Natasha Howard's Indiana Fever Exit Was Inevitable

The veteran forward's fit alongside Caitlin Clark didn't quite work out, leading to her departure for the Minnesota Lynx.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 9:54pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the action of a basketball game, with sharp geometric shapes and planes of color representing the players and movement on the court.Natasha Howard's departure from the Indiana Fever reflects the challenges of building the right roster around a young superstar like Caitlin Clark.Atlanta Today

Natasha Howard's second stint with the Indiana Fever in 2025 was marked by her solid individual production, but the fit alongside star guard Caitlin Clark was not ideal. Howard's lack of shooting and chemistry issues with Clark led to frustration from both fans and the team, ultimately leading to Howard's departure to the Minnesota Lynx in free agency.

Why it matters

Howard's exit highlights the challenges of building the right roster around a young superstar like Clark. The Fever needed to find complementary pieces that could maximize Clark's strengths, and Howard's skill set didn't quite mesh. The team has moved on to Monique Billings, who appears to be a better fit both on the court and in the locker room.

The details

In 2025, Howard averaged 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game for the Fever, starting all 44 regular season contests. However, she struggled to space the floor and connect with Clark, leading to an often stagnant offense when Howard had the ball. Fans and even Clark herself showed visible frustration at times with Howard's play. At $214,466, Howard's salary was also the second-highest on the team, making it difficult to retain other key free agents like Sophie Cunningham.

  • On April 12, 2026, news broke that Howard had signed a two-year, $1.4 million deal with the Minnesota Lynx.

The players

Natasha Howard

A veteran forward who played for the Indiana Fever in 2025 before signing with the Minnesota Lynx in 2026.

Caitlin Clark

The star guard for the Indiana Fever, who struggled to find chemistry with Howard on the court.

Monique Billings

The forward who the Fever signed to replace Howard, and who is seen as a better fit alongside Clark due to her transition play and floor spacing.

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What they’re saying

“One example of this came during one of the Fever's games against the Atlanta Dream, when Clark passed the ball to Howard and literally stopped to tie her shoe while Howard was working iso in the paint (which resulted in a missed layup).”

— correlation

What’s next

The Fever will look to build around Caitlin Clark and integrate Monique Billings into the lineup, hoping the new roster combination will lead to more success in 2026.

The takeaway

Natasha Howard's departure from the Indiana Fever highlights the importance of finding the right complementary pieces to maximize a young superstar's talents. The Fever believe Monique Billings is a better fit alongside Caitlin Clark, both on the court and in the locker room.