SYLVIA FOWLES
At 6-6 and set to begin her third Olympics, to say Sylvia Fowles was a late bloomer would be a stretch. But the 30-year-old Miami native admits she didn't grow up dreaming of wearing the Team USA jersey in search of Olympic glory.
"Basketball wasn't really my game," Fowles said. "I didn't start playing until I was in the eighth grade."
Fowles' length and long arms made her a natural fit for Team USA in 2008, where, despite her relative inexperience, she immediately made her presence felt. She led the team in scoring and rebounding that year, averaging 13.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game en route to the gold medal in Beijing. She didn't have quite the same impact in 2012 in London, averaging only six points per game, but the way Fowles sees it, she's just thrilled at the opportunities that have come her way.
"When I reflect on my situation, I've been kind of thrown into the fire," she said. "I've just been lucky to play with great players like [Lynx teammates] Seimone [Augustus], Maya [Moore], Lindsay [Whalen] and everyone else."
Jim Paulsen
