What happened: The latest awards case for Howard bundled three ballots at once, casting her as a two-way centerpiece rather than a single-category candidate. It surfaced less than a week after Howard won World Cup gold during the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup run.
Why it matters: That timing matters because postseason awards arguments tend to tighten around players with production on both ends. Wire Report had already tracked Howard among the WNBA's top five in made threes and steals, giving the defensive push a broader all-around case.
By the numbers: Wire Report noted on Sept. 9 that Howard ranked top five in made threes and in both steals categories. On Sept. 13, she also produced four steals in fewer than 10 minutes during the World Cup run that ended with a title.
What to watch: Upcoming award announcements will show whether the three-category push translates beyond advocacy into major ballot support.