Mitchell Hansen
Web Editorial Associate
Twitter
When a player enters their 10th season in the WNBA, you rarely see them have a career season.
Well, Sylvia Fowles is in the middle of doing just that in 2017 for the Minnesota Lynx.
After spending nearly a decade playing professional basketball, Fowles has taken the Lynx to another level so far this season.
And that, among many other reasons, is why she is the front-runner to win WNBA MVP and continues to make a strong case to win the award for the first time in her career.
So far this season, Fowles is having a career year in many statistical categories.
Through 25 games, she is averaging 20.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, two blocks, 1.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
Fowles is tallying career-highs in points, assists and free throw percentage (79.3 percent) and she is also shooting an unreal 67.5 percent from the field, which is also a career-high.
Fowles is also averaging the 4th-most rebounds of her entire career, 2nd-most offensive rebounds of her career (3.7 per game), 4th-most blocks and 2nd-most steals of her 10-year career.
Among the entire WNBA, Fowles ranks first in field goal percentage, second in points per game, second in rebounds, third in blocks and 12th in steals.
Impressive, right?
Well, on top of that, she’s earned a league-leading five Player of the Week awards and has been named the Western Conference Player of the Month in all three months to start the season.
But wait, we’re not done just yet.
Fowles has surpassed numerous career milestones so far in 2017, including moving into the top 10 on the all-time WNBA rebounding list (ranks ninth with 2,525) and became one of seven players in league history to record 500 career blocks (currently at 517).
A few weeks ago, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve said Fowles “is the MVP of our league up to this point.”
Based on what we’ve seen from her so far in 2017, we couldn’t agree more.
Not only is Fowles having arguably the best season of her career in her 10th WNBA season, but she’s making a very strong case for league MVP.