Sylvia Fowles | Today's AI Wiki

1. Early Life and Background

Sylvia Fowles' formative years were shaped by her upbringing in Miami, Florida, where she developed her early basketball skills and academic foundation.

Sylvia Shaqueria Fowles was born on October 6, 1985, in Miami, Florida, to Arrittio Fowles. She grew up in various neighborhoods of Miami-Dade County, including Coconut Grove, Little Haiti, and the Victory Home Housing Projects. She has three brothers named Walter, Jeremy, and Morris, and one sister named Dorothy. Fowles attended Little River Elementary School and Horace Mann Middle School. She continued her education at Miami Edison Senior High and later graduated from Gulliver Preparatory School.

1.2. High School Career

Fowles began her high school basketball career at Miami Edison Senior High School, where she led the team to two state championships. She later transferred to Gulliver Preparatory School, where she continued to excel, averaging 20.6 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. Her leadership helped Gulliver Prep secure the Class 3A state championship against East Gadsden High School. Her outstanding performance earned her recognition as a McDonald's All-American and a WBCA All-American. In the 2004 WBCA High School All-America Game, she scored 15 points and was named the game's Most Valuable Player.

2. College Career

Sylvia Fowles' collegiate career at LSU was marked by consistent dominance, leading her team to multiple Final Four appearances and earning numerous individual accolades.

2.1. Career

Fowles played for the LSU Lady Tigers from 2004 to 2008. As a freshman, she participated in all 36 of LSU's games, contributing to the team's appearance in the NCAA Final Four. She continued this success as a sophomore, starting all 35 games and helping the team reach the Final Four for a second consecutive year. In her junior year, Fowles again led LSU to the Final Four and earned All-American honors.

Before her senior season, she was named to the pre-season All-American team. On November 21, 2007, during a game against the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Fowles famously dunked the ball, becoming the sixth woman in American college basketball history to achieve this feat. In December 2007, she sustained a partial tear of the meniscus in her right knee during a game against the University of Miami, which required surgery and caused her to miss several weeks of play.

Despite the injury, Fowles was named the 2008 SEC Player of the Year. On March 24, 2008, during an NCAA Tournament game, she broke the all-time SEC record for career rebounds. She led LSU to their fourth consecutive Final Four appearance in her senior year. After beginning her professional basketball career, Fowles completed additional academic credits and received her bachelor's degree from LSU in the spring of 2009. During her time at LSU, she played alongside future WNBA teammate Seimone Augustus. On May 15, 2017, LSU announced that Fowles' uniform number 34 would be retired during the 2017-18 season, making her the second women's basketball player in the school's history to receive such an honor.

Fowles (right, #34) pitted against Candace Parker in the opening tipoff of the 2008 NCAA Final Four

2.2. College Statistics

3. Professional Career

Sylvia Fowles' professional basketball career spanned both the WNBA, where she became a league legend, and various international leagues, showcasing her global impact.

3.1. WNBA Career

Fowles' WNBA career was marked by consistent excellence, culminating in multiple championships and individual accolades that solidified her status as one of the league's all-time greats.

3.1.1. Chicago Sky (2008-2014)

Fowles was selected as the second overall pick by the Chicago Sky in the 2008 WNBA draft. In her rookie season, she quickly established herself, averaging 10.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game in 17 games (14 starts), though her season was shortened by a knee injury.

In 2009, Fowles earned her first career WNBA All-Star selection, averaging 11.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game, despite missing 10 games due to injuries. During the 2009 WNBA All-Star Game on July 25, 2009, she became the third WNBA player to dunk in an All-Star game, following Lisa Leslie in 2005 and Michelle Snow in 2006.

