Miami connection turn in good nights in the W

Once teammates at Miami Edision High School, and then again at LSU, Sylvia Fowles and Scholanda Robinson turned in good nights though both of their teams lost.

Big Syl at 16 points and 7 boards along with 2 blocked shots but fouled out as Chicago lost to Washington.

Box Score: http://bit.ly/alQ4yA

Sho had 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals in a Tulsa loss to New York.

Box Score: http://bit.ly/9dAdrz

Filed under  //  Alumni   Sylvia Fowles   WNBA  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Mone and Syl in WNBA MVP race!

The WNBA is keeping tabs on the top players involved in the rave for league MVP and two Lady Tigers are among the top 10 in the latest projections. Here is what is being said about both:

Sylvia Fowles: It's a roller coaster year for the Chicago Sky, who since the start of the season have lost four, won four, lost four and, as of Tuesday night, won one. In the two games Chicago has played since the Week 5 Race to the MVP rankings, Fowles has finished one rebound short of a double-double in each. Her point production was limited Tuesday against the Sun, as she scored just 12 points, but the more impressive part is that she scored that on just 5-for-8 shooting. Plus, a game against the Sun pinned her against Tina Charles in a battle of the East's bigs. To credit Fowles' defensive game, she did hold Charles to 7-of-18. While rookie Epiphanny Prince may have led all scorers in points, Fowles' ability to contain Charles was a significant factor in the win.

Seimone Augustus: What a story for Seimone Augustus, who after playing only her third game since returning from surgery was awarded the Western Conference Player of the Week Award. It's no coincidence either that Augustus has played only four games since returning to the 2010 season and, in that span, Minnesota has gone 3-1. The hole's not too deep, nor is it entirely impossible to climb out of, but Augustus' on-court success will ultimately translate to success for the Lynx as a team. That much was evident Tuesday night against the Liberty when Augustus scored eight straight points within the last four minutes of the game to help the Lynx stay in it long enough to seal the deal. The No. 10 spot seems like a good place for Augustus to make her debut. Where she goes from here is up to her.

Check out and compare their stats with the others: http://www.wnba.com/features/player_rankings_100623.html

Filed under  //  Alumni   Seimone Augustus   Sylvia Fowles   WNBA  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Big Syl featured on ESPN.com by Mechelle Voepel

The following is part of an article written by Mechelle Voepel for ESPN.com:

Chicago Sky center Sylvia Fowles is the youngest of five siblings in her family … yet being a kind of older-sister type actually comes easily to her.

 "It's funny, isn't it? I like it, though," said the 6-foot-6 Fowles. "I accept my role. If that's what it takes, that's what I'm willing to do."

 "Big Syl" as "big sis"? Well, at the very least, she is that to rookie teammate Epiphanny Prince.

 "I cook her food," Fowles said, chuckling.

 And to sixth-year pro Cathrine Kraayeveld -- another newcomer this season to the Sky, although not to the WNBA -- Fowles is just a "sister" -- not necessarily the "big" kind. She doesn't need a protective instinct with Kraayeveld; instead they have bonded because of personality similarities.

 "Cat and I are very, very close," Fowles said. "Actually, we do call each other sisters. We hang out a lot more than anybody on the team. We have so much in common; we are both goofy and outgoing, and we like people."

Fowles, limited by injuries her first two WNBA seasons, is averaging 18.9 points and 8.1 for the Sky, a team that is 5-8 currently this summer and already has been down … and up … and down … and might now be up again.

But Fowles, individually, has avoided that roller coaster. She has scored in double figures in all 13 of the Sky's games and finally feels that she's closer to fulfilling her potential.

The knee/ankle/shoulder injuries that held her to 17 games as a rookie and 24 last season were rough for her, no doubt. But she never got very down about anything.

"I got through it all OK thanks to my mom," Fowles said. "She told me if I keep working at it, things will always get better. I had a good season in Russia, and to come back healthy this year and get off to an OK start in Chicago … I know I can do better, but I'm getting closer to where I should be."

After being such a lockdown defensive presence in college, Fowles wants to extend that in full force in the WNBA and in international competition. And on both offense and defense, she still gets tips/critiques from former LSU assistant coach Bob Starkey.

"He's like my papa," Fowles said. "Even though we had a rough time my freshman year as I was getting used to everything, I know now he's always going to have my back.

"He'll hit me up after games, with texts or by e-mail, telling me what I did well and what I can do better. I might not want to hear it sometimes, especially when we lose. But I always respect he's going to be there through the good, the bad and the ugly."

Fowles believes that earning a playoff spot in the log-jammed-as-usual Eastern Conference is an attainable goal this summer for the Sky … but she also knows the right way to talk about that possibility.

"We have the pieces to put together for the playoffs, but you can never jump too far ahead," Fowles said. "And you have to also be willing to learn as you go along."

Read the entire article: http://es.pn/alb7f8

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Filed under  //  Alumni   Sylvia Fowles   WNBA  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Syl's near double-double lead Sky to huge road win

Sylvia Fowles put in a near double-double with 12 points and nine boards (along with 3 blocked shots) to lead Chicago over the Connecticut Sun last night.  The victory was the first by any WNBA team over the Sun in Connecticut.

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Filed under  //  Alumni   Sylvia Fowles   WNBA  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Lady Tigers on NBA-TV this weekend!

If you get NBA-TV you can lock in and see some Lady Tigers playing this weekend!

Saturday at 6:00 CST, Big Syl and Chicago takes on the Mystics in Washington.

Sunday at 5:00 CST, Ally and Connecticut travel to Phoenix to take on Meek.

