In First Game Against Former Team, Sylvia Fowles Joins Elite Company


Since entering the league in 2008 Sylvia Fowles has been a force of nature on the boards. The 6’6″ center has that natural instinct for the rock that sets the great bigs apart from the good. On Wednesday afternoon she had a chance to reach a milestone — and do so against her former team.

Syl was drafted by the Chicago Sky and spent seven seasons there before being traded to Minnesota midway through last season. In those seven seasons Fowles was a three-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year.

Wednesday was the first time that she suited up against her former team, and she was out to make sure it was going to be a memorable one. She recorded a team-high 24 points and game-high 13 rebounds in a resounding 97-80 win.

The performance carried even more weight for Fowles because with her fourth board of the game she became the 19th player in WNBA history to record 2,000 rebounds in her career. She joined legends like Tamika Catchings, Chamique Holdsclaw, and Lisa Leslie in reaching the mark.

The nine-year veteran’s 9.7 rebounds per game are second to only Tina Charles (10.2) in league history.

Two games into 2016, the Fowles — the 2016 Finals MVP — hasn’t lost a step, as the Lynx look like a serious contender to repeat as champion. On a personal level, Fowles now finds herself four rebounds from passing Tammy Sutton-Brown for 18th all-time (as of 5/18).

Fowles and the defending-champion Lynx next play on Sunday when they travel to Seattle to take on Breanna Steward and the Storm (WNBA League Pass, 7 PM ET)

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