They may not be able to claim the MVP award this season, but the Minnesota Lynx were recognized by the WNBA on Friday with a pair of major awards.
Center Sylvia Fowles was named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year on Friday, while Sheryl Reeve was named the WNBA Coach of the Year.
Fowles dominated on the defensive side of the ball this season, averaging 13.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.79 blocks and 1.32 steals, while starting all 34 games, during the regular season.
Fowles joins WNBA greats Tamika Catchings and Sheryl Swoopes as the only players to win the award three times, and was the only player to finish in the top 12 in rebounding, blocks and steals this season.
The award is Reeve's second, and comes on the heels of the Lynx's fifth 25-win season in her seven seasons at the helm, as Minnesota went 28-6.
Reeve guided the Lynx to a 13-0 start, the longest season-opening winning streak in league history, while her .706 winning percentage is tops in league history.
Reeve and Fowles also helped the U.S. to a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
