Sylvia Fowles Inducted into Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame

Sylvia Fowles will be inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026 during a Thursday-Saturday ceremony in Natchitoches. The Louisiana Sports Writers Association said she “was on the Hall’s radar from the moment she announced her retirement in August,” leading to a swift selection. She joins 11 other inductees from a range of sports, underscoring the Hall’s statewide celebration of athletic achievement.

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Fowles helped LSU reach four straight NCAA Final Fours, posted a career double-double average, and earned three All-American honors. She won four Olympic gold medals and two WNBA titles (2015, 2017) with the Minnesota Lynx, earning Finals MVP both years. Her 2007 dunk made her the sixth woman to dunk in an NCAA game, joining a select group that includes Lisa Leslie and Brittney Griner.

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• 2007 – Breakaway dunk at LSU’s Maravich Center, making her the sixth woman to dunk in an NCAA game.

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• 2015 & 2017 – Won WNBA championships with the Minnesota Lynx; named Finals MVP each time.

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• 2026 – Induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

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Bob Starkey, LSU associate coach, said Hall of Fame status reflects a career of sustained excellence. Seimone Augustus, former teammate and LSU assistant, said teammates repeatedly urged her to dunk in a game and praised the historic play. Lindsay Whalen, former WNBA teammate, described Fowles as the nicest person off the court and highlighted her generosity toward teammates’ families. The selection committee emphasized her four consecutive Final Four appearances, three SEC championships, and a reputation for unselfish play.

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Augustus described the moment: “She got a steal at half court, gathered her steps, and she did it.”

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Fowles’ honor highlights growing recognition of women’s basketball in Louisiana and offers a model of athletic excellence and community leadership for future female athletes.

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After retiring, Fowles began a coaching role this season with a Portland team, extending her influence from player to mentor.

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• “Well, I think when you talk about being a Hall of Famer, you're talking about a complete body of work long-term,” — Bob Starkey, LSU associate basketball coach

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• “We had been begging her. I know I had been begging her (to dunk in a game),” — Seimone Augustus, LSU assistant coach

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• “It was a legitimate dunk that any men’s player would be proud of.” — Patrick Wright, LSU women’s basketball radio voice

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• “I know it has been said before, but since we are honoring her again, she is just the nicest person possible off the court,” — Lindsay Whalen, former WNBA teammate

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