As injuries continue to pile up for the Indiana Fever, one player remains steadfast in the storm, Natasha Howard. “Tash just does whatever we need, every single day,” head coach Stephanie White said after Howard pulled down 17 rebounds in a recent loss to the Los Angeles Sparks. Amid a season full of lineup shuffles, tactical adjustments, and constant recalibration, Howard has emerged as the team’s steady hand, both on and off the floor.
And it’s not a surprise that Howard is a workhorse, as her Seminoles bio reads, “Role model is Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant because of his work ethic and his role in giving back to communities.” However, before she looked up to NBA stars, her role models were her immediate parents, who propelled her to do her best. Let’s meet the people who raised 3× WNBA champion Natasha Howard.
Who is Natasha Howard’s Mother?
Born on September 2, 1991, in Toledo, Ohio, Howard was raised by her mother, Latasha Howard, whose resilience left an indelible mark. “What we lacked in money. Mama made up for it in grit and hustle. Two jobs, long nights, and tired eyes—but never a missed moment when it mattered.” Natasha writes in her exclusive with EssentiallySports.
Latasha did everything to ensure her daughter had a chance, keeping the lights on, meals on the table, and dreams alive. When Natasha was selected at No.5 by the Fever, no one was prouder than Latasha. “She’s very proud of me and everything I’ve accomplished.” Natasha is where she is right now because of her mother’s support. And she knows it, Howard often credits her family, which includes every close one around her, as the reason for her success.
Who is Natasha Howard’s father?
There are no publicly available details on who Natasha Howard’s biological father is. However, that does not mean that the Indiana Fever forward lacked any father figures, as many close ones stepped in to provide her with guidance.
Did Natasha Howard have father figures in her life?
Howard considers her basketball coach at Waite High School, Howard Hicks, as her ‘father’. She cleared things up regarding this confusion in her exclusive with EssentiallySports writing, “It’s you, Coach Hicks. My dad. Now, before the media starts mixing things up again, I don’t exactly remember when I started calling you “Dad.” Along with her coach, her uncle, Greg Howard, encouraged her to pursue basketball.
Howard initially had little interest in playing basketball, but her uncle, Greg, changed that with a challenge, “Start dribbling, and I’ll give you a dollar.” Howard was hooked, and her uncle did not have to offer her a bribe to play ball as she was often seen in the gym, according to Coach Hicks. As a teen, Coach Hicks remembers her as a relentless ‘gym rat’, scaling hills, hitting the weights, and grinding through ball-handling and shooting drills day after day. From Howard’s kind words regarding the two, it’s clear they still play an essential role in her life as she continues to shine in Indiana Fever colors.
Howard has a pivotal role in this Fever side, where they try to offset injuries to Caitlin Clark, Aari McDonald, and Sydney Colson. Howard has been instrumental in countering the physicality most teams have used against this Fever side. Along with Aaliyah Boston, she has strengthened their defense and offense in the paint, and her role will only grow more important as this team moves towards competing for the title.
The post Who are Natasha Howard’s Parents? Everything to Know About Her Parents appeared first on EssentiallySports.