Sylvia Fowles Becomes Fourth Player in WNBA History to Record 700 Blocks

Sylvia Fowles is entering the final year of her storied WNBA career with the Minnesota Lynx.

Since being drafted third overall in 2008 by the Chicago Sky, Fowles has won two titles with two Finals MVPs; she earned an MVP in 2017 and was voted DPOY four times, earned eight All-Star selections, and was named to seven All-WNBA teams and 10 All-Defensive teams.

Fowles’ original plan was to quietly retire in 2021, but her reps and Coach Cheryl Reeve have other ideas. On Sunday, Fowles played her final regular season in Chicago. Before the Lynx-Sky game began, the Sky gifted Fowles with a “throne” to celebrate her retirement.

“I thought I was going to retire in a subtle way and be like, ‘Thank you, fans, I appreciate you, but I’m done,’ ” said Fowles, per the Chicago Sun-Times. “After talking that over with my agent and Cheryl, they were like, ‘Absolutely not.’ ”

The game ended in fireworks after Courtney Vandersloot sank a buzzer-beating three to help the Sky outlast the Lynx. Fowles posted 12 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three blocks.

With those three blocks, Fowles also entered historic territory, becoming the fourth player in WNBA history to reach 700 career blocks.

The Lynx return to action on Tuesday with a home game against the Dallas Wings.