Sunday’s game against Indiana was special for more than one reason. FSU was coming off a win over Nicholls, and it was also set to mark a celebratory moment for the school’s alumna, Natasha Howard. As head coach, Brooke Wyckoff shared, “I’m so excited to honor her for a great career. I cannot wait. She is also excited to be back too.” And “excited” she is. HC Wyckoff was an assistant coach back when Howard played for Florida State. But was she the only one joining in on the celebration?

Not really. The WNBA dived into the celebration too as the Toledo native returned to FSU for her No. 33 jersey retirement during halftime of the Seminoles’ game against Indiana. To make the moment even more memorable, Indiana Fever posted the clip on X with the caption: “The moment has arrived, drop some love to congratulate Natasha Howard on having her jersey retired at @fsuwbb.” Within hours, the WNBA official account jumped in as well, commenting, “So well deserved!”

And honestly, it’s no surprise. Howard truly earned this honor. Playing at Florida State from 2011 to 2014, she became a two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference First Team selection in 2013 and 2014. She was also named to the ACC All-Defensive Team in 2012 and 2014.

Her journey to excellence began right away. As a freshman, she averaged 10.6 points and 6.6 rebounds. FSU, hence, named her to the ACC All-Freshman Team, and she helped lead the Seminoles to the NCAA Tournament, even though the run ended in the second round.

Dominance soon became Howard’s trademark. She appeared in 129 games, averaging 14.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.6 steals. She earned First Team All-ACC honors twice. But her senior year was her best. She averaged 20.5 points on 59.4% shooting, with 9.3 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game.

By the end of her career, she had scored 1,811 points and set school records for career rebounds (1,047) and double-doubles (41). Notably, those records stood until last season, when Makayla Timpson broke them. So yes, Waite High School alumna more than deserved to become the fifth player in program history to have her jersey retired.

She now joins Sue Galkantas, Tia Paschal, Wanda Burns, and Brooke Wyckoff. But while she left college almost a decade ago, her success didn’t stop. After the 2013–2014 season, she was drafted fifth overall by the Indiana Fever. Since then, she has won three WNBA titles and built an impressive 11-year career.

But what’s next for her?

Last year, Howard landed with Indiana, and it may have been her most fortunate move yet. Throughout the season, the Fever were the most resilient team. After a 24–20 regular season, Indy earned the No. 6 seed. They upset the third-seeded Atlanta Dream in the first round and pushed the No. 2 Las Vegas Aces to five games.

All that came without several key players, including Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham. And, Howard played a major role for Indy. She started all 44 regular-season games and averaged 11.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.2 steals while shooting a career-high 55.2%.

But Howard signed a one-year, $214,466 deal before the 2025 season. And now her contract has expired, and that puts her among more than 100 unrestricted free agents this winter. Though a return remains possible, especially since Indiana has two core players under contract for the 2026 season.

However, everything depends on the new CBA, which is still not finalized. As the players’ union is pushing for higher salaries and a better revenue-sharing model, the transformational deal might see big changes at W.