^{July 24, 2025 | Edition #115}

👋 Hey, Hoophead!

Ever think about what you’d tell your younger self if you could go back? Maybe a thousand things. Especially when you’ve lived the very dream you once scribbled in notebooks. Well, wrapped in that same nostalgia and overwhelmed by a flood of racing thoughts, Natasha Howard put her entire heart into a letter to the girl who didn’t yet know how far this game would carry her or how strong she’d have to become to make it.

What she wrote is open-hearted and honest, a letter to her younger self, and maybe to anyone still figuring it out.

All the Miles It Took to Come Home

Funny how you think you’re ready until life tells you otherwise. Right, Tash?

I still remember sitting there on draft night, just hoping to stay close to home. And for a minute, it felt like the dream lined up. We landed in Indiana, just 200 miles away. Familiar air and faces. But nothing about what came next felt easy.

The expectations came fast, and so did the trade. It still sits heavy on my chest how that shook you in ways you never fully talked about. But the fact that you stayed strong. You knew it was business. And deep down, that fresh start saved you.

There were years when it felt like…is this how it’s going to be like? Being a top pick and spending five years playing from the bench needs patience, kid. Despite it all, you kept your head down and worked. Quietly and consistently. Piece by piece, you built something. A stronger, wiser, and softer you in all the right places.

Seattle changed everything for us. Your first shot in the starting five. And from there, you grew into the leader Mom always wanted us to be. Now, years later, you finally listened to your heart and chose yourself.

We’re back where it all began!

Indiana looks different. So do we. But it still feels like home. With three rings, a Commissioner’s Cup MVP title, and a voice that carries, the sky is the limit for us. If you ever feel you’re not enough, read this letter, Tash. You’ll realize how far you’ve come.

If I could tell that 22 YO girl on draft night anything, it’d be: Don’t worry, it’s all coming. And you’ll earn every bit of it.

We’re not done yet, though. Actually, far from done.

As we keep pushing forward at 33….

I just hope you’re proud because I am, immensely.

Love,
Natasha Howard

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Your Words Found Their Way to Tash

Heart beats strategy, they say. And in sports, that’s always been the quiet truth. Well, what we’ve always felt is…it’s the heart that matters most when it comes to anything close to sports. Carrying the same, She Got Game entered the Bullseye Event Center in Indy during the All-Star weekend.

With Natasha Howard by our side, we were showing up for you. We came in with one plan: athlete-led, fan-first. And just like we said we would, we made sure you felt part of it all, no matter how many miles were in between.

We had some great chats with her, shared a few laughs, and heard some powerful stories. But you know what brought out Natasha’s biggest smile? When she read your messages. One by one, she took them in and responded in the sweetest way. Check it out!

Things only got better during Ask Natasha. The Fever star also joined our in-person storytelling booth, answered questions, and made sure every fan moment felt seen. If your message was one of the lucky few Natasha read, well…some exclusive merch is headed your way. 🎉 Keep an eye on your inbox!

We truly meant it when we said we’re here to serve the “underserved fan.” And with Tash, that mission felt personal. Thanks for being part of the heart of this story.

Live the Moments the TV Left Behind: The WNBA All-Star Weekend Behind-the-Scenes

Not in Our House! Minnesota’s Historic Undefeated Home Run

It was just the third quarter in Minnesota when Target Center fans broke into that familiar chant: “Whose house? Our house!” No doubt about it. With the Lynx now 13-0 at home, they’re living it. On Tuesday night, with a 91-68 domination of the Sky, Minnesota did more than just defend their floor.

The Lynx made history, becoming just the fourth team in WNBA history to go 13-0 at home to start a season. The last three teams to do that ended up winning it all. Just saying.

Down after the first quarter, Minnesota flipped the game in the second and third. Kayla McBride and Napheesa Collier dropped 19 each, and the Lynx outscored Chicago 52-26 across those two middle quarters. Phee’s buzzer-beater over multiple Sky defenders to end the half told the whole story. Just check this crazy finish out!

Elsewhere, we got a couple of unexpected (but very welcome) dubs. First came Dallas. The Wings may have been struggling, but this one felt like a full-blown reintroduction. Four Wings scored in double digits, they erased a 10-point deficit, and handed the Storm a 24-point blowout!

What started out as a sloppy, familiar script for Dallas soon turned into a defining moment. The Wings clawed their way back, crushing the Storm 87–63 behind a monster second half and a milestone night from Arike Ogunbowale. She became the franchise leader in Field Goals Made. However, the highlight came off the court as the Wings’ admin cooked “the Storm” on social media. See for yourself!

In D.C., the Sparks and Mystics were locked at 67 going into the fourth. Sonia Citron gave the Mystics a quick edge, but Dearica Hamby (24 pts, 14 reb) showed exactly why she’s been the Sparks’ anchor, knocking down three clutch shots to seal the 93-86 road win, LA’s fourth in the last five games.

Guess Who’s Back!? The Update That Might Just Shift It All for the LA Sparks

✨ She Got Glam! ✨

Indiana Fever and Stranger Things fans just got the wildest crossover. The pics of CC and the squad in the new Rebel edition uniforms are already blowing up online. But while everyone was focused on that, Caitlin was leaning into something a little closer to home. No matter how far she goes, part of her still belongs to Iowa, and with this simple, heartfelt move, she reminded everyone of that again.

The Valley Rises for Brittney Griner

Watching Brittney Griner win another game didn’t surprise the packed crowd in Phoenix. But seeing her do it in the Dream’s red felt a little strange. Imagine walking into the arena you called home for 11 years (!!), but this time as an opponent, and getting a standing ovation and fans holding ‘Welcome Back’ signs. Just goes to show how much BG still means to the city.

However, it wasn’t just her who made a return. The night brought a full-on nostalgia hit with another reunion. And while emotions ran high (Griner even teared up a little), the Dream were all business.

After falling short to the Aces on Tuesday, Atlanta had no intention of taking another L. Griner set the tone early, scoring the team’s first basket and finishing with 17 points and 8 rebounds. Allisha Gray took over from there, leading the charge with 28. By the end, it was BG again who shut down Phoenix's late rally as the Dream won 90-79.

Meanwhile, over in New York, the Fever tried giving the defending champs a scare in their final meeting of the season. Dealing with something no other team in the W throws at them, Indy still led heading into the second half.

It was the returning Jonquel Jones, though, who led the comeback for NY. She calmly exposed every gap in Indiana’s defense, dropping 18 points and 9 boards in just 23 minutes. The result was a 98-84 win for the Libs and another second-half slip for Indy.

Trouble Brewing? Kelsey Mitchell’s Sister Dismisses Caitlin Clark’s Impact

📝 More Stories to Check Out

1. Caitlin Clark Clone? Mystics Rookie Sonia Citron Shares Hilarious Fan Mix-Up - Full Story

2. Brittney Griner Gets Frank About Her First Return to Phoenix - Full Story

3. Fans React as Aliyah Boston’s Shoutout to Dawn Staley Gets Muddled - Full Story

4. Analyst Drops Bombshell: Caitlin Clark Might Not Return This Season - Full Story

5. Sophie Cunningham Exposes the WNBA for $500 Fine Due to a TikTok Video - Full Story

That’s it for today, folks! We’ll look to knock on your inbox soon with more interesting stories!

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