Cynthia Cooper (basketball)

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Cynthia Cooper on the Houston Comets

Cynthia Lynne Cooper (born on April 14, 1963 in Chicago, Illinois) is a former basketball player who has played in college, the Olympics, and in professional leagues, most notably with the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

Contents

1 Personal
2 High School years
3 College years
4 WNBA career
5 Vital statistics
6 External links

Personal

Although born in Chicago, Illinois, Cooper grew up in South Central Los Angeles, California. She was married in 2000.

In 2000, she published her autobiography, entitled She Got Game: My Personal Odyssey, which covered her childhood, her basketball career up to that time, and her mother's battle with breast cancer.

High School years

She attended Locke High School before enrolling at the University of Southern California.

College years

Cooper was a star player at the University of Southern California where she won two national titles and was a freshman All-American in 1982. After graduating in 1986, she later played internationally in professional leagues in Italy, before arriving in the newly-formed WNBA in 1997.

WNBA career

Cooper was voted the WNBA's MVP in 1997 and 1998 and also won four WNBA Championships with the Houston Comets. During the Comet dynasty, she was a vital part of the triple threat offense with Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson. When retired in 2000, Cooper became the first player in WNBA history to score 1,000 and 2,000 career points. She went on to coach the Phoenix Mercury for one and a half seasons.

Cooper returned as an active player in the 2003 season, but announced her final retirement from professional basketball in 2004.

Afterwards, she served as a TV analyst and halftime reporter for the Houston Rockets of the NBA.

In May 2005, Cooper was named the Head Coach of the women's basketball team at Prairie View A&M University.

Vital statistics

Position: Guard
Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
College: University of Southern California
Team(s): Houston Comets

External links

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Women's National Basketball Association \| WNBA's All-Decade Team
Sue Bird \| Tamika Catchings \| Cynthia Cooper \| Yolanda Griffith \| Lauren Jackson \| Lisa Leslie \| Katie Smith \| Dawn Staley \| Sheryl Swoopes \| Tina Thompson Ruthie Bolton \| Chamique Holdsclaw \| Ticha Penicherio \| Diana Taurasi \| Teresa Weatherspoon (Honorable mention)

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