MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx today announced the team has re-signed free-agent center Sylvia Fowles. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

“I was grateful for the opportunity to join the Lynx family last year and am now officially looking forward to more success together,” said Sylvia Fowles. “It’s an honor to be back.”

Fowles started all 18 games regular season games following the All-Star Break in her debut season with the Lynx in 2015 and averaged 15.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. She posted seven double-doubles, increasing her career total to 99 and passed Tamika Catching’s for third place on the WNBA’s career list. Fowles was named the 2015 WNBA Finals MVP after averaging 15.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in the five-game series vs. Indiana.

“We are excited to have Sylvia re-sign with the Minnesota Lynx organization,” said Executive Vice President Roger Griffith. “Sylvia joined the organization midway through the 2015 season and played a pivotal role in winning our third WNBA Championship. We are excited to have her here for a complete season and we look forward to defending the 2016 WNBA title with her.”

Originally drafted second overall in the 2008 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky, Fowles has averaged 15.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 204 career regular season games (195 starts). She was named a WNBA All-Star in 2009, 2011 and 2013 and is a two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the year (2011, 2013). Fowles is a two-time All-WNBA First Team selection (2010, 2013), as well as a four-time All-WNBA Defensive First Team selection (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013).

Fowles won Olympic gold medals with the USA Basketball Women’s National Team at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympic Games. She currently ranks seventh all-time among U.S. Olympic players for rebounds (85) and eighth for field goal percentage (.643). She was recently named a finalist for the 2016 US. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team along with Lynx teammates Seimone Augustus, Maya Moore and Lindsay Whalen.

Prior to the WNBA, Fowles played for Louisiana State University from 2004-2008. During her four years, she helped lead LSU to a 125-21 record (.856), three Southeastern Conference regular season titles, twice earning perfect league records, and four NCAA Finals Fours. She was named the NCAA Regional Most Outstanding Player three times (2006, 2007, 2008) and was named WBCA National Defensive Player of the Year in 2008. In her freshman and sophomore seasons (2004-06), Fowles teamed up with current Lynx guard Seimone Augustus.