The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame announced that Minnesota Lynx great Sylvia Fowles has been named a 2025 inductee.

“I am immensely proud that Syl is being recognized by the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame for her illustrious career,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. “Syl is the most dominant center to ever play in the WNBA and was an impossible matchup on both ends of the floor. Syl would outwork you on duck-ins to score the ball, beat you to the spot to deny a post touch, and come across the lane from the help side to send a shot to the fifth row. But the joy she brought to the team, the franchise, and the fanbase every day is what we will cherish forever.”

Fowles retired in 2022 following a 15-year career in the WNBA, including eight seasons with Minnesota. Coming out of Louisiana State University, Fowles was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 WNBA draft by the Chicago Sky. Acquired by the Lynx in 2015, Fowles was instrumental in the franchise’s 2015 and 2017 WNBA titles, earning Finals MVP honors both years. She appeared in 408 regular season games, averaging 15.7 ppg, 9.8 rpg and 1.77 bpg, and added 14.9 ppg (58.4%), 10.4 rpg and 1.68 bpg in 41 postseason contests. Fowles currently ranks as the WNBA’s career leader in field goal percentage (59.9%) and is 12th all-time in points (6,415), second in rebounds (4,006), fourth in blocks (721) and second in double-doubles (193).

The eight-time All-Star was named the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2017 and earned Defensive Player of the Year honors four times (2011, 2013, 2016, 2021). Fowles is also a four-time Olympic gold medalist (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020) with USA Basketball Women’s National Team. Her other accolades include earning All-WNBA honors on eight occasions and being named to the league’s All-Defensive First Team eight times and All-Defensive Second Team three times.

Baseball

Ex-Twin Graterol to miss half of ‘25 season

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Brusdar Graterol will miss the first half of next season after having surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder.

The surgery was performed Thursday by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the Dodgers announced Friday.

Graterol is expected to return in the second half of the 2025 season.

Graterol pitched in seven games during the regular season and three in the World Series against the New York Yankees, which the Dodgers won in five games. He allowed three hits over 2 1/3 scoreless innings in those World Series appearances.

The 26-year-old Graterol was slowed this season by shoulder inflammation and a hamstring injury.

The hard-throwing Venezuelan spent his first season in the majors with Minnesota in 2019, and the Twins traded him to the Dodgers before the 2020 season. For his career, he has a 2.78 earned-run average and 11 saves in 188 games.

Tennis

Alcarez knocked out in ATP quarterfinals

Carlos Alcaraz was the big name missing when the last two semifinal spots were filled at the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy.

Alcaraz’s 7-6 (5), 6-4 loss to Alexander Zverev meant the French Open and Wimbledon champion — who has been sick this week — was eliminated from the elite, eight-man tournament.

In Saturday’s semifinals, Zverev will meet Taylor Fritz and top-ranked Jannik Sinner will play Casper Ruud.

“My goal,” Alcaraz said, “(is) to be at the end (of tournaments) all the time. Every tournament that I’m going to play at least reach the semifinal, final. So I have to work. ... In 2025, I hope to be a better player and (have) more consistency.”

Ruud advanced by beating Andrey Rublev 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.

Zverev finished with a perfect three victories to win his round-robin group. Ruud had two wins, Alcaraz had one and Rublev had none.

Swiatek helps Poland knock out Spain

Poland’s Iga Swiatek beat home favorite Paula Badosa of Spain to knock out the host of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in the opening round in Malaga, Spain, while Britain eliminated Germany.

The world No. 2 Swiatek sealed Poland’s spot in the quarterfinals against the Czech Republic after she beat No. 12 Badosa 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-1 on the indoor hard-court.

Badosa scrapped to get back in the match by winning the second-set tiebreaker. But Swiatek roared back with a dominant third set and a break advantage of 8-3.

The match was delayed late in the third set for what organizers called a “medical incident” apparently among the spectators inside Malaga’s Palacio de Deportes.

“She pushed me,” Swiatek said after the tie was won 2-0. “There was a lot of pressure in the tiebreaker and it went her way, but I knew I could get back in it in the third set.”

She underscored the importance of Magda Linette’s opening win in the tie.

“We both did it, and also the whole Polish team,” the five-time Grand Slam winner said.

briefly

PWHL >> The PWHL turned to three-time U.S. Olympian and New Jersey Devils director of player development Meghan Duggan to assist in its hockey operations department. Duggan will serve as a special consultant for the six-team league entering its second season, which opens on Nov. 30. Without defining Duggan’s role,

NBA >> The Denver Nuggets were without star center Nikola Jokic and coach Mike Malone for their NBA Cup opener Friday night against the New Orleans Pelicans. Jokic missed the game for personal reasons. Malone stayed behind to watch daughter Bridget compete in a high school volleyball playoff match.

NHL >> The Vegas Golden Knights signed defenseman Brayden McNabb to a three-year extension worth $10.95 million, keeping one of the their original players under contract for the franchise’s first decade of existence.

NHL >> Suspended Colorado forward Valeri Nichushkin was added to the Avalanche’s active roster and made his season debut Friday night against Washington.

Figure skating >> Japanese figure skater Yuma Kagiyama was on course for back-to-back wins in the Grand Prix series after he took the lead in the short program at the Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki.

— From news services