Avery Howell: Queen of the Pack

“Leadership by example always comes pretty naturally because I’ve always been competitive on the floor.”

This is the mentality that standout sophomore guard Avery Howell possesses. While she’s always had a knack for taking charge and stepping up, she had to wait her turn like so many others.

Hailing from Boise, Idaho, Howell was born into a basketball family. Her mother, Rosie, and brother, Cooper played basketball at Lewis-Clark State, an NAIA program in their home state. Although Howell played soccer as well, she knew basketball was her calling.

There weren’t many awards or accomplishments she didn’t achieve in high school. She was the Idaho Gatorade Girls Basketball Player of the Year, a McDonald’s All American and was ranked a five-star recruit in the Class of 2024 by ESPNW.

After committing to Southern California, Howell found herself apart of a loaded roster. The 2024-25 Trojans held two future WNBA draft picks, Kiki Iriafen & Rayah Marshall. This team was also home to one of the most prolific scorers in all of women’s basketball, JuJu Watkins.

Not only was USC’s roster already stacked, but their recruiting class was also amazing. Kennedy Smith and Vivian Iwuchukwu, the sixth and forty-seventh ranked recruits in the Class of 2024 respectively, were also heading to LA.

The competition didn’t deter Howell away, in fact she embraced it. She found her footing and excelled in her role.

She established herself as one of the nation’s premier three-point shooters, leading the team with a 40% shooting percentage from beyond the arc among players with at least ten attempts.

Suddenly, tragedy struck. JuJu Watkins went down with a torn ACL in the NCAA tournament against Mississippi State. Just like that, Howell’s number was called.

After scoring 18 points with 4 three pointers, she was thrusted into the starting lineup for the remainder of the tournament. She was already a key member in the rotation, but the Trojans were going to need more out of her now.

Howell then dropped 18 points on 4-of-8 shooting from downtown against Kansas State in the Sweet 16. This performance gave Howell the national spotlight she deserved.

Despite falling short against UCONN in the Elite 8, Howell was convinced it was time for a bigger role and soon she’d get it.

The great thing about the transfer portal is often the stories that come out of it. It can provide players with a chance to find themselves during their young adult years.

Howell entered the transfer portal on April 2, 2025 and six days later found her new home. She committed to the Washington, which is less than 500 miles away from her hometown in Idaho.

As a dual citizen of the United States and Canada, she was also closer to her second home. The transfer portal gave Howell an opportunity to find her perfect fit, but more importantly, it gave her a chance to breakout.

The Huskies have been on the rise in recent years. Kelsey Plum helped ignite the resurgence in Seattle and since then through recruitment and the portal they have been competing in the Big Ten Conference.

Led by Tina Langley, Washington secured their highest rated recruit ever, forward Brynn McGaughy. Alongside junior guard Sayvia Sellers, the roster is the perfect fit for Howell.

Howell has made an immediate impact since arriving in Montlake, averaging 12 points and pulling down a team-high 7 rebounds. She’s been a consistent scorer, reaching double figures in all but three games, and continues to be a shooting threat leading the team with a 40% three-point percentage.

A top-25 showdown takes place on December 7. The No. 21 ranked Huskies will face off against Howell’s former school, the No. 16 ranked Trojans in an opener to conference play. Howell heads to LA to matchup with USC for the first time since her departure.

It will be a good contest and a test for the undefeated Huskies. Washington’s success this season shows the power of the portal in providing opportunities for impactful players, even if it’s not a traditional powerhouse.

In today’s transfer portal era where chasing minutes or marketability reigns supreme, Howell chased fit. She now receives all the other benefits at no extra cost. Her abrupt transfer from USC raised eyebrows but she stayed true to herself and found a program that’s perfect for her.

That might be the most dangerous move of all.