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This story has been updated to include the Minnesota Lynx’s announcement that Odyssey Sims will serve a two-game suspension at the start of the 2020 season.
In her first season with the Minnesota Lynx, guard Odyssey Sims turned in the best season of her career, notching her first All-Star selection and an All-WNBA Second Team honor as she led the Lynx in scoring.
Unfortunately, her on-the-court improvement was marred by an off-the-court mistake.
In June, Sims was arrested in Minneapolis for suspicion of drunk driving, registering twice the legal limit for blood-alcohol content after being pulled over for driving 77 miles per hour in a 55 miles-per-hour zone. Tuesday, she pleaded guilty to a drunken driving charge.
As reported by the Associated Press:
A Hennepin County judge issued a one-year sentence, including 10 days of house arrest to be served at her home in Irving, Texas. Judge Francis Rondoni said Tuesday the remainder of the sentence would be suspended after Sims completes four years of probation.
After her arrest, neither the WNBA nor the Lynx suspended Sims. Previously, WNBA players who were arrested for drunken driving were suspended. Most prominently, in 2009, the Phoenix Mercury’s Diana Taurasi received a two-game suspension following a drunk driving arrest.
In late June, Sims took ownership of her dangerous decision, telling reporters after a practice:
I take full responsibility for my actions. I know the consequences, and I’m going to get past it and move forward. I’ll continue to play hard every day in and day out and get over it eventually.
On Friday, the Lynx announced that Sims also will serve a two-game suspension at the start of the 2020 season.
The story was originally published on Thursday, Oct. 17, at 5:00 p.m.