Sylvia Fowles sees legendary WNBA career end as Minnesota Lynx fall in regular-season finale

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — WNBA all-time great Sylvia Fowles concluded her career Sunday as the Minnesota Lynx fell 90-83 to the Connecticut Sun in their regular-season finale, which eliminated the Lynx from playoff contention.

Following a roller coaster season in which they spent much of the summer in the bottom two of the standings, the Lynx recovered and managed to put themselves within reach of the playoffs, which they could have made with wins Friday against the Seattle Storm and Sunday against the Sun.

After Friday's loss, an emotional day with it being Fowles' final home game at the Target Center, Minnesota needed a win over Connecticut, plus help from other teams, to extend its season and Fowles' career.

But aside from a valiant fourth-quarter comeback effort in which they pulled within four points with three minutes to play, the Lynx were never in control, trailing by as many as 19 and by double figures most of the way.

«It was what you hoped wasn't going to happen,» Lynx general manager/head coach Cheryl Reeve said. «It just wasn't meant to be.»

With 43 seconds remaining in the game, Fowles exited the floor for the final time in her decorated career to a standing ovation from the Mohegan Sun Arena crowd, embracing each person on the bench, from an extended hug with Reeve to a moment with Lynx trainer Chuck Barta.

But true to form for Fowles — who's called Mama Syl or Sweet Syl across the league — she wasn't thinking then about the personal implications for her career, but about her teammates.

«I was a little annoyed with myself because I had a s---ty three quarters and I felt like I did them a disservice,» Fowles said of when she exited the game. «And so I just was a little frustrated and emotional at the same time.»