Odyssey Sims

Odyssey Celeste Sims (born July 13, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). An AP and WBCA All-American,[1][2] Sims was born in Irving, Texas and graduated from MacArthur High School.[3]

Odyssey Sims
Sims in 2019
No. 1 – Minnesota Lynx
PositionPoint guard / Shooting guard
LeagueWNBA
Personal information
Born (1992-07-13) July 13, 1992
Irving, Texas
NationalityAmerican
Listed height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Listed weight160 lb (73 kg)
Career information
High schoolMacArthur (Irving, Texas)
CollegeBaylor (2010–2014)
WNBA draft2014 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall
Selected by the Tulsa Shock
Playing career2014–present
Career history
2014–2016Tulsa Shock / Dallas Wings
2014–2015Bucheon KEB-Hana Bank
2015–2016AGÜ Spor
2016–2017Botaş SK
2017–2018Los Angeles Sparks
2017–2018Adana ASKİ SK
2018–2019Kayseri Basketbol
2019–presentMinnesota Lynx
Career highlights and awards
Stats at WNBA.com
Medals
Women's basketball
FIBA World Championship
2014 Turkey National team
Universiade
2011 Shenzhen National team
2013 Kazan National team

High school
Sims in 2010

Sims was a 2010 graduate of MacArthur High School in Irving, Texas. She was rated the number one point guard in the class of 2010, earned the WBCA/State Farm National High School Player of the Year award and had her jersey retired.[4]

College career

Sims attended Baylor University for four seasons. As a freshman, Sims was Named National Freshman of the Year, was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and also to the All-Big 12 first team. In her sophomore season, Sims earned team Co-MVP honors with teammate Brittney Griner. Scored in double digits in 30 of 40 games and won an NCAA Championship after Baylor defeated Notre Dame. In her junior year, Sims was earned Co-MVP honors for the second straight year with Griner. In Big 12 statistics, she was ranked number 1 in assist/turnover ratio (2.7), number 3 in steals (2.8), number 4 in assists (5.8), and number 5 in free throw percentage (.832). In her senior year, Sims would statistically have the best season of her college career. She scored a career-high 48 points along with 10 rebounds in a 78–62 victory against West Virginia.[5] She finished the season averaging 28.5 points per game.[4]

Baylor statistics

Source[6]

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
Year Team GP Points FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2010-11 Baylor 36 471 47.5 45.3 75.7 3.0 3.1 1.4 0.0 13.1
2011-12 Baylor 40 594 44.7 39.9 83.0 3.0 4.4 3.0 0.1 14.9
2012-13 Baylor 32 414 47.7 33.7 83.2 2.5 5.8 2.8 0.1 12.9
2013-14 Baylor 37 1054 44.6 39.8 80.8 4.6 4.6 2.0 0.1 28.5
Career Baylor 145 2533 45.7 40.3 81.0 3.3 4.4 2.3 0.1 17.5

Professional career

WNBA
Sims and Maya Moore jump for the ball during game 5 of the 2017 WNBA Finals

Sims was drafted 2nd overall by the Tulsa Shock in the 2014 WNBA draft. In her rookie season, Sims immediately entered the starting line-up for the Shock at the shooting guard position. Sims would instantly become a scoring sensation in the league; she scored a career-high 39 points in a 95–93 loss to the San Antonio Stars.[7] She finished her rookie season, averaging a career-high 16.7 points per game along with a career-high 4.2 assists per game in 34 games with 31 starts and was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team. The Shock finished fifth place in the Western Conference with a 12–22 record, missing out on the playoffs.

Sims during the 2017 WNBA Finals

In 2015, Sims would have an injury-riddled season, she missed 10 games with a knee injury. She finished the season, with 23 games played along with 19 starts and averaged 16.0 points per game and 3.8 assists per game. The Shock would make the playoffs with the number 3 seed in the Western Conference, posting an 18–16 record, but were eliminated in a 2-game sweep by the Phoenix Mercury in the first round.

In 2016, the Tulsa Shock relocated to Dallas, Texas (which is approximately 15 miles away from Sims's hometown of Irving, Texas) and were renamed the Dallas Wings. In the 2016 season, Sims would be healthy; she played in 34 games with 30 starts and averaged 14.0 points per game along with 3.9 assists per game at shooting guard.[8] The Wings missed out on playoff contention with an 11–23 record.

