Sylvia Fowles

American basketball center who became the WNBA's all-time rebounding leader and won two Olympic gold medals, two WNBA championships, and league MVP in 2017

Sylvia Fowles was born on 6 October 1985 in Miami, Florida, the daughter of Arrittio Fowles, and grew up in some of Miami-Dade's roughest neighbourhoods, including Coconut Grove and Little Haiti, before graduating from Gulliver Preparatory School. Fowles starred at LSU, becoming a two-time WBCA Coaches' All-American, before the Chicago Sky selected her second overall in the 2008 WNBA Draft. She developed into one of the most dominant defensive centres in league history, renowned for her shot-blocking and rebounding. Fowles was traded to the Minnesota Lynx in 2015, and became a cornerstone of the franchise's championship dynasty, winning WNBA titles and earning back-to-back Finals MVP honours. She also built an extensive overseas career, playing in Russia, Turkey, and China, and represented Team USA at multiple Olympic Games, winning gold medals. Fowles retired in 2022 as one of the most statistically dominant players in WNBA history, ranking among the all-time leaders in rebounding and blocked shots, and moved into coaching, joining the Portland Fire as an assistant coach in 2026, continuing her involvement in the sport that carried her from a difficult Miami upbringing to the top of the professional game.

Dominant post player with exceptional rebounding and defensive presence

One of the greatest centers in WNBA history, transformed Minnesota Lynx into championship contender

• Olympic Gold 2012, 2016
• WNBA MVP 2017
• WNBA Finals MVP 2015, 2017
• WNBA all-time rebounds leader