Raised in Largo, Florida, Dougherty Howard attended St. Petersburg Catholic High School where she played soccer as a freshman and senior.

[3] As a youth, Dougherty Howard initially played for a boys teams at Strictly Soccer won the Disney Showcase and President’s Day titles in 2010.

[6] She was signed to the team on March 12[7] and made her professional debut on April 22 as a 67th minute substitute for Kristie Mewis in a 1–1 draw with Orlando Pride.

[10] On December 24, 2020, Dougherty Howard was traded along with two first-round picks and $140,000 in allocation money to Orlando Pride in exchange for Emily Sonnett.

[11] She made her debut for the club on April 10, 2021, starting and assisting both goals in a 2–2 draw with Racing Louisville in the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup opening round.

[14] Dougherty Howard recorded her first assist for Angel City on August 24, 2024, in an away match against her former club San Diego Wave FC to help secure a 2–1 victory.