The 2010 season saw Fowles achieve a career-high 35 points in a narrow 97-96 loss to the Phoenix Mercury. She also led the league in blocks with a career-high average of 2.6 blocks per game, earning her a spot on the WNBA All-Defensive First Team. In 2011, Fowles was voted a WNBA All-Star for the second time. She averaged a double-double for the entire season with a career-high 20 points per game and 10.2 rebounds per game, and led the league in blocks for the second consecutive year with 2.0 blocks per game. Her defensive prowess was recognized with her first WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Fowles re-signed with the Sky in 2012 after her rookie contract expired. In the 2014 season, she averaged a double-double in points and rebounds for the fourth consecutive season, helping the Sky reach the playoffs. Despite a 15-19 regular season record, the Sky, as the number four seed in the Eastern Conference, advanced to the WNBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. They faced the dominant 29-5 Phoenix Mercury and were ultimately swept in a three-game series. This marked Fowles' final season with the Chicago Sky.

3.1.2. Minnesota Lynx (2015-2022)

In September 2014, Fowles declined a contract extension offer from the Sky and requested a trade. She sat out the first half of the 2015 WNBA season until she was traded to the Minnesota Lynx on July 27, 2015, as part of a three-team deal. This trade sent Érika de Souza to the Sky, and Damiris Dantas and Reshanda Gray to the Atlanta Dream.

Joining forces with stars like Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus, and Lindsay Whalen, Fowles helped transform the Lynx into a powerhouse. They finished first in the Western Conference and advanced to the WNBA Finals against the Indiana Fever. In the decisive Game 5, with the series tied 2-2, Fowles delivered a relentless performance, scoring 20 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in a 69-52 victory. She was named the WNBA Finals MVP, as the Lynx secured their third WNBA Championship in five years.

Fowles guarding Candace Parker in 2016. The New York Times says Fowles has "great agility and a spacious wingspan."

Following her first WNBA Championship, Fowles re-signed with the Lynx in February 2016. During the 2016 WNBA season, she averaged 13.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game, and won her third Defensive Player of the Year award. The Lynx achieved a franchise-best 28-6 record, securing the number one seed in the league and a double-bye to the semi-finals. They swept the Phoenix Mercury to advance to the WNBA Finals for the fifth time in six years, facing the Los Angeles Sparks. In a hard-fought five-game series, the Lynx were ultimately defeated by the Sparks.

In the 2017 WNBA season, Fowles became the focal point of the Lynx's offense. She scored 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the Lynx's season home opener against her former team, the Chicago Sky, leading to a 70-61 victory. On June 11, 2017, Fowles scored a season-high 30 points along with 9 rebounds in a 91-74 win over the Dallas Wings. She was also voted into the 2017 WNBA All-Star Game, marking her fourth career All-Star appearance. On August 12, 2017, the Lynx made history by defeating the Indiana Fever 111-52, marking the largest margin of victory in WNBA history and including a league-record 37-0 scoring run. Fowles concluded the season averaging a double-double in points and rebounds for the fourth time in her career and led the league in field goal percentage for the fifth time. The Lynx finished with the league's best record of 27-7, earning the number one seed and a double-bye to the semi-finals. On September 14, 2017, Fowles was named the WNBA Most Valuable Player, receiving 35 of 40 first-place votes.

Fowles and Elena Delle Donne of the Mystics during the 2017 semifinals

In the semi-finals, the Lynx swept the Washington Mystics, advancing to the WNBA Finals for the sixth time in seven years, setting up a rematch with the Sparks. With the series tied 2-2, Fowles set a Finals record with 20 rebounds, along with 17 points, in Game 5 of the 2017 WNBA Finals. Her performance helped the Lynx win the game 85-76 and secure their fourth WNBA championship in seven years, tying the now-defunct Houston Comets for the most championship titles. Fowles also earned her second Finals MVP award, becoming the fifth player in league history to win both the regular season MVP and Finals MVP in the same season.

