Fans can celebrate the 2x WNBA Champion, all-time leading rebounder and Lynx legend throughout the season
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx today announced “Syl’s Final Ride,” a season-long campaign celebrating center Sylvia Fowles’ last season and her passions off the court.
“Syl’s Final Ride” will include a season-long partnership with local nonprofit Free Bikes 4 Kidz MN, an impressive mural in the North Loop, and will culminate with a celebration at Fowles’ final regular season home game at Target Center on Friday, Aug. 12.
Syl’s Last RideAn avid biker, Free Bikes 4 Kidz MN is close to Fowles’ heart with biking providing an outlet for mental and physical health. Syl’s Final Ride will kick off with a community event in partnership with Free Bikes 4 Kidz MN on Thursday, April 28 at Bryn Mawr Elementary school where Fowles will speak to youth about her love of biking and overall wellness. Fowles will then lead the students on a bike ride around the school. The Free Bikes 4 Kidz MN partnership will also include a bike distribution event with a community partner that will be announced at a later date.
Fowles’ green thumb has led her to pursue an interest in food sustainability and bridging inequities that exist in accessing fresh produce in the city. Fowles is partnering with Appetite for Change, a local organization working to breakdown barriers to access to fresh food in North Minneapolis and will host a planting event at one of their seven city farm plots.
A large-scale Fowles mural will be on display May through August in the North Loop at Modist Brewing (505 N 3rd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401). Minneapolis artist Shade Pratt, known for her colorful illustrations that embrace shape, shadow and movement will design and paint the mural of Fowles. Fans and the public will have the opportunity to attend the mural unveil which is scheduled for mid-May. More details about the unveil to be announced at a later date.
A special postgame ceremony for Fowles’ final regular season home game will take place Friday, Aug. 12 when the team hosts the Seattle Storm. Family, friends and coaches from Fowles’ career will be in attendance. Fans will receive a custom commemorative bike plate as a special giveaway item.
“I will continue to say, it cannot be understated our appreciation for Sylvia Fowles the player, but more importantly, Sylvia Fowles the person,” said Lynx Head Coach and General Manager Cheryl Reeve. “This will be a special season – her ‘final ride’ and Syl’s impact on the game will live on long after her last game.”
The Miami, Fla. native enters her 15th and final season as one of the most decorated players in the league. Last season, Fowles was named the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year, marking the fourth time she has earned that honor (2011, 2013, 2016, 2021), the second-most of all-time behind Tamika Catchings and earned All-WNBA Second and All-Defensive First Team honors. She was named the 2017 WNBA Most Valuable Player, is a two-time WNBA Champion and Finals MVP (2015, 2017) and is a four-time Olympic gold medalist (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020) with USA Basketball Women’s National Team, making her one of only six athletes in USA basketball history to win four gold medals.
Originally drafted second overall in the 2008 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky and acquired by the Lynx in 2015, Fowles currently leads the WNBA in field goal accuracy (59.7%), rebounds (3,712), defensive rebounds (2,654) and double-doubles (180). Entering her eighth season in Minnesota, Fowles also ranks as the franchise’s career leader in field goal accuracy (60.9%), rebounds per game (9.8), blocks per game (1.6), total blocks (309) and double-doubles (88). She also ranks among the Lynx’s all-time leaders in rebounds (second, 1,880), offensive rebounds (second, 548), defensive rebounds (second, 1,332), points per game (third, 15.9), total points (fifth, 3,056) and steals (fifth, 250).
Fowles will play in her final regular season home opener at Target Center on Sunday, May 8 at 6:00 p.m. CT with a matchup against Washington. For Lynx membership information, partial plans and Lynx single game tickets visit www.lynxbasketball.com/tickets or call 612-673-8400.
Bally Sports North will carry all non-nationally televised games this season for a total of 32 games, four games will air nationally on ESPN/ABC. See full broadcast schedule here.