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With four shiny WNBA Championship rings already in hand, Cooper is looking to add a fifth to her collection in 2002 by guiding the Mercury to their first WNBA title.
Cooper stopped by WNBA.com for a live chat on Thursday, March 7. Here's what she had to say:
Thanks everyone for all your questions and the support you've given both me individually and the Phoenix Mercury. Wish me luck! I'm ready to go!
Sharon: What have you been doing during the offseason?
Cynthia Cooper: Hi, Sharon. I've been doing a lot of speaking engagements and some scouting for the upcoming WNBA Draft (April 19), and spending as much time with my family as possible.
Judy (Nashville, TN): Hi Coop! Did you attend many conference championships to get one last look at the players entering the WNBA Draft? Who are you most impressed with?
Cynthia Cooper: Yes, I have attended quite a few tournaments -- I just got back today from the Big 12 tourney. I've been most impressed -- as far as a team -- with Vanderbilt. For a player, probably Sheila Lambert from Baylor. I think she's high on everyone's list and she's very exciting to watch.
Kim, Sacramento: What's your "typical" day like as a pro head coach?
Cynthia Cooper: During the season, I get to the arena at 8 a.m., I work out, and then my assistants come in and we meet to decide what type of practice we'll have. Then we'll go to practice, then the coaches and I will meet after practice, and then I go home and get ready for the next practice or game.
B (Sacramento): Bridgit Pettis' energy will obviously be missed in Phoenix. How do you see the newest members of the Mercury, Gordana Grubin and Tracy Reid, contributing to the team?
Cynthia Cooper: We will definitely miss what Bridget has done for the Mercury. I think Grubin and Reid bring energy, athleticism and just a winner's mentality. And I think that's one of the things that we lacked last year.
beckybrigade: Hey Coop.
What do you think about MJ's comeback and how do you feel about a possible return to playing?
Cynthia Cooper: I feel like he did exactly what he wanted to do and I don't think he has any regrets. I don't foresee myself coming back -- I'm very content with my life, my family and coaching the Phoenix Mercury.
Brian: Is Jennifer Gillom going to be a factor this year with the Mercury? I hope everything goes well for you during the 2002 season.
Cynthia Cooper: Jennifer Gillom, any given night, can give you 30 or 40 points, so she will be a factor and we expect her to play well this season.
Cratina (Wyandanch): If you were asked to do a movie about yourself, who would you like to play you?
Cynthia Cooper: Hmm ... good question. I would really love to play myself, but if I couldn't fit the bill, I'd like to see someone like Angela Bassett or Vivica Fox play me.
KimArt (Phoenixville, PA): How do you scout the up-and-coming players? Do you watch a lot of TV/video? Travel to games? Send your staff to games?
Cynthia Cooper: All of the above. I watch TV games because we obviously can't make every game. We try to get to at least every tournament, but I watch a lot of individual games during the season. I like to see winners. You can be technically sound, but you have to know how to win in the WNBA, and that's what I look for in a player.
little o OHIO: Would you rather coach a "star player" with a lot of talant that is not coachable or would you rather coach a player with a lot of heart that is less talanted but is very coachable? Have a good season!
Cynthia Cooper: I'd like to coach a player with a lot of heart. And it just depends -- if you can work with a less coachable player -- I don't want to write anyone off. My main goal, though, is don't sacrifice the team for one player. I'd definitely try and work it out, but I would not choose that player over my team.
Ann (Boise): Hi Cynthia. I was just wondering ... are plans still being made to build "Kim's Place"?
Cynthia Cooper: Yes, Kim's Place should be finished actually. I'm not sure exactly where it is, but it should be very close to being completed.
Debs, Los Angeles: Of the players eligible for the draft next month, which five do you find most interesting? And why?
Cynthia Cooper: I'd have to say Sue Bird -- she's mature, she can step right in and make an impact, she can shoot outside, penetrate, create. Really all of the UConn seniors. Sheila Lambert (Baylor), Stacey Dales from Oklahoma -- she's a very complete player. Nikki Teasley from UNC has the complete package also. There's definitely a lot of talent out there this year.
pilight: Hey Coach! What's the status on Kristen Veal? Will she be ready to go on opening day?
Cynthia Cooper: The last I heard, she should be released right around the start of our training camp. Her knees are doing well, she's rehabbing both of them, so we'll just have to see how she comes to camp. I'm not sure if she'll be ready at the beginning, but she will at some point.
Casselle, Miami: With Pettis gone, who's going to be the firey playmaker coming off the bench?
Cynthia Cooper: I think it might be Jaynetta Saunders, Grubin, Trish Fallon, we might get someone out of the draft -- a young, energetic player who can step in and be a sparkplug. So we have a few options.
