WNBA ALL-STAR GAME

July 10, 2022

Sylvia Fowles

Candace Parker

Team Wilson - Media Conference

Team Wilson 134, Team Stewart 112

Q. Sylvia, when you got the ball in the open court, did you know you were going to dunk or when you got to the basket, you just went up or it? What was going through your mind in that moment?

SYLVIA FOWLES: I think I just heard the momentum of the crowd. I probably heard a couple of benches and seen a couple of faces on the other team and I was like, just go for it. It was just in the moment. I didn't really think about it.

Q. And Candace, you guys all had a huge reaction. So watching it on the court, can you just tell us what you all were thinking?

CANDACE PARKER: I don't even remember who I was standing next to but it was like, they were like, uh-oh, she going to do, and I was like, no, we are old -- and right when I was about to finish "old," she threw it down. And I was like, well, now, her nickname is Sylvia "Tom Brady" Fowles because now she's going to come back for another year, because you can't dunk and not come back.

SYLVIA FOWLES: Absolutely not [laughter].

Q. A lot of focus on Syl and Sue, this being their last All-Star Game, but you did say you were going into this season thinking about retirement after this season. Have you thought about it at all?

SYLVIA FOWLES: No, she hasn't thought about. I'll answer the question. She's not thinking about it.

CANDACE PARKER: I'm not. It's going to be the offseason when I know. When I go to lift my leg over that Peleton and it doesn't go up, I don't want to get on it, that's it.

So no, I just really have been focusing on All-Star festivities, Syl and Sue and what they have meant to this game. Individually for me, you always have to raise your game when you play with Syl, when you play against Syl, and we've been playing against each other for a long time. It's been crazy. But it's been amazing.

Q. After Syl threw it down, was there any part of you that wanted to do it as well?

CANDACE PARKER: No, she did it for the both of us. She did it for all of us.

SYLVIA FOWLES: I was begging her in the locker room. You have to do it. She's like, "I'm old." I'm like, "Yes, you can. You still can do it."

She's taking us out. That's what it is.

Q. Congratulations to you both. Wanted to ask you both this question, Candace, what is the best advice you got from Sylvia, and Syl, what is the best advice you got from Candace?

CANDACE PARKER: So I'm a big, do as they do and not as they say, because I think a lot of people say a lot of stuff. But Syl, man, she does it every single day. You know it's going to be a battle every time you play against her. So on offense you know you're going to have guard the duck-in and then you're going to have to turn around and guard the rebound, because she is an amazing offensive rebounder and then you're going to have to come down and make things difficult for her on the other side.

So I just -- listen, I think it's just watching somebody and that's all the advice I've gotten, just battling with her and watching her growth. If you think about it, I'm sorry, I'm going off a tangent but we are the 1 and 2 pick and I don't think there's that much that separates, think about it, points, championships, it's been unbelievable to play against you for all these years. Just honestly the advice I've gotten is watching her. She just makes me level up my game.

SYLVIA FOWLES: Candace the same. It's mutual. Candace is very skilled. Nothing like something I’ve ever seen in a post player. And she brings it every night. I think people don't give her credit for that.

Yes, she can win. Yes, she can score points but it's how she leads, too, she came from two different organizations and she leads. That's something you can always respect about a player. I love the way that she carries herself as well. That's what I can say about what she taught me.

Q. Syl, I know they had asked on Saturday about all-time All-Star moments. Where does that dunk rate, especially given that it was your last?

SYLVIA FOWLES: Outside of the dunk, I think Chicago did a really good job hosting All-Star Weekend, from beginning to end, it was non-stop festivities, and you haven't seen that in an All-Star Weekend in a long time. I would say this All-Star in general ranks by far one of the best ones I had throughout my eight All-Stars.

Q. I'd like both of to you answer this: You talked about wanting to center BG throughout this weekend. Wondering how you think that went and especially after you all came out in the second half wearing her jersey, knowing that it's on National TV, what message do you think or hope that this sent seeing that?

CANDACE PARKER: I think the WNBA has always done a great job of keeping what's important, important. I think, you know, obviously wearing the jersey is a small part I think in what we are all doing, in what we are trying to do, which is bring her home.

Her wife is sitting courtside and I can't even imagine, you know, what her family and what she's going through. So, I think the entire weekend has been centered around how can we amplify our voices and get her back as soon as possible.

SYLVIA FOWLES: I think it speaks volumes in what we can do as a unit. We are not out here trying to do it by ourselves and we know when we stick together as a group -- and I say this all the time, you know when women get their mind set on something, we are always going to achieve what we need to get done because we are just as stubborn. I think the message this weekend is just making sure that everybody is aware of what's going on but at the same time that we still have a lot of work to get done to try to get BG back home.

Q. On the outpouring of support during her final season.

SYLVIA FOWLES: It has not made it harder. I mean, you know when you have your mind made up, you know. I think I appreciate the love that I'm getting, which is weird because I always shy away from it. But it's been comforting knowing that people do appreciate the things that I have done throughout my last 15 years in this league.

And I'm looking forward to doing things with the WNBA when I'm done. Y'all aren't going to get rid of me that fast.

Q. [No microphone].

CANDACE PARKER: Cheryl Reeve is holding you back. Minnesota needs you --

SYLVIA FOWLES: She actually gives me the green light.

CANDACE PARKER: Oh really? Then Sylvia is holding her -- because Sylvia, just, golly -- that was the play, by the way. That was the play.

SYLVIA FOWLES: They had been hyping me the whole time because it was the first shot of the game. But I mean, getting out of your comfort zone a little bit, having fun, I think that's what's most important about this weekend.

Q. I would like to ask you, Candace, how special for you was this All-Star Game in Chicago, sharing the court with Syl in her last All-Star Game? And Syl, how many more dunks can we expect from you until the end of the season?

SYLVIA FOWLES: I can't answer that question. I really don't know.

CANDACE PARKER: I'll answer it: Five. You'll give us five more dunks.

SYLVIA FOWLES: Oh, Lord.

CANDACE PARKER: For me playing alongside Syl has been amazing. Sharing the court with her and being able to, you know, give her her flowers and be able to celebrate alongside her. So it's been an amazing, fun weekend from practice to the festivities to now actually playing in the All-Star Game. I think Chicago did a good job of showing Syl how much we love her and appreciate what she's done for our game.

Q. Could you talk about the young talent you got to play alongside this weekend, particularly the many first-time All-Stars as well as folks like Rhyne Howard who just a year into the league, what's it like playing alongside them?

SYLVIA FOWLES: It's fun. I like it. I think I'm getting out at the right time because they are running too much, they are jumping higher and they got too much energy and that's definitely not something I'm trying to do in year 15.

To see these girls flourish and think about what they're going to be like in the next couple of years I think is going to be amazing. They are going to do really good things for our league. I just hope to see everybody flourishing in their own way.

CANDACE PARKER: Rhyne is a beast. Becky and I were talking about Rhyne Howard and just how she's just different, like the way she moves, the way she pulls up. I know there's little things maybe the fans don't see but us players see, like the spin she puts on the ball when she's laying it up, she's different. I hope she's not different against us on Tuesday, though.