NEW YORK – Former LSU All-American center Sylvia Fowles of the Chicago Sky was named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week presented by Kia Motors for regular season games played Monday, May 31 through Sunday, June 6, the league office announced on Monday.
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).