Two MacArthur High School graduates will compete against each other in the 2017 Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) Finals between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Minnesota Lynx.
Odyssey Sims, a 2010 MacArthur graduate, is now with the Los Angeles Sparks playing guard and wearing No. 1. Alexis Jones graduated from MacArthur in 2012 and plays for the Minnesota Lynx at guard wearing No. 12.
Both went on to collegiate stardom at Baylor University, and both were drafted professionally in the first round. This marks the first time in WNBA history that two players who played together at the same high school have competed against each other in the Finals.
In the more than 100-year history of Irving ISD, these two ladies are the only athletes, male or female, to have their uniforms retired from any sport. Their uniforms are on display in the Irving MacArthur gymnasium, where both were teammates in the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
“It is quite a statement that two of Irving ISD's finest student athlete alumni would meet on such a historic national stage,” says Suzie Oelschlegel, MacArthur head women’s basketball coach. She coached both players during their standout seasons in high school.
The WNBA Finals will be broadcast nationally by ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 in a best three out of five series starting Sunday, September 24, at 2:30 p.m. on ABC. Game 2 is Tuesday, September 26, at 7 p.m., and game 3 is Friday, September 29, at 8 p.m. If needed, game 4 is Sunday, October 1, at 7:30 p.m., and game 5 is Wednesday, October 4, at 7 p.m.
