Sylvia Fowles was a dominant force in the paint for the Chicago Sky from her rookie year in 2008 to her final season with the team in 2014. Fowles, a standout at Louisiana State University, was drafted second overall in the 2008 WNBA Draft by the Sky.

In her rookie season, Fowles averaged 10.5 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game and 2.1 blocks per game. She ranked third in the league in blocks per game and was fifth in the league in double-doubles (6). Fowles was selected to the WNBA All-Rookie team.

In her second season in the league, the 2009 WNBA season, Fowles increased her per game averages to 11.5 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game. She started 20 of the 24 games she played in for the Sky and shot an impressive .599 from the field. She was selected as a starter in the 2009 WNBA All-Star game and dunked with time winding down in the game. She recorded a then career-high 22 points vs. New York on August 14th and grabbed a then career-high 18 rebounds vs. Detroit on August 9th.

The 2010 season was a breakout year for Fowles. She started a career-high 34 games in her third WNBA season, averaging then career-highs in points per game (17.8), rebounds per game (9.9) and blocks per game (2.6). Fowles blocked a league-leading 88 shots, the 9th best single season total in WNBA history. Fowles also set single-season Sky franchise records with 606 points, 338 rebounds and 264 defensive rebounds. She scored a career-high 35 points at Phoenix on August 1st and grabbed a then franchise record 21 rebounds vs. New York on July 11th. Fowles scored in double-figures in all 34 Sky games this season and was named MVP of the Stars at the Sun All-Star game. She was named First Team All-WNBA and WNBA All-Defensive First Team.

If 2010 was a breakout season for Fowles, 2011 solidified her as one of the best players in the WNBA. Fowles was named the 2011 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year as well as an Eastern Conference All-Star for the second time. She averaged a career-high 20.0 points per game and 10.2 rebounds per game, becoming only the second player in WNBA history to average 20 points and 10 rebounds a game in a season. She was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week three times in 2011 (July 11-17, August 8-14, August 22-28). Fowles recorded her 1,000th career rebound vs. Seattle on September 11th, becoming the Sky’s all-time leading rebounder. She recorded a franchise-record 22 double-doubles in a season, with a WNBA record eight straight double-doubles. Fowles broke her own Sky record for points in a season, scoring 680 points in the 2011 season.

Fowles continued her exceptional play for the Sky in the 2012 season, her fifth season in the WNBA. Fowles started 25 games, averaging 16.2 points per game and 10.4 rebounds per game. She missed nine games in August due to a lower leg injury. She earned Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors for May. She started the season with eight straight double-doubles, tying the WNBA record she set in 2011. She recorded her 460th made free throw on August 17th vs. Atlanta to become the Sky’s all-time leader in free throws made. Fowles also became the Sky’s all-time leader in field goals made on August 21st vs. New York, making her 809th career field goal. She scored her 2,101st career points vs. Atlanta on August 22nd to become the leading scorer in Sky franchise history. Fowles led the WNBA in field goal percentage (.638) and was named to the All-WNBA Second Team for the 2012 season.

In the 2013 season, Fowles earned her second WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award. She started 32 games for the Sky, averaging 16.3 points per game, 2.4 blocks per game and a career-high and league-leading 11.5 rebounds per game. Fowles was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month three times in 2013 (July, August and September). Fowles recorded a franchise record 22 rebounds vs. Connecticut on May 31st, a game when she also scored 24 points. Fowles scored a season-high 32 points vs. Washington on August 2nd. Fowles was also selected as a WNBA All-Star in 2013, her third selection of her career. Fowles helped lead the Sky to the franchise’s first ever playoff berth in 2013.

Fowles underwent offseason hip surgery in 2014, causing her to miss the first 13 games of the season. She returned on June 25th vs. Connecticut and scored 17 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked five shots. Fowles then proceeded to record seven straight double-doubles from July 5th- July 25th. In the 20 games she played in 2014, she recorded 10 double-doubles. Fowles averaged 13.4 points per game and 10.2 blocks per game in 2014. She was a main reason why the Sky reached the WNBA Playoffs for the second time in franchise history. The Sky defeated the Indiana Fever in the Eastern Conference Finals to win the first ever Eastern Conference Championship for the Sky and secured the franchise’s first ever berth in the WNBA Finals.

In her seven seasons with the Sky, Sylvia Fowles re-wrote the record books, won two WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards, was selected to the WNBA All-Star team three times and led the Sky to its first every WNBA Playoff berth and Eastern Conference Championship. Fowles is the Sky’s all-time leader in seasons played (7), games played (186), minutes (5,755), points (2,927), rebounds (1,832), free throws made (672), field goals made (1127) career rebounding average (9.9) and rebounds in a single game (22). Fowles was the cornerstone of the Chicago Sky for seven seasons and thus, is one of the top ten players in franchise history.