On May 23, 2018, Fowles delivered a historic performance in a 76-68 victory against the Dallas Wings, recording 23 points, 20 rebounds, and 5 steals. This marked the first 20-point, 20-rebound performance in Lynx franchise history, the 18th in league history, and the league's first-ever stat line of 20 points, 20 rebounds, and 5 steals. She was voted into the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game, her fifth All-Star appearance. On July 19, 2018, Fowles scored a season-high 30 points along with 16 rebounds in an 89-65 win over the Indiana Fever. In 2018, Fowles was named to the All-WNBA Second Team and won the Associated Press WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award for the fourth time. She also broke the single-season record for rebounds with 404, and led the league in field goal percentage and rebounds, tying the record for highest rebound per game average in a season. However, the Lynx finished 18-16 as the number seven seed, their lowest in eight years, and lost in the first-round elimination game to the Los Angeles Sparks 75-68, ending their streak of three consecutive Finals appearances.

In 2019, Fowles was voted into the 2019 WNBA All-Star Game, her sixth All-Star appearance. On August 27, 2019, she scored a season-high 25 points in a 93-85 victory against the Chicago Sky. On September 8, 2019, Fowles signed a multi-year contract extension with the Lynx. By the end of the season, she led the league in field goal percentage for the third consecutive season. Despite Maya Moore sitting out the entire season, the Lynx remained a playoff team, finishing as the number seven seed with an 18-16 record. They were eliminated in the first-round elimination game 84-74 by the defending champion Seattle Storm.

The 2020 WNBA season was delayed and shortened to 22 games in a bubble at IMG Academy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On July 29, 2020, Fowles made history by grabbing her 3,357th career rebound during the second game of the season, surpassing Rebekkah Brunson (who was then the Lynx assistant coach) to become the WNBA's all-time leading rebounder. She finished the game with 15 points and 10 rebounds, bringing her total career rebounds to 3,360. On August 14, 2020, Fowles suffered a calf injury that sidelined her for the rest of the regular season. She returned just in time for the playoffs. The Lynx finished 14-8 as the number four seed, earning a bye to the second round. They defeated the Phoenix Mercury 80-79 in the second-round elimination game, advancing to the semi-finals. However, they were swept by the Seattle Storm, who went on to become the champions, with Fowles unable to play for the entire series.

In 2021, Fowles won her fourth WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, joining Tamika Catchings as the only players with four such awards. She averaged a career-high 1.8 steals and also 1.8 blocks per game. During that season, she was named to The W25, the league's official list of the top 25 players of its first 25 seasons.

Fowles retired from the WNBA after the 2022 WNBA season with the Lynx. In her final season, she was honored with the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award. The Minnesota Lynx retired her jersey on June 11, 2023. In 2023, the Lynx also established the Sylvia Fowles Altruism Award, presented to the Lynx player who "best embodies the altruistic traits of kindness, selflessness and overall regard for the well-being of others throughout the community." The award is decided by a panel of team staff and players. In the same year, Fowles was recognized as part of the All-25 Team, celebrating the top 25 players in the team's history.

Sylvia Fowles addresses fans during a tribute to her after her final home game before retiring

3.2. WNBA Statistics

3.2.1. Regular Season Statistics

Year

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PPG
2008	Chicago	17	14	25.0	.520	.000	.585	7.5	0.3	1.1	2.1	2.2	10.5
2009	Chicago	24	20	28.8	.599	.000	.646	7.8	0.8	0.9	1.5	3.2	11.3
2010	Chicago	34	34	32.0	.582	1.000	.760	9.9	1.5	1.2	2.6	2.4	17.8
2011	Chicago	34	34	34.6	.591	.000	.766	10.2	0.6	1.2	2.0	2.8	20.0
2012	Chicago	25	25	31.1	.638	.000	.692	10.4	0.8	1.3	1.2	2.1	16.2
2013	Chicago	32	32	31.3	.586	.000	.685	11.5	0.4	0.9	2.4	2.1	16.3
2014	Chicago	20	18	29.8	.546	.000	.783	10.2	0.6	1.4	2.0	2.8	13.4
2015	Minnesota	18	18	28.9	.507	.000	.734	8.3	0.8	1.0	1.5	1.7	15.3
2016	Minnesota	34	34	28.5	.595	.000	.717	8.5	1.2	1.3	1.7	1.8	13.9
2017	Minnesota	34	34	30.8	0.655	.000	.768	10.4	1.5	1.2	1.9	2.4	18.9
2018	Minnesota	34	34	31.9	.619	.000	.757	11.9	2.2	1.4	1.2	3.0	17.7
2019	Minnesota	34	34	29.5	.588	.000	.707	8.9	1.5	0.9	1.3	2.0	13.6
2020	Minnesota	7	7	24.1	.609	.000	0.828	9.7	0.9	0.9	1.1	1.1	14.6
2021	Minnesota	31	31	30.1	.640	.000	.755	10.1	1.4	1.8	1.8	2.3	16.0
2022	Minnesota	30	30	27.7	.622	.000	.660	9.8	1.2	1.0	1.2	2.1	14.4
Career	14 years, 2 teams	408	399	30.2	0.599	1.000	.728	9.8	1.1	1.2	1.8	2.4	15.7