In 2017, Sims was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks along with the number 11 overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft in exchange for two first round picks in the 2017 WNBA Draft.[9] She initially came off the bench, but would be inserted into the starting lineup at the shooting guard spot after Essence Carson suffered a right elbow sprain. On August 24, 2017, Sims scored a season-high 28 points along with 8 assists and 6 rebounds as a starter in an 82–67 victory over the Phoenix Mercury.[10] The Sparks would finish with a 26–8 record as the number 2 seed in the league with a double-bye to the semi-finals, following last season's new playoff format. Heading into the playoffs, Sims remained the starting shooting guard for the Sparks. The Sparks would go on to advance to the Finals after defeating the Mercury in a 3-game sweep of the semi-finals, making it Sims’s first Finals appearance. Sims tied her playoff career-high of 22 points in Game 3 with the Sparks winning 89–87 to clinch their second consecutive berth to the Finals. However, the Sparks would lose in the Finals to the Minnesota Lynx in five games.

Sims in 2018

In February 2018, Sims re-signed with the Sparks in free agency.[11] On May 20, 2018, in the Sparks' season opener, Sims scored a season-high 21 points in a 77–76 victory over the Minnesota Lynx.[12] As the season went on, Sims would struggle and eventually would lose her starting position going into the playoffs. The Sparks finished as the number 6 seed in the league with a 19–15 record. In the first round elimination game, the Sparks defeated the Minnesota Lynx 75–68 to advance. In the second round elimination game, the Sparks would lose 96–64 to the Washington Mystics.

In 2019, Sims again re-signed with the Sparks after they matched an offer sheet made by the Phoenix Mercury.[13] On April 22, 2019, Sims was traded to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for Alexis Jones.[14] Sims would be the starting point guard for the Lynx, her role enabled her to average a new career-high in assists. She would also end up being named an All-Star for the first time in her career after being voted into the 2019 WNBA All-Star Game and would make the All-WNBA Second Team. The Lynx finished the season 18-16 with the number 7 seed, but were eliminated by the Seattle Storm in the first round elimination game.

In 2020, the season was delayed and shortened to 22 games in a bubble at IMG Academy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sims was suspended for the first two regular season games without pay stemming from a DUI charge in October 2019 to which she pleaded guilty.[15] She would end up missing more time after giving birth to her first child in April and eventually made her return in August.[16] For the remainder of the team schedule, she started in 7 of the 13 games played, working her way back into the starting the lineup. The Lynx finished 14–8 with the number 4 seed, receiving a bye to the second round. In the second round elimination game, the Lynx edged out the Phoenix Mercury 80–79, advancing the franchise back to the semi-finals. However in the semi-finals, they would get swept by the Seattle Storm who would end up being the eventual champions.

Overseas

In the 2014-15 WNBA off-season, Sims played for Bucheon KEB-Hana Bank in South Korea. In the 2015-16 WNBA off-season, Sims played for Abdullah Gül Üniversitesi B.K. in Turkey. As of August 2016, Sims signed with Botaş SK of the Turkish League for the 2016-17 WNBA off-season.[17] In 2017, Sims signed with Adana ASKİ SK of the Turkish League for the 2017-18 WNBA off-season.[18] In 2018, Sims signed with Kayseri Basketbol of the Turkish League during the 2018-19 WNBA off-season.[19]

USA Basketball

Sims played on the team representing the US at the 2011 Summer Universiade held in Shenzhen, China. The team, coached by Bill Fennelly, won all six games to earn the gold medal. Sims averaged 6.2 points per game.[20]

Sims was selected to be a member of the team representing the US at the 2013 Summer Universiade held in Kazan, Russia. The team, coached by Sherri Coale, won the opening four games easily, scoring in triple digits in each game, and winning by 30 or more points in each case. After winning the quarterfinal game against Sweden, they faced Australia in the semifinal. The USA team opened up as much as a 17 point in the fourth quarter of the game but the Australian team fought back and took a one-point lead in the final minute. Crystal Bradford scored a basket with 134 seconds left ant he game to secure a 79–78 victory. The gold medal opponent was Russia, but the USA team never trailed, and won 90–71 to win the gold medal and the World University games Championship. Sims was the third leading scorer for the team, averaging 12.7 points per game. She led the team in assists with 32, and steals with 12. She was named co-MVP of the tournament, along with Russia's Tatiana Grigoryeva.[21]

WNBA career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game  FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold  Career high ° League leader

Regular season
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2014 Tulsa 343134.4.406.346.8392.84.21.20.22.016.7
2015 Tulsa 231931.4.369.207.8473.43.81.00.02.716.0
2016 Dallas 343031.6.353.280.8832.53.91.00.22.514.0
2017 Los Angeles 311424.3.447.190.8861.93.51.40.11.49.6
2018 Los Angeles 342425.5.388.273.7222.52.80.50.01.58.2
2019 Minnesota 343431.9.415.269.7953.45.41.40.13.314.5
2020 Minnesota 13718.5.403.333.9092.03.50.50.11.99.4
Career 7 years, 3 teams 20315929.1.395.275.8372.73.91.10.12.212.8

Playoffs
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2015 Tulsa 2233.6.336.333.7864.05.02.00.02.020.0
2017 Los Angeles 8834.8.442.346.9292.43.61.30.03.115.9
2018 Los Angeles 2014.4.375.5001.0002.51.51.00.00.04.5
2019 Minnesota 1119.0.000.000.5001.05.00.00.01.01.0
2020 Minnesota 4432.8.412.2311.0003.34.31.80.02.815.3
Career 5 years, 3 teams 171530.9.407.308.9032.73.81.40.02.414.0

Awards and honors
Odyssey Sims winning Lieberman Award, presented at the 2014 WBCA Award ceremony

References
  1. "WBB, Notre Dame Battle for NCAA Title - Baylor Bears Official Athletic Site". BaylorBears.com. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  2. "USA Basketball: Odyssey Sims". Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  3. "Odyssey Sims 2010 High School Girls' Basketball Profile - ESPNHS". Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  4. "Odyssey Sims - WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA". WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA. Retrieved 2017-09-16.
  5. "Women's basketball: Odyssey Sims pours in career-high 48 points as Baylor rolls; UT wins, Tech falls". SportsDay. 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2017-09-16.
  6. "Women's Basketball Player stats". NCAA. Retrieved 25 Sep 2015.
  7. "Shock guard Odyssey Sims named WNBA rookie of the month". tulsaworld.com. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
  8. "Dallas Wings trade former Baylor star Odyssey Sims to Los Angeles Sparks for first-round pick". SportsDay. 2017-02-17. Retrieved 2017-09-16.
  9. "Sparks Acquire Odyssey Sims in Trade with Wings - WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA". WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA. Retrieved 2017-09-16.
  10. "Odyssey Sims scores 28 as Sparks beat short-handed Mercury". Los Angeles Times. 2017-08-24. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-09-16.
  11. WNBA News: Sims re-signs with Los Angeles
  12. Chelsea Gray's shot lifts Sparks past Lynx 77-76 in WNBA finals rematch
  13. Augustus and Quigley re-sign with Minnesota and Chicago
  14. The Lynx are replacing retired legend Lindsay Whalen with her nemesis
  15. Lynx suspend Odyssey Sims for first two games of 2020
  16. Odyssey Sims amazingly returns to the WNBA only four months after having her son
  17. "2016-2017 WNBA Overseas Signings - Women's Basketball 24.7". Women's Basketball 24.7. 2016-08-22. Archived from the original on 2017-09-30. Retrieved 2017-09-16.
  18. Odyssey Sims mackolic.com
  19. ODYSSEY SIMS basketball profile
  20. "Twenty-Sixth World University Games -- 2011". USA Basketball. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  21. "Twenty-Seventh World University Games -- 2013". USA Basketball. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  22. "Past WBCA HS Coaches' All-America Teams". Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Archived from the original on 2014-07-15. Retrieved 1 Jul 2014.
  23. "Slideshow: espnW All-Americans". ESPN. Retrieved 14 Mar 2014.
  24. "USBWA ANNOUNCES 2013-14". U.S. Basketball Writers Association. March 31, 2014. Retrieved 2 Apr 2014.
  25. "Frances Pomeroy Naismith". Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Archived from the original on 2014-07-15. Retrieved 30 Jun 2014.
  26. "The Wade Trophy". Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Retrieved 30 Jun 2014.
  27. Canizales, Nick. "Odyssey Sims Named Dawn Staley Award Winner". www.kcentv.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-25. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
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