Sylvia Fowles, a Minnesota Lynx center, has been named the WNBA Defensive Player-of-the Year for the fourth consecutive year by the league.
Fowles was awarded 31 votes by the 49-member sportswriters and broadcasters panel. Brittney Sykes, Los Angeles' guard, was second with six votes. Jonquel Jones, the Connecticut forward and Brianna Turner, the Phoenix forward were tied for third with four votes.
Brittney Griner, Phoenix's center, received two votes. Jasmine Thomas and Briann January, Connecticut's guards, received one vote each.
Only one player has won the Defensive Players of the Year award more than Fowles. That honor went to Tamika Catchings (ex-India forward), who retired in 2016, after receiving the award five times.
Fowles will be leading third-seeded Minnesota against No. 6-seeded Chicago Sky will face off against the No. ET, ESPN2.
Sunday was also the All-Defensive team day for the WNBA. January, Sykes and Jones were all on the first team. Griner, Thomas and Brionna Jones from Connecticut, Washington's Ariel Atkins, and Breanna Stewart from Seattle were part of the second team.
All in all, No. All in all, No.
Fowles (6'6") was the No. Fowles, a 6-foot-6 draft pick from LSU in 2008, is currently second in the league in blocked shots and steals (1.8 per match for each category). She ranks third in defensive rebound (8.0 per match) and second overall rebound (10.1).
Fowles is 36 years old next month and is used to playing a major defensive role.
She said, "That was instilled in me at a young age." "I can say that this team has challenged me to do more, not in a negative way but to ensure I am aware of many things."
Cheryl Reeve, Lynx coach, agreed that Fowles has been more important than ever as a young team. Fowles is also second in scoring for Minnesota with 16.0 points per match.
Reeve stated, "We give her great accountability." She's more than just protecting her player. She's the one who comes to assist on drives.
Fowles won the DPOY award twice before, in 2011 and 2013. She was previously with Chicago and 2016 with Minnesota. Fowles was the 2017 league MVP and 2015 WNBA Finals MVP.
Bridget Carleton, a Lynx teammate, said that Fowles' "I think what really stands out to me on court isn't just her blocks, steals and deflections. It's also what she does even without the ball." She's always willing to help. She is so versatile on the defensive side, and that's not because she's small. She can move her feet so well that it almost seems she is everywhere.
