Dallas Wings' Natasha Howard Will Miss Up To 6 Weeks After Breaking Foot In Season Opener

Indiana Fever forward NaLyssa Smith (1) tries to shoot over Dallas Wings forward Natasha Howard (6) during the first half of an WNBA basketball game in Arlington,Texas, Friday, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Indiana Fever forward NaLyssa Smith (1) tries to shoot over Dallas Wings forward Natasha Howard (6) during the first half of an WNBA basketball game in Arlington,Texas, Friday, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
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Dallas Wings forward Natasha Howard is expected to miss up to six weeks after breaking her foot in a season-opening victory on Wednesday.

Howard’s injury left the Wings with only eight healthy players, enabling them to sign free agent Monique Billings to a salary-cap hardship contract. Billings’ hardship contract must be terminated once the Wings have 10 other players available.

The 32-year-old Howard had 15 points, 13 rebounds and five assists Wednesday in Dallas’ 87-79 triumph over the Chicago Sky. The 6-foot-2 forward averaged 16.5 points and 8 rebounds for the Wings last season.

Howard is a three-time WNBA champion. She earned first-team all-WNBA honors and was named the league’s defensive player of the year in 2019 with the Seattle Storm.

Billings had 4.8 points and 5 rebounds per game in 39 appearances for the Atlanta Dream last season. She signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Sparks in February but got waived on Monday, making her a free agent.

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball