Lash Legend
Lash Legend is the ring name of Anriel Howard (born May 6, 1997), an American professional wrestler signed to WWE, where she competes on the SmackDown brand under a heel persona, known for her imposing athleticism and powerhouse style derived from her basketball background.[1][2] Standing at 6 feet tall and hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Howard first rose to prominence as a college basketball player, playing for Texas A&M University before transferring to Mississippi State University, where she set the Texas A&M program's career rebounding record with 1,002 boards and the single-season mark with 439 during the 2017–18 season.[3][4] She also established an NCAA Tournament record with 27 rebounds in a single game in 2016 while at Texas A&M.[5] Selected in the second round (24th overall) of the 2019 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm, Howard appeared in 15 games across two seasons, averaging 1.7 points and 1.5 rebounds per game before pursuing wrestling.[1][6] Howard signed with WWE in 2020 and transitioned fully to professional wrestling post-graduation, training at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.[7] She debuted on NXT television in September 2021 with her talk show segment "Lashing Out", a platform showcasing her sharp promo skills and celebrity interviews, before making her in-ring debut on December 10, 2021.[8][9] In NXT, Legend aligned with the Meta-Four stable alongside Noam Dar, Oro Mensah, and Jakara Jackson in 2023, adopting a "boujee bully" gimmick that highlighted her confidence, fashion-forward persona, and dominant in-ring presence through moves like the Northern Lights suplex and her finisher, the Legend Suplex.[2] The group feuded with various NXT talents, including a notable rivalry with the Chase U faction, and Legend competed in high-profile matches such as the NXT Women's Breakout Tournament in 2022, where she reached the semifinals.[2] On November 7, 2025, Legend made her official SmackDown debut by interfering to help Nia Jax defeat Charlotte Flair, signaling her call-up to the main roster and potential alliance with the dominant champion.[10][11] As of late 2025, she remains an undefeated force on the blue brand, positioned as a rising star with untapped potential in WWE's women's division.[2]Early life
Upbringing and family
Anriel Howard, professionally known as Lash Legend, was born on May 6, 1997, in Atlanta, Georgia, to mother Ché Bledsoe.[4] She grew up in the city alongside two younger brothers, Chance and Brody.[4] Bledsoe, a business executive and entrepreneur who serves as CEO of Chécoin—a company she launched in 2021—supported Howard's emerging interests from an early age.[12] Howard's introduction to athletics came during middle school in Atlanta, where she began playing basketball.[4] Her mother influenced her personal style in sports, suggesting the nickname "Lashes" after noticing Howard's prominent false eyelashes during practices and games—a moniker that persisted into her college years.[13] This early environment in Atlanta fostered her competitive spirit, laying the groundwork for her pursuits in structured school sports.[14]Education and initial athletic pursuits
Anriel Howard attended Westlake High School in Atlanta, Georgia, where she began her organized athletic career in both basketball and volleyball.[4] As a multi-sport athlete, Howard initially showed promise in volleyball before focusing primarily on basketball, drawn by her physical attributes and competitive drive in team environments.[15] During her high school basketball tenure with the Westlake Lions, Howard emerged as a dominant forward, earning three-time First Team All-Georgia honors from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) and Georgia Athletic Coaches Association (GACA).[4] She was named the 2015 Player of the Year, secured three Region Player of the Year awards, and was a three-time team MVP, while also being nominated as a McDonald's All-American in her senior year.[16] Statistically, she amassed over 2,000 career points and more than 1,000 rebounds, averaging a double-double in points and rebounds during her sophomore and junior seasons; in her senior year, she posted 24.3 points and 17.7 rebounds per game, highlighted by a 44-point performance that set a school scoring record.[17][18] Howard's standout performances, including her record-breaking games and consistent double-doubles, drew national attention and fueled her recruitment by top college programs. Ranked as the No. 100 overall recruit and No. 15 wing in the Class of 2015 by ESPN HoopGurlz, she committed to Texas A&M University in November 2014, becoming a prized signee for the Aggies' women's basketball team.[19][17]Basketball career
College career
Howard began her college basketball career at Texas A&M University in 2015 as a freshman forward. During the 2015–16 season, she averaged 4.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game across 32 appearances, earning a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team for her contributions, including 103 rebounds in conference play—the highest among SEC freshmen. In the NCAA Tournament's first round that March, Howard set a single-game record with 27 rebounds in Texas A&M's 74–65 victory over Missouri State, surpassing the previous NCAA Tournament mark of 23 and establishing a program record; the Aggies advanced to the second round before falling to Florida State.[20][21][22] As a sophomore in 2016–17, Howard elevated her performance to 10.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game in 34 games, helping Texas A&M secure an NCAA Tournament berth, where they defeated Penn in the first round before losing to UCLA in the second round. Her junior year in 2017–18 saw further growth, with averages of 12.1 points and 12.2 rebounds per game (second in the SEC) over 36 contests, culminating in a school-record 1,002 career rebounds at Texas A&M—the first player in program history to reach that milestone. The Aggies reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, defeating Drake and BYU before losing to Notre Dame, while also advancing to the semifinals of the SEC Tournament.[20][23] Following her junior year, Howard transferred as a graduate student to Mississippi State University for her senior season in 2018–19. She averaged 16.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in 36 appearances, ranking among the SEC's top performers in scoring and rebounding. Her efforts earned her First-Team All-SEC honors and a selection to the All-SEC Tournament Team after the Bulldogs won the conference championship. Mississippi State, seeded No. 1 in the NCAA Portland Regional, advanced to the Elite Eight with victories over Southern, Stanford, and Arizona State before a 88–84 loss to Oregon in the regional final.[20][24][25] After the season, Howard declared for the 2019 WNBA Draft, participating in pre-draft evaluations where she was projected as a second-round prospect due to her rebounding prowess and versatility. She was selected 24th overall by the Seattle Storm.[26][27]WNBA career
Howard was selected by the Seattle Storm in the second round of the 2019 WNBA Draft with the 24th overall pick, following a standout college career that included All-SEC honors and strong rebounding performances.[1][20] During the 2019 season, she appeared in three regular-season games for the Storm, totaling 20 minutes played, five points scored on 2-of-5 shooting, and three rebounds.[1][6] The Storm waived Howard on June 5, 2019, as part of roster adjustments to sign free agent guard Blake Dietrick and bolster point guard depth amid injuries to key players Sue Bird and Jordin Canada.[28][29] Reflecting on her brief WNBA stint, Howard described being drafted as a dream come true that validated her hard work.[30] After her release, she received an overseas professional basketball contract offer but opted to prioritize a WWE tryout, pivoting away from basketball amid the COVID-19 pandemic's widespread disruptions to international leagues and travel for WNBA players.[31][32][33]Career statistics
Howard's college basketball statistics, compiled from her seasons at Texas A&M University (2015–2018) and Mississippi State University (2018–2019), are presented below on a per-game basis.[20]| Season | School | G | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | Texas A&M | 32 | 16.9 | 1.8 | 4.0 | .465 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.9 | 1.6 | .558 | 2.6 | 3.9 | 6.5 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 4.6 |
| 2016–17 | Texas A&M | 34 | 31.1 | 4.1 | 10.0 | .415 | 0.0 | 0.1 | .500 | 1.9 | 2.9 | .660 | 3.8 | 6.6 | 10.4 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 3.2 | 10.2 |
| 2017–18 | Texas A&M | 36 | 33.6 | 4.3 | 9.6 | .441 | 0.3 | 1.1 | .308 | 3.3 | 4.4 | .752 | 4.6 | 7.6 | 12.2 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 12.1 |
| 2018–19 | Mississippi St. | 36 | 29.1 | 6.4 | 12.4 | .512 | 0.8 | 2.4 | .337 | 2.9 | 3.9 | .725 | 3.3 | 5.0 | 8.4 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 16.4 |
| Season | Team | G | GS | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Seattle Storm | 3 | 0 | 6.7 | 0.7 | 1.7 | .400 | 0.3 | 0.7 | .500 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 1.7 |