter, she got her first up-close meeting with Indiana's superstar second-year player, Caitlin Clark, and found her to live up to her reputation as an ultra-competitor.
Indiana Fever forward Natasha Howard (6) arrives before a game between the Indiana Fever and the Washington Mystics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Mandatory Credit: Grace Smth- INDIANAPOLIS STAR-Imagn Images
Speaking on Sue Bird's podcast, "Brid's-Eye View," Howard said of Clark, "My first impression of her was like, ‘Dang, this is what everybody’s talking about right here, this girl right here.’ Getting to know Caitlin more, she is like, reminds me of a little sister."
As has become obvious throughout this season, though, Clark is also something of a target for opposing teams, who feel that being physical with her is the best way to defend her. Howard also said it is easy to overlook how young Clark is, and that though she is a global icon in some ways, she still needs guidance from the likes of Howard, who is in her 12th season.
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"She is only 22 years old," Howard said. "She reminds me of a little sister that I can put under my wing and just guide her and just be that vet for her. And let her know, ‘You’re not alone, I got your back, like no matter what because you got a lot of stuff on your shoulders.’ Let me take some of that off your shoulders."
Clark has missed the Fever's last two games with a groin injury. Howard has started 15 games for Indiana and is averaging 10.9 points and 6.1 rebounds this year.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
