Howard averaged career highs in every statistical category, including points (13.2)
The WNBA today announced that Seattle Storm forward Natasha Howard has been named the 2018 WNBA Most Improved Player, the first in franchise history.
Howard’s new home in Seattle reaped tremendous results, as the 6-2 forward saw unprecedented jumps in nearly every statistical category. In 2018, she started all but one game and averaged 13.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per affair. Her points-per-game average increased by nearly 207 percent, while her rebounding average skyrocketed by over 166 percent.
With her incredible athletic ability, Howard managed to tally 67 blocks on the year, ranking second in both Storm history and in the WNBA rankings this season. She notched at least four blocks in seven games and reached the five-block mark in four outings.
Offensively, Howard stepped her game to the outside in 2018, nailing 17 three’s, nearly six times her total from a year ago. She connected on a career-best 79.8 percent of her free throws, nailing 83 on the season, which nearly triples her total attempts from 2017 (30).
On the glass, Howard more than doubled last season’s mark of 81, pulling down 219 this season to rank 16th in the WNBA in rebounds per game. She also swiped 44 steals and dished out 33 assists on the season.
With Howard in the lineup, the Storm gave teams another force to reckon with on both ends of the court. She scored in double figures in 26 games and eclipsed the 20-point mark three times, including a career-high 25-point effort vs. Connecticut on June 15.
Seattle tips off WNBA Semifinals Game 1 presented by NHL Seattle today against the Phoenix Mercury at 2 p.m. PT on ESPN2. The Storm will then host Game 2 on Tuesday, Aug. 28, with tip-off set for 7 p.m. PT on ESPN2. Tickets to the WNBA Semifinals at KeyArena are now on sale and can be purchased by calling (206) 217-WNBA (9622) or by visiting StormBasketball.com.