And later on Sunday night Roneeka and San Antonio are at Seattle

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Filed under  //  Alumni   Media   Sylvia Fowles   Temeka Johnson   WNBA  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Big Syl outstanding in Sky defeat

The Chicago Sky dropped a tough game to the Atlanta Dream overshaddowing another brillant performance by Sylvia Fowles.  Big Syl poured in 24 points, grabbed 6 boards, 3 assists and blocked 3 shots.  She also hit 10 of 11 from the free throw line.

Read more: http://bit.ly/dozD22

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Filed under  //  Alumni   Sylvia Fowles   WNBA  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Big Syl named WNBA Player of the Week!

NEW YORK, June 7, 2010 – Sylvia Fowles of the Chicago Sky and Lauren Jackson of the Seattle Storm were named the league’s Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week presented by Kia Motors, respectively, for regular season games played Monday, May 31 through Sunday, June 6.

For Fowles, the Player of the Week presented by Kia Motors award is the first of her career. The honor came after she led the league in both points (25.5) and blocks (2.5) per game, while also averaging 11.0 rebounds (third best), 1.5 steals and 1.0 assist per game in leading the Sky to a pair of wins. With an 80-70 victory over the Eastern Conference-leading Dream in Atlanta and a 95-70 defeat of the visiting Tulsa Shock, Chicago lifted its record to 4-4 after stumbling from the blocks with a 0-4 mark.

After missing 17 games due to injury as a rookie in 2008 and another 10 last season, Fowles, the second overall selection in the 2008 Draft, is undeniably making her presence felt. A dominating effort in Chicago’s win over Tulsa included a career-high 32 points, 13 boards, four blocks and a steal. One day earlier, the LSU product poured in 19 points, grabbed nine rebounds and recorded two assists, two steals and a block to help drop Eastern Conference rival Atlanta. For the season, Fowles leads the league in blocks (2.5 per game), ranks fifth in scoring (19.9 ppg) and eighth in rebounds (8.5 rpg).

Lauren Jackson is the daughter of former Lady Tiger Maree Jackson

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Filed under  //  Alumni   Sylvia Fowles   WNBA  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Big Syl in "Beast Mode"

Sylvia Fowles resgistered a double-double  --- BEFORE HALFTIME!  Big Syl talled a career high 32 points, grabbed 13 rebounds an blocked 4 shots in dominating Chicago's victory over Tulsa.  The Sky's 95-70 victory was their fourth in a row.  One of the bright spots for the Tulsa Shock was Scholanda Robinson who tallied 15 points.

Read the article and look at the box score: http://bit.ly/dhw0Ng

Filed under  //  Sylvia Fowles   WNBA  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Big Night for Big Syl, Sho, and Meek in the WNBA!

Sylvia Fowles took her Chicago team on the road last night to play the first place Atlanta Dream -- and the Sky left with an 80-70 victory -- their 3rd in a row!  Big Syl lead all scored with 19 points and had a game high 9 rebounds along with 3 steals.

Read more about the game: http://bit.ly/bT5QEH

In Tulsa, Scholanda Robinson lead the Shock in scoring with 20 points while adding 4 assists, 2 steals as they defeated Minnesota.

Read more about the game: http://bit.ly/ciDHsb

In Phoenix, Temeka Johnson tallied 16 points, passed off for 5 asssits and grabbed 2 steals in leading the Mercury to a come-from-behind 90-89 thriller over the Los Angeles Sparks.

Read more about the game: http://bit.ly/ciDHsb

Filed under  //  Sylvia Fowles   Temeka Johnson   WNBA  
Posted by Bob Starkey 

Big Syl eager to get through WNBA season injury-free

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Amos Morale of the Times-Picayune catches up with Big Syl as she enters another WNBA season:

Syliva Fowles is downright giddy about this upcoming WNBA season.

Fowles, the Chicago Sky's 6-foot-6 center and a former LSU All-American, finally feels healthy.

"Knock on wood, I hope to stay this way the whole season, " Fowles said.

After a knee injury ended her rookie season and an ankle injury derailed her second year, Fowles said she's pain-free and ready for the WNBA season, which begins today.

Despite her playfulness off the court, Fowles said this season she wants to be more of a force on offense. She has averaged 10.9 points and 7.7 rebounds with Chicago.

"I've always been known to be effective on defense but not necessarily as much on offense, " Fowles said. "So (I'm) just trying to be aggressive more around the rim and get more touches."

Like most WNBA players, Fowles spend her offseason playing overseas, for Spartak Moscow in Russia. She's had an opportunity to hone her game there and has had no complaints about spending half the year in a foreign country -- except one: "The winters there (stink). Being from Florida, it was kind of hard, but other than that, it was pretty good."

Fowles said the style of play in Russia allows for more aggressiveness, which she has to adjust to back in America. The lane also is wider in the Russian league, and three-second violations are rarer.

Fowles said the biggest adjustment is getting back into the routine of the WNBA. She had more leisure time overseas, but her off-court obligations in the States rarely allow for such freedom.

"Being here, you never know what you might have to do, " Fowles said. "You might have a community service, or an appearance, to sit down and watch film, meetings and thing like that."

She said she was looking forward to building chemistry with the Sky. "Once they get me going, everything else is going to flow like butter, I guess, " Fowles said. "I don't really have any preparations. I just go out there and play to the best of my abilities and win."

Read the entire article: http://bit.ly/aIxycQ

Filed under  //  Media   Sylvia Fowles   WNBA  
Posted by Bob Starkey