3.2.2. Postseason Statistics

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PPG
2013	Chicago	2	2	35.5	.462	.000	.545	12.0	0.5	2.0	2.0	4.0	15.0
2014	Chicago	9	9	36.2	.538	.000	.773	9.7	0.2	1.7	1.6	2.1	16.2
2015	Minnesota	10	10	30.9	.622	.000	.750	9.7	1.2	0.9	1.6	2.5	12.6
2016	Minnesota	8	8	31.4	.611	.000	.750	9.8	1.3	0.8	1.7	1.5	12.9
2017	Minnesota	8	8	35.4	.631	.000	.559	13.1	1.5	1.6	2.0	2.9	18.6
2018	Minnesota	1	1	37.8	.636	.000	1.000	12.0	3.0	0.0	1.0	5.0	18.0
2019	Minnesota	1	1	23.5	.538	.000	.000	11.0	0.0	0.0	2.0	3.0	14.0
2020	Minnesota	1	1	18.0	.250	.000	1.000	4.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	6.0
2021	Minnesota	1	1	32.0	0.667	.000	.833	8.0	2.0	1.0	2.0	1.0	17.0
Career	9 years, 2 teams	41	41	33.0	.584	.000	.712	10.4	1.0	1.2	1.7	2.4	14.9

3.3. Overseas Career

During the WNBA off-seasons, Fowles extended her professional career to various international leagues, demonstrating her versatility and global appeal. She played for Spartak Moscow in Russia during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons. From 2010 to 2013, she spent three off-seasons with Galatasaray Medical Park in Turkey.

Fowles then moved to China, playing for the Shanghai Swordfish during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 WNBA off-seasons. She also spent the latter part of the 2014-15 off-season in Turkey with Canik Belediyesi. In the 2015-16 WNBA off-season, Fowles returned to China to play for the Beijing Great Wall, leading the team to a championship. She re-signed with Beijing for the 2016-17 off-season and led them to their second consecutive championship in the Women's Chinese Basketball Association in 2017. She continued her tenure with Beijing for the 2017-18 off-season.

4. USA Basketball Career

Sylvia Fowles has had a distinguished career representing the United States in international competitions, marked by multiple Olympic gold medals and significant contributions to national team victories.

She was a member of the 2005 World University Games Team in Izmir, Turkey. In that tournament, she led her team in scoring with 23 points against China and contributed 25 points in the semi-final against Russia, helping the team to a dominant 118-67 victory. Fowles averaged 15.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, both team highs, as the team achieved a perfect 7-0 record and won the gold medal.

Fowles earned her first Olympic gold medal as a member of the U.S. team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She was invited to the USA Basketball Women's National Team training camp in the fall of 2009, which typically serves as a selection pool for future major tournaments. As part of this preparation, the team competed in the 2009 UMMC Ekaterinburg International Invitational in Russia.

In 2010, Fowles was named to the national team that competed in the World Championships in Ostrava and Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. The team won all nine games, securing the gold medal. They consistently held opponents to under 75 points and scored over 100 points four times. The only single-digit margin of victory was an eight-point win against Australia. Fowles averaged 8.9 points per game throughout the tournament.

