Camia Howard, Women's Basketball

When Spokane’s sophomore forward Camia Howard tells the story of how she got into basketball, she laughs first. Growing up in the Tri-Cities as one of nine siblings, she was surrounded by sports, but basketball wasn’t exactly her first love.

“I used to not like basketball,” she admitted. “I was more into books and track. Then one day my mom picked me up from school and just dropped me off at practice. I didn’t even have basketball shoes, I was in Vans.”

She was in fifth grade, tall for her age, and completely unaware that her mom and a local coach had already decided she should give the sport a try. One unexpectedly fun practice later, everything changed. “I liked my teammates, I kept getting better, and I’ve loved it since.”

Today, Howard is a key piece for the Sasquatch, balancing life as a student-athlete while majoring in Psychology. Her schedule is demanding, 17 credits during the heart of the season, long travel days, and tournaments stacked on weekends. But she approaches it all with a steady maturity.

“I try to get my schoolwork done in the morning so I have the rest of the day for basketball,” she said. “It gets overwhelming sometimes, but you just keep going.”

Her drive shows up on the court and beyond it. Last season, Howard earned All-Defensive Team honors, something she’s proud of and determined to build on. “I want to be Defensive Player of the Year,” she said. “I want to be a real threat on the court this season.”

Her competitiveness doesn’t stop with basketball. Howard is also a member of the Sasquatch track and field team, where she competes in discus, shot put, and soon, hammer throw. Last year, she helped the team win the NWAC Championship, and earned a ring to prove it. She hopes to land back on the podium again this spring.

Behind her steady leadership is a strong motivation to set the tone for her teammates. “If I’m down, I know my teammates will be down. I like being a leader, so I try to stay positive, even through tough practices or losses. I always remind myself why I’m here.”

Her biggest inspiration is her mom, whose toughness and resilience shaped much of Camia’s mindset. “She’s always shown me that if I want something, I need to go get it,” Howard said. “And not be afraid of challenges.”

Off the court, Howard hopes to continue playing basketball at a four-year school, preferably somewhere warm, and pursue a career in social work or counseling. “I want to work with foster kids or something with helping children,” she said. “I just want to make a difference.”

And while most fans know her as a fierce rebounder and defensive force, there’s one surprise she revealed with a smile: she can play three instruments. Saxophone, flute, and violin. “I taught myself saxophone during quarantine,” she said. “My family hated it.”

Her advice to younger athletes is simple, but it captures exactly who she is: “Push through the hard times. Don’t give up. Go get your goals.”

With her goals set high and her work ethic even higher, Howard enters this season ready to elevate her game and her team. And if her past is any indication, she’s poised to leave a mark on Sasquatch basketball.