"Keep proving people wrong" - Fever's Natasha Howard delighted as $66,079 guard earns rest of the season contract

Indiana Fever veteran forward Natasha Howard was ecstatic after young guard Zia Cooke earned a contract for the rest of the WNBA season.

Cooke signed a one-year, $66,079 contract with the Seattle Storm in the offseason and played 25 games before getting traded to the Washington Mystics as part of the Brittney Sykes deal. However, the Mystics waived Cooke, who became a free agent before the struggling Storm picked her up again for the final stretch of the season.

Howard was delighted with the news and had nothing but love for her fellow Toledo, Ohio, native.

"Keep grinding lil sis, keep proving people wrong, love you," Howard wrote.

Natasha Howard shared this on her Instagram stories. (Photo: @natashahoward_6 on IG)

Natasha Howard has served as a mentor for Cooke, with both hailing from Toledo, Ohio. They took different paths to the WNBA, with Howard playing for Florida State, while Cooke went to South Carolina.

Howard began her career with the Indiana Fever in 2014 and has played for other teams: the Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, New York Liberty and Dallas Wings. She won a title with the Lynx and two with the Storm. She returned to Indiana after the Fever's front office decided to bring veterans to surround Caitlin Clark.

On the other hand, Cooke was drafted 10th overall by the LA Sparks in 2023. She spent two seasons in Hollywood before getting waived last offseason.

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Natasha Howard helps Fever complete largest comeback in franchise history

Natasha Howard helps Fever complete largest comeback in franchise history. (Photo: IMAGN)

In Sunday's game at the Mohegan Sun Arena, the Indiana Fever appeared to be heading for their third straight loss. They were down by as much as 21 points, but Kelsey Mitchell came alive in the second half, scoring 38 points to lead the Fever to a 99-93 win in overtime.

Natasha Howard contributed with 18 points and nine rebounds, making clutch baskets under the rim. Odyssey Sims also had her first big performance for Indiana, finishing with 19 points, four rebounds and seven assists. Aliyah Boston dropped a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds.

The Fever have a five-day break and hope to have Caitlin Clark back from a groin injury when they resume their season against the Minnesota Lynx.