Miami , FL –
Sylvia Fowles developed her basketball game right here in the 305 at Miami Edison High School and Gulliver Prep. She further honed her skills at Louisiana State University before she blossomed into the greatest center that the WNBA has ever seen. She retired from the WNBA this past weekend playing her final Game for the Minnesota Lynx. Fowles should be celebrated as a Miami icon. Much in the same way we celebrate Dan Marino, Dwyane Wade and others we should celebrate Sylvia Fowles.
I watched her dominate the WNBA like no other woman has before her. Her resume is as decorated as anyone who has ever played womens professional basketball. I hope the folks in Miami realize how special she truly is. We should cherish her as the treasure she is. Watching her check out of the final game of her career and seeing the love from that Minnesota Lynx crowd was really a tear jerker.
“I was a little annoyed with myself because I had a s—ty three quarters and I felt like I did them a disservice,” Fowles said of when she exited the game. “And so I just was a little frustrated and emotional at the same time.”
Fowles ended her career with 6,415 points on 59.9% shooting from the field, 4,006 rebounds and 721 blocks in 15 seasons. After arriving in Minnesota in 2015 from Chicago, where she balled out the first seven seasons of her career, Fowles was a key factor in turning the Lynx into a dynasty that won four titles in seven years. Just sheer dominance.
She was a two-time Finals MVP when Minnesota won it all in 2015 and 2017, she also won league MVP in 2017. She entered the WNBA as the 2008 No. 2 overall draft pick out of LSU, Fowles won defensive player of the year four times and became the league’s all-time leading rebounder in 2020. She helped the U.S. national team win four Olympic golds. I am sure she will be honored if she has not been already by the LSU faithful. Her WNBA family has shown her so much love as she concluded her career. I am hopeful that she gets the same kind of love and respect from her hometown. Nobody deserves it more.
