For all that a dollar is worth, Natasha Howard banked on hers to create a legacy. Howard was just 10 at the time, and Uncle Greg had set an interesting premise: dribble, and you get a dollar. But it wasn’t until high school that she realized sticking to the sport just might take her somewhere.

Signed with Florida State out of Morrison R. Waite High School in 2010, the expectations from the McDonald’s All-American and the No. 2 player in the country were through the roof. 129 games in garnet and gold in, those expectations were more than met… so much so that, on her senior day, her coach Sue Semrau claimed that No. 33 will be hanging from the rafters of the Civic Center. Almost a decade later, that day has finally come.

“We’re proud to announce that 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 will become the 5️⃣th player in program history to have her jersey retired 🍢 Come celebrate with us on Nov. 16,” FSU Women’s Basketball announced last week.

She will return to the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center to see her jersey rise to the rafters. The ceremony will take place after Florida State’s game against Indiana at 5 p.m. on November 16. With the induction, Howard will join an exclusive company of  Sue Galkantas (1980-84), Tia Paschal (1988-93), Wanda Burns (1988-91), and Brooke Wyckoff (1997-01) to have her jersey retired by FSU.

“Natasha Howard is one of the greatest to ever wear Garnet and Gold and I couldn’t be more proud,” said FSU head coach Wyckoff in a statement released by the university. “She gave everything she had to this program, and she’s continued to make us proud every step of the way. Seeing her succeed as a WNBA champion and All-Star only reinforces what we always knew; she’s one of the best to ever do it.”

And that’s not just to say, Howard left Tallahassee as one of the best players to ever step into FSU.

• She was a two-time All-ACC First Team selection in 2013 and 2014
• Howard was an All-Defensive team honoree in 2012 and 2014
• She finished her FSU career with 1,811 points, averaging 14.0 points per game in 129 games played
• She set the school records for career rebounds at 1,047 and double-doubles at 41, which were recently broken by Makayla Timpson, her now Indiana Fever teammate, last season
• She also added 186 blocks, and 209 steals throughout her collegiate career
• Howard set the school record that is shared today for most points in a game, scoring 40 against Syracuse
• She also added 15 double-doubles, another FSU record

As a freshman, Howard was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team and was tabbed a Full Court Press Third Team Freshman All-American. She started all 32 games, averaging 10.6 points per game and 6.6 rebounds, while shooting 46 percent from the floor.

In her senior year, Howard earned two All-America honorable mention accolades by the AP and WBCA after scoring 675 points, averaging 20.5 per game. For her coach, Semrau, it was the best single season a player of hers has had since Roneeka Hodges in 2005.

“Afterwards, when I look back, yeah it will feel good,” Howard had said on her senior day. “Looking back, knowing that I did this, I did that at Florida State. I did this for myself. I did this for my family. I did this for Florida State. And for the other players coming in they’ll say, ‘Wow. Natasha Howard did that?’ I wanted to be that type of person. I wanted to leave an imprint. And I think that’s what I did.”

Back in 2019, Tash revealed that she dug out Florida State because she wanted to be somewhere different – somewhere warm. Since she had never been to Florida, that’s where she landed. But for FSU, it was more about their academics. They were a top-five college in the country at the time for education. According to Howard, “I didn’t really care about basketball; I just wanted to get my education.”

In FSU, Howard had social sciences as her major subject after joining the school as the highest-ranked recruit in the program’s history. Now, the humble and unselfish player who did whatever was asked of her to help the team gets the honor of a lifetime from her alma mater. Naturally, fans wasted no time showing love to Tash.

Fans react to Natasha Howard getting her jersey retired

After a standout career with the franchise she started her WNBA career with, the Indiana Fever, her jersey retirement is more than justified. The 2025 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup MVP, though, is still remembered for how she changed FSU’s fate.

“LET’S GO, NOLES & @THoward_6 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼❤️💛💙💛❤️,” one fan wrote, while another echoed the excitement, saying, “Congratulations Flash! 🎉.”

“Flash” is a nickname fans have given Natasha Howard for good reason. She’s a force in the paint, yet lightning-fast on the break, effortlessly pushing the pace of the game. We saw that regularly this season with the Fever, who were without Caitlin Clark, the usual reason why the team plays a fast-paced offense. She finished the season averaging 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.

Messages like “Well deserved! Congratulations Natasha,” were always bound to pour in!

Another fan quickly highlighted just how dominant she was in college, writing, “Natasha Howard nearly averaged a double-double as a sophomore and senior. Quite the honor for one of #FSU’s best.” And the stats speak for themselves: Howard averaged 12.2 points and 9.1 rebounds as a sophomore, then exploded for 20.5 points and 9.3 rebounds her senior year–showcasing that she was truly a force of nature at Florida State. But actually, she scored in double digits throughout her four years in Tallahassee.

But some fans couldn’t help but worry about one big question. “Wait, having her jersey retired is one thing, but is she coming back? She played so well in the second half of the year, executing quickly and her movement around the court was very important. She certainly looked fine towards the end. I hope she comes back or doesn’t leave,” one fan wrote.

Howard signed a 1-year, $214,466 deal with the Indiana Fever, including $214,466 guaranteed. The uncertainty was mainly due to the ongoing WNBA CBA negotiations. But how she helped the team was nothing short of impactful.

In the last offseason, Howard’s story came full circle when she signed with the Indiana Fever. Drafted by the franchise in 2014, Howard returned over a decade later as a seasoned veteran with three WNBA championships to her name. She brought leadership, poise, and a championship pedigree to one of the youngest cores in the league and delivered when it mattered most.

After Clark’s season-ending injury, Howard’s previous guard skills were aptly used by HC Stephanie White. But she also continued to be the same dominant presence in the paint. Improving the team overall, she helped make a push to the semifinals this season, their first appearance since 2016.

No wonder everyone wants her to return to the Fever next season if the CBA is resolved.

Howard will be a free agent this offseason, and whether she returns is still up in the air. With Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston still on rookie deals and the Fever’s priority being re-signing Kelsey Mitchell, Howard’s return becomes all the more uncertain. Much of that will hinge on the cap space available once the new CBA is finalized–and right now, those talks don’t seem close to a conclusion. Until then, we can certainly celebrate Howard’s much-deserved jersey retirement.