“We’re excited to welcome Sylvia to the Minnesota Lynx organization”, Lynx executive vice president Roger Griffith said in a statement.
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Behind the scenes, there were whispers, but no confirmation from the team, that Fowles, a first-round pick for the Chicago Sky in 2008, had simply exhausted of playing for her Chicago Sky, LSU and Team Spartak (Russia) coach Pokey Chatman. “She’s been one of the elite centers in the WNBA and will be a key addition to our championship caliber roster”. The Lynx also get a 2016 second round pick from the Sky.
After sitting out the first half of the year, Fowles was traded to the Lynx on Monday as part of a three-team deal. In a Western Conference that includes Phoenix star Brittney Griner, the 6-6 Fowles levels the playing field in the post. She played at Louisiana State University, where she was a teammate of Augustus for two seasons. She also provides another scoring option for the Lynx, who are without Augustus most likely until mid-August with a knee injury. She averaged 15.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 186 games, and was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2011 and 2013.
Fowles is a two-time Olympian but has sat out this entire 2015 season after requesting a trade from Chicago over the offseason. Lindsay Whalen hurt her eye, ending her streak of 106 straight starts.
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The Dream will send center Erika de Souza to Chicago. Both players missed the All-Star Game on Saturday, but Whalen said she’ll play Wednesday when the Lynx host the Los Angeles Sparks. The Brazilian center spent the past eight years in Atlanta. The three-time WNBA All-Star (2009, 2013, 2014) has career averages of 10.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Minnesota is 12-4 on the year, which is the best record in the WNBA. In acquiring Gray, it gets a player who was selected 16th in the April draft.
