Lynx' Fowles Named Western Conference Player of the Week

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The WNBA today named Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles the Western Conference Player of the Week for games played June 5 through June 11. The Player of the Week award is Fowles’ 10th of her career and third this season.

Minnesota swept its weekend road trip to Washington and Dallas, boosting its record to 9-0 overall and stretching its lead to 2.5 games over the Mystics (7-3) atop the WNBA standings. The Lynx moved to 6-0 on the road in 2017, matching the second-longest such streak to begin a season in league history after opening 2016 with eight consecutive road wins. Over the two-game stretch, Fowles averaged 25.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists. She shot 70.5% from the floor (24-for-34) while collecting her league-leading fifth double-double of the season to increase her career total to 112 (third in league history).

The 10-year pro from Louisiana State registered game-high totals of 21 points and 11 rebounds in Friday’s victory at Washington, snapping the Mystics' five-game winning streak. It was Fowles’ fourth 20+ pt/10+ reb night of the season (44th career), and she added two steals and a career-high five assists, the latter part of Minnesota's club-record haul of 30 assists. She followed up her performance in Washington with a 30-point, nine-rebound effort in Sunday’s triumph at Dallas, equaling her high point total in a Lynx uniform and marking the eighth 30+ performance of her career. Fowles went 14-for-19 from the floor vs. the Wings, tying her career best for field goals made in a game.

Fowles leads the WNBA in field goal accuracy (66.1%) while ranking second in scoring (21.9 ppg), second in rebounding (10.1 rpg), second in blocks (1.89 bpg) and third in steals (2.00 spg); she's the only player among the WNBA's top five in all five categories.

New York’s Tina Charles was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week.

The Lynx play next on Saturday, June 17 against the Connecticut Sun at Xcel Energy Center. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. CT and the game can be seen on Fox Sports North Plus and heard on BOB 106.1 FM.

Lynx' Whalen Becomes the WNBA’s All-Time Winningest Player

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – After tonight’s victory in Washington, Lindsay Whalen has collected her 295th career regular season victory, passing Swin Cash (294) as the all-time leader in regular season wins. Whalen finished tonight’s game with two points and a game-high six assists in 19+ minutes, leading the Lynx to an 8-0 record for the second straight season.

“It feels great to do it with this great team and great organization that’s always given us so much support. We’ve had a great run together here and to have the most ever is pretty cool,” said Whalen. “It kind of hits you a little, because it’s been so fun to do it all these years. To say you have the most ever is pretty cool but it’s a team award. I couldn’t have done it without my great teammates over the years and I’m happy that could do it as a Lynx.”

In her 14th WNBA season, Whalen ranks as the franchise leader in assists, ranks second in games played and fourth in scoring. The three-time WNBA champion ranks third all-time in assists, trailing only Sue Bird and Ticha Penicheiro. Her impressive resume includes 12 playoff appearances, seven WNBA Finals appearances, three WNBA championships and two Olympic gold medals with Team USA in 2012 and 2016. Whalen was the first player in WNBA history with 5000+ points, 2000+ assists and 1500+ rebounds as well as one of six players in league history with 3,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists in a career.

"Ever since she arrived in Minnesota, Lindsay Whalen has represented what it means to be a Lynx in every facet including leading our team to three WNBA Championships," said head coach Cheryl Reeve. "This is another outstanding accomplishment to add to her ever-growing resume. I'm so proud of everything she has done thus far and all that she will continue to do for our franchise and our league."

Since arriving to the Lynx in a trade from Connecticut in 2010, the Hutchinson, Minnesota native and former Golden Gopher has led the Lynx to wins in 73.4 percent of their games, a total of 174 victories over 237 regular season contests. Over her 14-year career, Whalen has played in 434 career games and has averaged 12.0 ppg on 46.6% shooting and 5.1 apg.

The Lynx play next on Sunday, June 11 against the Dallas Wings at College Park Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. CT and the game can be seen on Fox Sports North Plus and heard on BOB 106.1 FM.

Former UMC Coach Oliver Inducted into NJCAA Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Former University of Minnesota Crookston men’s hockey and football coach Scott Oliver was announced as a member of the 2017 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame Thurs., June 8. Oliver is one of six coaches who are part of the 2017 class. Oliver joins another former Minnesota Crookston hockey coach, Gary Warren, as members of the NJCAA Hockey Coaches Hall of Fame. Warren was inducted in 2002 for his job as head coach at then Minot State University-Bottineau (now Dakota College at Bottineau).

Oliver began his tenure as head coach of the men’s hockey program at U of M Crookston in 1987 and would serve in the role until 1998 and would continue on staff as head football coach until 2002. He posted a career record of 204-49-4. Oliver led Minnesota Crookston to the top of junior college hockey with consecutive NJCAA National Championships in 1992-93 and 1993-94. The 1993-94 squad had an undefeated mark of 26-0-1 and was led by Nathan Pitt, Bill Trew, Jeff Malawski and Ken Essay all being named All-Americans. His 1992-93 squad was paced by the performances of Ryan Driedger, Scott Elder and Pete Nordell, who were all named All-Americans. Oliver headed the hockey team through their transition from NJCAA to NAIA. Driedger, Pitt, Essay and Malawski are all U of M Crookston Hall of Famers, along with both of his National Championship Hockey teams.

Oliver, a Winnipeg, Manitoba native, has continued his coaching success at the high school level, leading Roseau High School to three State tournament appearances with a state title in 2007. He is currently an assistant with East Grand Forks High School hockey, leading the Green Wave to back-to-back Minnesota Class A Championships. He has also previously been the Head Football Coach at East Grand Forks H.S. Oliver also teaches physical education for the East Grand Forks School District and is involved with the High School Elite League as a coach for the Great Plains team.

His wife Denice is the long-time principal at Washington Elementary in Crookston. Their son Nick Oliver was a WCHA Scholar-Athlete and Team Captain for the St. Cloud State Hockey Team, graduating in 2015.

Oliver is one of 14 members of the NJCAA Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He is joined in the 2017 class by Matt Alvey (Hudson Valley Community College), Craig Chamberlain (Monroe Community College), Steve Mullen (Erie Community College), Gary Rost (Erie Community College)m and Travis Rybchinski (Dakota College at Bottineau).

NJCAA ICE HOCKEY COACHES ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME MEMBERS

•             Matt Alvey – Hudson Valley Community College (NY) (2017)

•             Frank Catani – Hibbing Community College (MN) (2000)

•             Craig Chamberlain – Monroe Community College (NY) (2017)

•             Ralph Galanti, Jr – Erie Community College (NY) (2002)

•             Tim Gerrish – North Country Community College (NY) (2005)

•             Dan Huntley – Rainy River Community College (MN) (2015)

•             Terry Martin – SUNY Canton (NY) (2000)

•             Scott Oliver – Minnesota Crookston (2017)

•             Gary Rost – Erie Community College (NY) (2017)

•             Travis Rybchinski – Dakota College at Bottineau (ND) (2017)

•             Herb Salberg – College of DuPage (IL) (2000)

•             George Schlieff – Rainy River Community College (MN) (2000)

•             Earl Utter – SUNY Morrisville (NY) (2007)

•             Gary Warren – Minot State University-Bottineau (2002)