Mitchell Hansen
Web Editorial Associate
Twitter
As you all know, last Thursday the Minnesota Lynx and the WNBA announced Lynx center Sylvia Fowles as the 2017 WNBA Most Valuable Player.
In almost every statistical category, Fowles was clearly the best player in the league during the regular season.
From start to finish, she dominated.
In her 10th professional season, Fowles averaged 18.9 points (ranked 5th in WNBA), 10.4 rebounds (2nd), 1.9 blocks (2nd), 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals (12th) and shot 65.5 percent from the field (1st) is all 34 games.
Those stats are impressive, there’s no denying that.
But outside of the stats portion of all of this, there’s really nobody more deserving to receive the WNBA’s highest honor than Fowles herself.
Outside of competing in actual games, the way Fowles handles herself and has prepared herself for the 2017 season is MVP-caliber in itself.
“I’m really, really proud. I had texted her when I got the news (about winning MVP) and I told her to take a second and reflect in all that went into that. A lot of people, a lot of time, a lot of sacrifice. Ultimately, it came down to Syl allowing herself to be coached,” Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve said. “That means a coaching staff, letting herself go with her teammates as well. Syl is such a pleaser and it should be a surprise to anyone that she would be so coachable. I don’t take that stuff for granted and I feel incredibly proud to be a part of a season like this with her to experience that growth and to see it in full display knowing all that went into it.”
From being friendly and treating everyone the same – and I mean everyone – to being one of the hardest workers day-in and day-out, Fowles was an MVP before the games even began.
There was nobody more deserving for league MVP this season. Both on the basketball court and off.
“I think she grew and I think she grew as a basketball player. She’s a great person, you can’t even explain it. She’s really hard to be angry with,” Reeve said. “She’s just a tremendous, tremendous person. I don’t care where you go, anyone that has come in contact with Syl has the same takeaway, is what a sweetheart Sylvia Fowles is.”
Once again, congratulations Sylvia. The honor is certainly well-deserved.