She was among the 21 finalists selected for the U.S. Women's Olympic Basketball Team roster for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where the USA's victory brought Fowles her second Olympic gold medal. Fowles also played with Team USA at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, earning her third gold medal as the U.S. defeated Spain 101-72 in the final.

On June 21, 2021, Fowles was named to her fourth Olympic roster for the 2020 Summer Olympics (held in 2021). She and Team USA went on to win their fourth consecutive gold medal in the tournament, defeating Japan 90-75 in the final, marking Fowles' fourth Olympic gold.

5. Awards and Honors

Sylvia Fowles has received numerous awards and honors throughout her career, recognizing her exceptional talent and contributions to basketball:

2005 SEC Sixth Woman of the Year
2005 Second-team All-SEC
2005 SEC All-Freshman
2005 Honorable Mention All-America (AP)
2005 & 2006 First-team All-Louisiana
2005 Louisiana Freshman of the Year
2006 First-team All-SEC
2006 Third-team All-American (AP)
2007 SEC All-Tournament Team
2007 First-team All-American (ESPN.com, Wooden Award, USBWA)
2007 Second-team All-American (AP)
2007 Kodak All-America
2007 First-team All-SEC
2007 Fresno Regional MOP
Member of the 2007 United States Senior National Team in Italy
Member of the 2006 United States Senior National Team in Australia
Member of the 2005 United States World University Games Gold Medal Team
2008 WBCA NCAA Division I Defensive Player of the Year
2008 SEC Player of the Year
2009 WNBA All-Star Selection
2010 WNBA All-Star Selection
2010 WNBA All-Star Game MVP Award
EuroLeague Women 2010-11 All-Star MVP Award
2011 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year
2013 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year
2016 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year
2021: The W25 (top 25 WNBA players of all time)
2025: Inductee to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

6. Off the Court Activities

Beyond her athletic achievements, Sylvia Fowles is deeply committed to various social causes and personal pursuits, demonstrating her dedication to community well-being and personal growth.

Fowles is currently pursuing a major in mortuary science at the American Academy McAllister Institute, undertaking online studies in embalming, cremation, and funeral directing. Her interest in this field began in childhood after the death of her grandmother, leading her to hold funerals for her stuffed animals. She aims to present the deceased in an attractive way, providing comfort to grieving loved ones.

Outside of her studies, Fowles has a passion for knitting, a hobby she has enjoyed since she was six years old. She also loves bicycling and has actively used this interest for community benefit. In 2017, she donated a portion of her WNBA MVP bonus to a Saint Paul nonprofit organization to provide bicycles for girls and also led a local bike ride. During her final WNBA season, she continued to lead local bike rides, and the Lynx honored her by giving fans a commemorative bike license plate at her last regular season home game.

In 2010, Fowles founded the Sylvia Fowles Family Fund, a charitable initiative aimed at assisting needy children. She is also a prominent spokesperson for Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE), driven by her personal connection to the cause as two of her nephews suffer from epilepsy.

7. Legacy and Future Recognition

Sylvia Fowles' legacy in women's basketball is profound, marked by her statistical dominance, numerous accolades, and her impact as a role model. Her influence on the sport continues to be recognized through various honors and future inductions.

In November 2024, it was announced that Fowles would be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2025, a testament to her enduring impact on the sport. The Minnesota Lynx honored her illustrious career by retiring her jersey number 34 on June 11, 2023, making her only the second player in the team's history to receive this distinction.

Further cementing her commitment to values beyond the court, the Minnesota Lynx established the Sylvia Fowles Altruism Award in 2023. This award recognizes a Lynx player who "best embodies the altruistic traits of kindness, selflessness and overall regard for the well-being of others throughout the community," with the recipient chosen by a panel of team staff and players. In 2023, Fowles was also celebrated as part of the All-25 Team, a selection of the top 25 players in the Minnesota Lynx's franchise history. These recognitions underscore her status as an iconic figure whose contributions extend far beyond her on-court performance.