Moe (Ptld.): Hi Coop! What's the biggest prank you have ever played on someone? Has someone ever pulled a good prank on you? Good luck this summer.
Cynthia Cooper: Thanks, and hello. The biggest prank was probably against Cheryl Miller back when we played in the World Championships. We all put on our dark raincoats and walked in her room in the middle of the night and started chanting some stuff. She woke up and was just scared out of her wits. No one has every really played a prank on me though -- I'm pretty boring. (laughs)
Imperial1 (Tyler, TX): Are you still planning to do an album?
Cynthia Cooper: That's been put on the back burner because other things are happening in my life, but maybe somewhere down the line we'll get back into the music world.
Mercury4ever: Hi Coop, I was just wondering who do you think is going to be the biggest surprise team in the WNBA this year? Good luck!
Cynthia Cooper: Thanks, and I think it might be Washington. I think the Washington Mystics are going to do some good things.
GoMwadi#4: So .. are there any more trades up your sleeve? You guys caught a lot of people off guard with that last one!
Cynthia Cooper: That's good ... catching people off guard is good. As of right now, no, but you never know what might happen in this league. Stay tuned.
basketball fan: Are the rumors true that you are pregnant?
Cynthia Cooper: To answer that question, I will simply say that the rumors are not true. I am not pregnant.
Nikki Wiessinger: Hi! I would like to know, in your opinion, what is the most difficult part of coaching? And how do you deal with it? Thanks for your time, I appreciate it! Good luck this season!
Cynthia Cooper: Thanks for the good luck wishes. I think the most difficult part of coaching is communicating in a way that is motivating and encouraging, yet you still give them a sense of urgency in the moment. You don't beat them down with words, but you still let them know how serious it is. It's a very delicate balance.
LA BB GIRL: Hi Coach Coop. What is the status on Brandy Reed?
Cynthia Cooper: Right now, Brandy is over in Israel, and she seems to be playing well. I actually saw Brandy and she didn't really want to talk to me, but of course our doors are still open to her and if she wants to talk with us, we can make a decision.
mb (Scottsdale): You were a joy to watch as a player. Hope you do great things as a coach. What current players are the most fun for you to watch?
Cynthia Cooper: I really like Marie Ferdinand from Utah, and you've gotta love Katie Smith and that three-point shot. And Betty Lennox, too. And as a team, probably L.A. They have the most talent -- from Lisa to Mwadi to Dixon -- everyone puts on a show. They're fun to watch ... especially when they're not beating you!
Santana, Age 10, Nampa, ID: My dad, my sister and I are going to go to the NCAA women's tournament this year
and I want to know who is your pick to win the championship?
Cynthia Cooper: I think UConn is going to pull it out. I think they're gonna do it, barring any injuries or upsets. I just think they'll come out to play.
Eduardo (Sydney): Hey Coop,
How much say do you have when it comes to player trades and also the draft?
All the best for a successful 2002. Go Mercury!
Cynthia Cooper: Thanks, and I have a lot of say-so. This year more than last, because I know more this year. I know that I need my players out there, players who can adapt to my personality.
Jessie (Clarksville): Cynthia, I just want to say that you are my idol. I look up to you sooooo much. I am reading your book SHE GOT GAME and I love it. I would like to know what advice you would give to a young player like me who wants to be exactly where you were in the WNBA? Good luck in your season.
Cynthia Cooper: Thanks, I'm glad your enjoying the book. I guess the one thing I've always done is I've been willing to do whatever it takes to win. Sometimes that was extra practice, schoolwork, household chores ... whatever I had to do to be successful, I'd put forth that effort. Be willing to learn and never feel like you've arrived, because at that moment, that's when you start going backward.
Clay, San Francisco: Coach Cooper, if there was one thing you would change about the WNBA, what would it be (besides the Mercury being 2002 champs ...)? What is the one thing that you would NOT want to change about the WNBA?
Cynthia Cooper: The one thing I would not want to change is that we have teams associated with NBA teams. I think that's a great idea.
What I would change is that I would start to market the league as much as we did the first year ... try to promote it more and not focus so much on specific players as the player of the moment. I wouldn't try to just put other players in there just because.
Torrence Peck (Brooklyn, NY): What is the best thing about coaching the Mercury?
Cynthia Cooper: The best thing about coaching the Mercury is the fans. They've been so very supportive, the front office has been supportive. I've really enjoyed the atmosphere -- they love the Mercury. That's why I've been committed to getting us back on the winning track and back in the playoffs where we belong.
Nicole-New York Liberty Lover 4 life: Hey Coop. What do you think will be some key things that your team will have to do if they plan on going far this season?
Cynthia Cooper: We're going to have to run, play great defense, and we're going to have to maintain intensity throughout the season. We can't win five in a row then lose five in a row. We've got to be more consistent.
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