LSU just dropped some huge news, announcing they’re honoring women’s basketball legend Sylvia Fowles with a statue right there on campus. This isn’t just any statue, folks. Fowles is only the seventh LSU athlete to get this kind of recognition, and get this: she’s only the *second* female athlete to do it, standing tall alongside fellow hoops star Seimone Augustus. That’s serious company, right?
Fowles Set the Standard for LSU Hoops
Think about this: Fowles rolled into Baton Rouge back in 2004 and hit the ground running like a freight train. She started all 36 games as a freshman, practically pulled off a double-double average, got crowned SEC Freshman of the Year, and helped LSU punch its ticket to the Final Four for just the second time ever. Second time ever! And that was just the beginning of her legendary run. She led the program to the Final Four in all four of her seasons, every single one from 2004 to 2008. After she left in ’08, LSU only made it back once, in 2023, when they actually snagged the national title. That’s how monumental her presence was for those teams. She racked up three All-American nods, three All-SEC honors, and then in her senior year in 2008, she wasn’t just SEC Player of the Year, she was SEC Defensive Player of the Year and WBCA Defensive Player of the Year. That’s total domination on both ends of the court.
Numbers Don’t Lie About This Legend
Her college stats are just wild, straight up undeniable. We’re talking 15.5 points, 10.9 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 2.2 blocks per game, all on a ridiculous 58.4% shooting clip. And get this: she’s still LSU’s all-time leader in rebounds with 1,570, blocked shots with 321, and free throws made with 494. Those numbers don’t lie, they scream “legend.” You know she kept that energy going, too. After getting picked No. 2 overall in the 2008 WNBA Draft, Fowles went on to grab two WNBA titles, two Finals MVPs, an MVP award, and four Defensive Player of the Year honors across her time with the Chicago Sky and Minnesota Lynx. She’s currently an assistant coach with the Portland Fire, and LSU already retired her number in 2017. Her gratitude for this new honor? “Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Fowles said in a statement. “It is such a privilege and an honor, and I don’t take this recognition from LSU lightly.” Even Coach Kim Mulkey herself gushed, saying, “Sylvia Fowles is one of the greatest players, not only at LSU, but in the history of our game. This honor is something that is extremely well-earned.”
This statue outside the Maravich Center isn’t just a piece of bronze. It’s a permanent monument to one of college basketball’s all-time greats, a true game-changer who put LSU women’s hoops on the map for good. She set a standard of excellence that still echoes today. We don’t have a date for the unveiling yet, but when that statue is finally revealed, it’s going to be a moment that truly solidifies her place in history. What a recognition for an incredible career!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply