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Odyssey Sims

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Odyssey Sims
Sims in 2019
No. 6 – Los Angeles Sparks
PositionPoint guard / shooting guard
LeagueWNBA
Personal information
Born (1992-07-13) July 13, 1992 (age 32)
Irving, Texas, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Listed weight155 lb (70 kg)
Career information
High schoolMacArthur (Irving, Texas)
CollegeBaylor (2010–2014)
WNBA draft2014: 1st round, 2nd overall pick
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
2019–2020Minnesota Lynx
2021Atlanta Dream
2022Minnesota Lynx
2022Connecticut Sun
2023–2024Dallas Wings
2024-presentLos Angeles Sparks
Career highlights and awards
Stats at WNBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Women's basketball
FIBA World Championship
Gold medal – first place 2014 Turkey National team
Universiade
Gold medal – first place 2011 Shenzhen National team
Gold medal – first place 2013 Kazan National team

Odyssey Celeste Sims (born July 13, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks 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]

Early life

[edit]
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

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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 80–69 to win their second title in school history after a perfect 40–0 record during the season, making it the first time ever in college basketball history that a team has achieved such a record, they defeated Notre Dame 80–69 in the championship game to win their second title in school history. 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]

Sims was inducted in the Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame on November 1, 2024.[6]

Professional career

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WNBA

[edit]
Two women straining up at a jump ball
Sims and Maya Moore jump for the ball during game 5 of the 2017 WNBA Finals

Sims was drafted second 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 in fifth place in the Western Conference with a 12–22 record, missing out on the playoffs.

Woman looking over her shoulder at the camera
Sims during the 2017 WNBA Finals

In 2015, Sims would have an injury-riddled season, as 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 two-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) 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 eight assists and six 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 three-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.

Waist high portrait of young woman holding up a basketball wearing very long braids reaching her waist and a yellow basketball uniform
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.

Sims signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Dream for the 2021 season on March 1, 2021.[17] She appeared in 30 games for the Dream, averaging 25.1 minutes and 8.7 points per game. The team went 8-24, missing the playoffs.

On May 3, 2022, Sims re-signed with the Minnesota Lynx on an undisclosed contract.[18] On 13 May 2022, after the Lynx began the season 0–3, Sims left the team via "mutual separation" as one of six roster moves made by the team.[19]

On August 3, 2022, Sims signed a seven-day contract with the Connecticut Sun.[20]

On June 6, 2023, Sims signed back with the Dallas Wings on a hardship contract.[21][22] Sims appeared in four games with the Wings before Crystal Dangerfield was cleared to return for Dallas - forcing them to release Sims from her hardship contract.[23] On June 28, 2023, Sims returned to Dallas on a standard (rest-of-season) contract for the Wings.[24]

Sims was not part of the Wings' training camp roster announced in April 2024.[25] She played with Athletes Unlimited, serving as a team captain throughout their 2024 season, which was held in Dallas.[26] Sims was signed to a hardship contract with the Wings on June 25, 2024.[27] On August 17, 2024, Sims was signed to a hardship seven-day contract with the Los Angeles Sparks.[28]

Overseas

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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.[29] In 2017, Sims signed with Adana ASKİ SK of the Turkish League for the 2017–18 WNBA off-season.[30] In 2018, Sims signed with Kayseri Basketbol of the Turkish League during the 2018–19 WNBA off-season.[31]

National team career

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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.[32]

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.[33]

Career statistics

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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 best ° League leader
* Denotes season(s) in which Sims won an NCAA Championship

WNBA

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Regular season

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Stats current through end of 2024 season

WNBA regular season statistics[34]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2014 Tulsa 34 31 34.4 .406 .346 .839 2.8 4.2 1.3 0.3 2.1 16.7
2015 Tulsa 23 19 31.4 .369 .207 .847 3.4 3.8 1.1 0.0 2.8 16.0
2016 Dallas 34 30 31.6 .353 .280 .883 2.5 3.9 1.1 0.2 2.5 14.0
2017 Los Angeles 31 14 24.3 .447 .190 .886 1.9 3.5 1.5 0.2 1.4 9.6
2018 Los Angeles 34 24 25.5 .388 .273 .722 2.5 2.8 0.6 0.0 1.5 8.2
2019 Minnesota 34 34 31.9 .415 .269 .795 3.4 5.4 1.4 0.1 3.3 14.5
2020 Minnesota 13 7 18.5 .403 .333 .909 2.0 3.5 0.5 0.1 1.9 9.4
2021 Atlanta 30 21 25.1 .370 .232 .729 2.5 3.6 1.2 0.1 1.6 8.7
2022 Minnesota 2 0 27.0 .304 .250 .444 3.5 3.5 0.5 1.0 2.5 9.5
Connecticut 5 0 18.2 .333 .273 1.000 1.2 2.6 1.4 0.0 1.4 5.8
2023 Dallas 28 0 12.0 .304 .133 .550 1.3 2.2 0.4 0.0 0.6 2.0
2024 Dallas 9 7 33.9 .535 .500 .654 2.9 5.6 1.7 0.4 1.8 17.2
Los Angeles 15 10 26.3 .438 .154 .838 1.7 5.1 0.9 0.1 2.4 9.8
Career 11 years, 5 teams 292 197 26.3 .397 .274 .817 2.5 3.8 1.1 0.1 2.0 11.2
All-Star 1 0 15.9 .571 .667 — 2.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 10.0

