MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx today announced the team has executed a sign-and-trade deal with the Seattle Storm, sending restricted free agent forward Natasha Howard to the Storm in exchange for a 2018 2nd-round draft pick (17th overall) and the right to swap 1st-round draft picks in 2019.
“We appreciate Natasha’s valuable contributions to our team over the last two seasons and wish her well in her new journey with the Seattle Storm,” said Lynx Head Coach and General Manager Cheryl Reeve.
Originally selected by Indiana in the 1st round (5th overall) of the 2014 WNBA Draft, Howard was acquired by Minnesota on Feb. 2, 2016 in a sign-and-trade deal that sent restricted free agent Devereaux Peters to the Fever. Howard appeared in all 68 regular-season games in her two seasons with Minnesota, averaging 5.5 points (on 53.5% shooting) and 3.0 rebounds in 13.1 minutes per game. She tallied a career-high 21 points vs. San Antonio on July 2, 2016, one of 12 double-figure scoring nights in a Lynx uniform.
Howard holds career averages of 5.6 points and 2.9 rebounds in 132 games with Indiana and Minnesota, shooting 47.2% from the field and 66.7% from the free throw line. She saw action in 15 postseason games in her two years with the Lynx, averaging 3.5 points and 1.8 rebounds in 9.5 minutes per game overall while helping Minnesota capture the 2017 WNBA Championship.