After 15 unforgettable years in the WNBA, Sylvia Fowles stepped away with one simple mission: to discover who she was beyond the game.

In retirement, she built a peaceful routine for herself: mornings of meditation and Pilates classes, long bike rides, crocheting, baking, afternoon naps, and a quiet life under the Miami sun. But even with all that serenity, there was one truth she couldn’t outrun…

Basketball wasn’t just something she did. It was who she was!

Sooner or later, the courts were always going to call her home, and this time, Sylvia Fowles answered.

Your two-time WNBA champion, two-time WNBA Finals MVP, league MVP, eight-time All-Star, four-time Defensive Player of the Year, and Olympic gold medalist is officially returning to the WNBA. This time as a coach.

Fowles will join the Portland Fire as an assistant on the coaching staff for the franchise’s inaugural season in 2026, according to Kendra Andrews of ESPN.

The Fire are one of two expansion teams entering the league next year, becoming the 14th team in the WNBA, alongside the Toronto Tempo, which will be the 15th. Expectations are already sky-high. After watching the Golden State Valkyries set a historic standard in their own debut season (becoming the first expansion team ever to make the playoffs), there’s pressure on Portland and Toronto to match that energy. 

They’ll need a coaching staff that knows how to build a culture from scratch. And now, Portland has added a Hall of Famer who embodies exactly that.

Interestingly, Fowles reportedly had multiple coaching offers on the table heading into the 2026 campaign. Yet she chose Portland. That decision alone suggests there’s something special drawing her to the Fire, whether that’s player development potential, community appeal, or a long-term vision she believes in.

Whatever the reason, fans are thrilled. The WNBA community has erupted online with excitement, pride, and love for the legend.

“Portland ain’t messing around!” Fans celebrate Fowles’ return

As soon as the news hit social media, fans went wild.

Comments like, “Congratulations Goat 🐐!” and “I LOVE this for her!” poured in instantly.

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The excitement makes total sense. After everything the WNBA has seen in the last few years, this move feels very much needed.

The league is in the middle of major coaching turbulence. Since the end of the 2023 season, 13 of the now 15 franchises have changed head coaches. Out of those hires, eight jobs went to men, and only two went to former WNBA players. That stat alone has sparked long-running conversations about giving legendary players real leadership opportunities. 

So, no wonder fans are already locked into Portland.

“Portland ain’t messing around. I love this move. I’m looking forward to seeing how this roster shapes out, but most importantly, a W ’26 season,” one supporter wrote.

This news comes after the Tempo announced Sandy Brondello as their head coach, so having another familiar name on the sidelines of the other expansion team is definitely special.

For the Fire, the head coach is Alex Sarama, the same coaching mind the Cleveland Cavaliers organization brought in last season, widely respected for his player development expertise.

Now, he gets to pair that vision with Sylvia Fowles. She’ll sit beside him on the bench as an assistant, bringing championship experience and defensive genius (fourth all-time in WNBA blocks and retired as the league’s all-time leading rebounder).

Plus, college fans are just as emotional. Nearly every LSU conversation begins with Sylvia Fowles.

“SEC player of year and 3 final 4s in a row!! 💜💛💜💛,” one fan proudly shared.

Fowles played in all 36 of LSU’s games as a freshman, helping the Tigers reach the NCAA Final Four. She started all 35 games again as a sophomore, leading LSU to another Final Four. In her junior year, she led LSU to a third consecutive Final Four, earning All-American honors and being named SEC Player of the Year.

Then, as the No. 2 pick in 2008, Fowles spent her early years with the Chicago Sky before becoming a Minnesota Lynx icon, winning both her championships there. So of course, emotions surfaced. One heartfelt reaction read:

“Greatest big to ever play the game! This is great for Syl, but I wish the Lynx had hired her instead. She belongs on staff with her Lynx dynasty teammates under Cheryl Reeve. Congrats, Sweet Syl.”

Still, Portland was the right choice for Fowles. Reports say she wanted to build something from scratch, to shape a culture with players she currently does not have ties to. Fans may miss the Lynx connection, but they understand her vision.

But, of course, the conversation didn’t end without a bit of controversy.

“Y’all let Syl coach but turned Lisa down!” an individual wrote.

Lisa Leslie’s absence from WNBA coaching roles has been a painful topic. With her resume, many believe she should be leading a team. Leslie even revealed on Angel Reese’s Unapologetically Angel podcast that she applied for WNBA coaching jobs this year and didn’t get picked, declaring she’d “never attempt” again.

It was a shock for everyone who hoped to see her coaching right away.

But as much as we would love to see Leslie taking the reins, this moment truly belongs to Fowles. After years of quiet and distance from the game, we finally saw her back in the spotlight during the Hall of Fame ceremony alongside Sue Bird and Maya Moore. 

Now, fans can’t wait to see and hear more from her moving forward.