Alexander Shun

Web Editor Associate | @alexpshun 

Everyone likes to win, especially in sports. The organizations love winning, the players and coaches love winning and the fans love winning.

With the most recent addition to their already star-studded roster, winning is something the Minnesota Lynx will seemingly be doing a lot of.

After trading away center Damiris Dantas and forward Reshanda Gray, the Lynx introduced their newest addition, center Sylvia Fowles.

Fowles, a three-time All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year, could not be happier to be a part of the Lynx organization.

“I think Christmas is an understatement, I think it’s like Christmas times three” said Fowles, speaking about how she felt to be joining the Lynx. “When I got the phone call from my agent, I was a tad bit excited. I couldn’t pack. I had the whole day to pack and I just couldn’t pack.”

Joining a team that already has four Olympians and is filled with All-Stars and multiple time champions would be an exciting prospect for anyone,but Fowles knows, despite the immense amount of talent already here, she has an important role to play on this team.

“On offense, I really don’t know [what my role will be], but from a defense standpoint, that’s pretty much my bread and butter. If I can just get out there and rebound the way that I’m supposed to rebound and alter a lot of shots then I’m pretty sure the offensive side will kick in.”

Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve has always been a defensive-minded coach, something that Fowles truly excels at, but when it comes to integrating herself into the lineup, Reeve is going to, in many ways, let Fowles do that on her own.

“I think more than anything, I just want her to ease her way into things and I don’t want it to be disruptive to us” said Reeve, after Fowles first practice as a member of the Lynx. “We still are who we are and we do what we do and we’ll just kind of let her find her way in what we do.”

Such a mentality is alright with Fowles.

Fowles has noticeably matured since joining the league in 2008 and is ready and willing to play any role necessary to help this team succeed. Of course, she will get quite a bit of guidance and help from great leaders and fellow teammates Lindsay Whalen, Maya Moore and former college teammate Seimone Augustus.

“Maya was on me this morning showing me everything I need to do, telling me I need that second energy to just kick in and do what I need to do. I also heard a lot from Seimone and [Whalen] was pretty much on the smooth side…but everybody is in my ear so it’s a high expectation here but it’s something that I need; somebody that will push me day- in and day-out.”

After voicing displeasure of remaining in Chicago, Fowles pointed to Minnesota as her desired landing spot and for a long while, it didn’t look like a deal was going to get made.

Lynx Executive Vice-President Roger Griffith said he lost count of the number of counter-offers that were exchanged between the two teams. Fowles said she lost hope.

“Honestly, I pretty much had given up,” said Fowles, speaking about the frustrations of not getting a deal done. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to be traded or not. I know we came so close a few times and you get your expectations up and after the second or third time [a deal fell through] I was done.”

The Lynx just needed a third team with the players and assets that the Sky were desiring, and the Atlanta Dream happened to be that team. In the end, the Sky got the player they wanted, the Dream got the players they wanted and the Lynx got Fowles; happy ending, right? Maybe.

The expectations for this team are through the roof right now and nobody can sense that more than the Lynx players themselves, but that’s okay with them. The players have high expectations of themselves and adding a player of Fowles’ caliber only furthers those expectations.

“As a player this is something that you look for,” said Fowles. “You want to play with the best of the best on the highest level and winning a championship is always in your goals, but to get there, you have all the pieces in place and you have to have people with the same goals.”

Well, all the pieces are now in place. Let’s see if the Lynx can get that happy ending after all.