WNBA Overseas Update: Fowles, Jones Matchup in China Highlights Week


For many players, basketball season doesn’t end once the final buzzer sounds in the WNBA. Here are some of the top recent performers during international play (click here to see the full list of WNBA players overseas).

Sylvia Fowles – Minnesota Lynx

As many WNBA fans understand, Fowles is one of the league’s elite Centers. After an MVP season where she was also a big part of the championship run for the Lynx, Fowles is in China playing in the Chinese Women’s Professional Basketball League. China is a popular destination for many WNBA stars during the off-season, and Fowles is one of the premier players competing there. Her team, Beijing, is 18-4 this season, and hasn’t dropped a game in eight straight contests. Over this past week, Fowles paced her squad to two victories, averaging 27.5 points per game and 16.0 rebounds per game. On January 6th, facing off against fellow WNBA star Jonquel Jones, Fowles lit up the stat sheet pouring in 32 points, 13 rebounds, and two steals.

Jonquel Jones – Connecticut Sun

Jones is another player in the WNBA that has become a household name over the past two seasons as a cornerstone for the Sun. Jones, along with Fowles and many others, is playing in China. Competing for Shanxi, Jones’ season averages look like they belong in a video game. Through 22 games, she is averaging 28.9 points per game and 18.7 rebounds per game. In Shanxi’s two most recent games this week, Jones kept up the pace, totaling 28.0 points per game and 19.0 rebounds per game. In the highlight matchup of the week against Fowles and Beijing, Jones produced 31 points, 17 rebounds, and five assists.

Odyssey Sims – Los Angeles Sparks

The dynamic point guard from Baylor has been producing consistently overseas in Turkey. Playing for Adana ASKI Mersin, Sims is leading the team in scoring (19.7 points per game), assists (6.4 per game) and steals (2.3 per game). Being one of the premier point guards in the WNBA, it is no surprise to see her playing so well for her team in Turkey. Last week in a tough 84-69 loss to league powerhouse, Yakin Dogu, Sims did all she could to keep the score close, scoring 25 points and dishing six assists. Sparks fans should feel excited and expect her to bring this momentum back to the states for the upcoming season.

Courtney Paris – Dallas Wings

Paris is one the WNBA’s upper-echelon veteran centers, and has been a consistent stat-stuffer overseas in the Turkish Professional League playing for Hatay BSB. Through 12 games, she is averaging 13.6 points per game and 15.0 rebounds per game. Over her team’s past two games, she has stayed right on her season average at 13.0 points per game and 15.5 rebounds per game. She highlighted her week with a dominating performance in a tight 74-71 win over Besiktas, where she totaled 16 points and 18 rebounds.

Asia Taylor – Washington Mystics

Taylor has averaged 7.0 minutes per game in her first three seasons in the WNBA, but her recent breakout season overseas may just be the confidence booster she needs to attack this upcoming WNBA season. Playing for the Sydney Uni Flames in Australia, she led her team in scoring (19.0 points per game) and also chipped in 7.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. In her team’s final game, the league semi-finals, Taylor produced 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.