Sylvia Fowles gives her teammates a hug after the last game of her career. There is a time and a place for this.
The Minnesota Lynx were eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday as Sylvia Fowles ended her career with a loss to the Connecticut Sun.
After Friday's loss, an emotional day with it being Fowles' final home game at the Target Center, Minnesota needed a win over Connecticut and help from other teams.
The Lynx were never in control, trailing by as many as 19 and by double figures most of the way, despite a fourth quarter comeback effort in which they pulled within four points.
"It was what you hoped wouldn't happen," Cheryl said. It wasn't supposed to be.
With 43 seconds remaining in the game, Fowles exited the floor for the final time in her decorated career to a standing ovation from the Mohegan Sun Arena crowd.
She wasn't thinking about her career at the time but about her teammates.
I felt like I did them a disservice when I left the game because I had a s---ty three quarters. I was a little upset and emotional at the same time.
Lindsay Allen, who finished with a career-high 26 points, said that Syl thanked them for being her teammates and supporting her throughout the season. Through the ups and downs of the season, she was very grateful to be with us.
In her final game, Fowles wasn't as dominant as she could have been, as she admitted she was a mess. Despite being limited to three points through the first 30 minutes, Fowles was still able to finish with 10 points and 12 boards.
Even if her performance was s---ty, there were still reminders of her greatness. In the second quarter, Fowles grabbed her 4,000th rebound, becoming the first player in the history of the league to do that.
The status of Fowles as a beloved figure was on full display. She was given a robe, pajamas and slipper by the tribe before the game. Before and after the game, Sun players and staff paid their respects to Fowles. Bria Hartley's injured knee was lightly rubbed by Sylvia Fowles as if to help heal it.
In 15 seasons, Fowles scored 6,415 points on 59.9% shooting from the field, 4,006 rebound and 721 blocks. When she arrived in Minnesota in 2015, she helped turn the team into a dynasty that won four titles in seven years.
She was the league's Most Valuable Player in the last two seasons when Minnesota won it all. The LSU product became the league's all-time leading rebounder in 2020 after winning the defensive player of the year four times. She was a member of the U.S. national team that won four Olympic golds.
Lindsay Whalen, Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus and Rebekah Brunson are all on the same team as Sylvia Fowles.
It will be the first time in seven years that the Lynx will be in the draft.
Without her will, life is not worth living. "It was big time." She will be in my life, no doubt about it, but we will never get to share the battles that she gives me or the suck-the-teeth that she gives me. I'm not going to be able to. I'm not going to be able to attend it. She might miss me pushing her.
The season went awry from the start even though the franchise wanted to send Sylvia Fowles off with another playoff spot. Napheesa didn't play in the last four games because she was pregnant. The backcourt was overhauled just before the season began, free agent acquisition Angel McCoughtry agreed to a contract buyout two games in, and Natalie Achonwa and Damiris Dantas each missed significant time.
Fowles had to play through a knee injury in the last months of her career.
"Syl's special, through it all," he said, wiping away tears. If I were Sylvia Fowles, I would have been resentful. I may have been pissy through most of the season. Syl was able to find a way around it. She has more affection for her body than most of us.
I learned that this team is going to be different and a little more challenging, so I had to do things that were out of my comfort zone. I appreciate the love that I received from the fans. It changed things for me. I never got that in my first 14 years of playing and so to see that all come together in my last year is very gratifying.
The entire moment seemed to hit the man. She bowed her head during the introduction. She put her face in a towel after sitting down. She waved to the crowd as she ran off the floor.
She will need to sift through all the emotions of the day, and of a historic career, as she prepares to become amortician.
"I think that's something I'll do in the future," he said. Most of my emotions were to be thankful. The fans were great, Connecticut played well, but I want to be respectful of my teammates' time too.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