Playoffs

[edit]
WNBA playoff statistics
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2015 Tulsa 2 2 33.6 .336 .333 .786 4.0 5.0 2.0 0.0 2.0 20.0
2017 Los Angeles 8 8 34.8 .442 .346 .929 2.4 3.6 1.3 0.0 3.1 15.9
2018 Los Angeles 2 0 14.4 .375 .500 1.000 2.5 1.5 1.0 0.0 0.0 4.5
2019 Minnesota 1 1 19.0 .000 .000 .500 1.0 5.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0
2020 Minnesota 4 4 32.8 .412 .231 1.000 3.3 4.3 1.8 0.0 2.8 15.3
2022 Connecticut 12 0 13.8 .436 .286 .875 1.5 1.3 0.4 0.0 0.8 3.6
2023 Dallas 5 2 18.6 .411 .333 .600 1.0 2.4 0.8 0.0 1.0 6.4
Career 7 years, 4 teams 34 17 23.0 .411 .309 .880 2.0 2.7 1.0 0.0 1.6 9.2

College

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NCAA statistics[35]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2010–11 Baylor 36 27 29.8 .475 .453 .757 3.0 3.1 1.4 0.0 2.4 13.1
2011–12* Baylor 40 37 32.2 .447 .399 .830 3.0 4.4 3.0 0.1 2.6 14.9
2012–13 Baylor 32 31 30.8 .477 .337 83.2 2.5 5.8 2.8 0.1 2.2 12.9
2013–14 Baylor 37 37 33.1 .446 .398 .808 4.6 4.6 2.0 0.1 2.9 28.5
Career 145 132 31.5 .457 .403 .810 3.3 4.4 2.3 0.1 2.5 17.5

Awards and honors

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ "WBB, Notre Dame Battle for NCAA Title – Baylor Bears Official Athletic Site". BaylorBears.com. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  2. ^ "USA Basketball: Odyssey Sims". Archived from the original on April 24, 2012. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  3. ^ "Odyssey Sims 2010 High School Girls' Basketball Profile – ESPNHS". Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Odyssey Sims". 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. ^ a b "PERFECT TIMING". Baylor. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  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. ^ "Sims staying in LA". Swish Appeal. February 1, 2018.
  12. ^ "Chelsea Gray's shot lifts Sparks past Lynx 77–76 in WNBA finals rematch | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com.
  13. ^ "Augustus and Quigley re-sign with Minnesota and Chicago". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
  14. ^ Ellentuck, Matt (April 22, 2019). "The Lynx are replacing retired legend Lindsay Whalen with her nemesis". SBNation.com.
  15. ^ "Lynx suspend Odyssey Sims for first two games of 2020". Star Tribune.
  16. ^ "Odyssey Sims amazingly returns to the WNBA only four months after having her son – Article". BarDown. August 14, 2020.
  17. ^ "Odyssey Sims Signs with Atlanta Dream". WNBA. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  18. ^ "Lynx Sign Guard Odyssey Sims". Minnesota Lynx. Retrieved 2022-05-05.
  19. ^ "Lynx Roster Transaction Updates". Minnesota Lynx. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  20. ^ "Connecticut Signs Odyssey Sims".
  21. ^ @RachGall (June 6, 2023). "Odyssey Sims has signed a hardship waiver with the Dallas Wings and is expected to play tomorrow night against the Mercury, sources tell @winsidr" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  22. ^ "Dallas Wings Sign Odyssey Sims". wings.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  23. ^ "Crystal Dangerfield Cleared to Return to Action". wings.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  24. ^ "Dallas Wings Sign Odyssey Sims". wings.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  25. ^ "Dallas Wings Announce Training Camp Roster". 26 April 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  26. ^ "Basketball: Schedule". Athletes Unlimited.
  27. ^ "Dallas Wings Sign Odyssey Sims". wings.wnba.com. WNBA. June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  28. ^ "Sparks Sign Guard Odyssey Sims to Hardship Contract".
  29. ^ "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.
  30. ^ "Odyssey Celeste Sims | Mackolik.com". www.mackolik.com.
  31. ^ "Odyssey Sims Player Profile, Atlanta Dream, News, Stats – Eurobasket". Eurobasket LLC.
  32. ^ "Twenty-Sixth World University Games – 2011". USA Basketball. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  33. ^ "Twenty-Seventh World University Games – 2013". USA Basketball. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  34. ^ "Odyssey Sims WNBA Stats". Basketball Reference.
  35. ^ "Women's Basketball Player stats". NCAA. Retrieved 25 Sep 2015.
  36. ^ "Past WBCA HS Coaches' All-America Teams". Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Archived from the original on 2014-07-15. Retrieved 1 Jul 2014.
  37. ^ "Slideshow: espnW All-Americans". ESPN. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved 14 Mar 2014.
  38. ^ "USBWA ANNOUNCES 2013–14". U.S. Basketball Writers Association. March 31, 2014. Retrieved 2 Apr 2014.
  39. ^ "Frances Pomeroy Naismith". Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Archived from the original on 2014-07-15. Retrieved 30 Jun 2014.
  40. ^ "The Wade Trophy". Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Retrieved 30 Jun 2014.
  41. ^ 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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