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  • Sheryl Swoopes
  • #22
  • Forward - Seattle Storm
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2008 Statistics

PPG
0.0
RPG
0.0
APG
0.00
EFF
0.0
Born: Mar 25, 1971
Height: 6-0 /  1,83
Weight: 145  lbs. / 65,8  kg.
College: Texas Tech '93
Years Pro: 10








Background

2005:
Named WNBA Most Valuable Player … also earned First-Team All-WNBA ... selected All-Defensive First Team.

2003:
Voted WNBA Defensive Player of the Year … selected to the All-WNBA Second Team … averaged 15.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.48 steals in 31 games (30 starts) … led the WNBA in steals per game (2.48) … had at least one steal in 30 of her 31 games played … ranked ninth in the league in points per game (15.6), tied for ninth in assists (3.9) and fourth in free throw percentage (.887) … ranked second on the team in assists and blocks (0.84), and third in points and rebounds per game … named WNBA Player of the Week for games played June 30-July 6 … led the WNBA All-Star Balloting with 124,575 votes … scored four points with four rebounds and four assists in the 2003 WNBA All-Star Game in New York … scored in double-digits 27 times, including 20 points or more in seven games … had her lone double-double on June 3 against Phoenix, recording 11 points and a careerhigh- tying 10 assists … missed three games with a sprained right ankle … came off the bench in her first game back from the ankle injury, scoring 12 points and pulling down six rebounds at San Antonio on June 20 … missed most of the first half with a concussion vs. Indiana on July 8 … scored a season-high 29 points at Sacramento on July 18, including 12-of-12 free throws made with eight rebounds and seven assists … recorded 44 steals (3.14 avg.) over the last 14 games of the season.

2002:
Named WNBA Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year … also earned First-Team All-WNBA … averaged 18.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.75 steals in 32 starts … ranked third in the WNBA in points per game (18.5), second in total steals (88) and steals per game (2.75), and was fourth in minutes played (36.1) … led the Comets in points, assists, steals and total minutes … hit 127-of-154 free throws on the season to rank sixth in the league in makes … set the Comets record for steals in a season with 88, topping her previous team mark of 87 done in 2000 … led or tied for top spot on team in scoring on 18 occasions and assists 15 times … scored 20 points or more in 14 games, including the first back-to-back 30-point outings of her career (31 at Los Angeles on August 8 and 32 on August 10 vs. Sacramento) … took an in-bounds pass from Tina Thompson with 1.0 seconds left on the clock and hit a three-pointer as time expired for a 61-59 win over Phoenix on June 21 … named WNBA Player of the Week for games played June 24-30 … was the top vote-getter in WNBA All-Star Balloting with 97,631 votes … recorded 11 points, six rebounds and two steals in the 2002 WNBA All-Star Game on July 15 … tied her career high in assists with 10 and scored 19 points for a double-double on July 23 vs. Seattle … hit 57-of-62 free throws (.919) in the last 12 games of the season, including streak on 31 consecutive makes (July 17-30).

2001:
Missed the entire season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) as well as lateral meniscus (cartilage) in her left knee on April 23, 2001 … underwent successful surgery to repair injury on May 1, 2001.

2000:
Named the WNBA Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year … led the WNBA in scoring with a career-high 20.7 points per game … also led the WNBA in steals with a career-best 2.81 average … topped the Comets in scoring 18 times and rebounding 10 times … scored a season-high 31 points vs. Phoenix on June 3 … also reached 30 points vs. Charlotte on July 7 … set a career high with seven steals vs. Portland on June 30 … hit a jumper with three seconds left to give Houston an overtime win at Detroit on July 21.

1999:
Ranked third in the WNBA with 18.3 points per game … led the Comets with 2.38 steals and 1.44 blocks, which ranked fourth and fifth respectively in the league in those categories … scored a career-high 33 points in overtime game at Utah on July 16 … was the eighth player in the WNBA to reach the 1,000-point career plateau, which she accomplished with a 15-point performance on August 8 at New York … made WNBA history with the league’s first triple-double (14 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists) vs. Detroit on July 27 … her 15 rebounds also marked a Comets franchise record.

1998:
Boosted her statistics to 15.6 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per game.

1997:
Averaged 7.1 points and 1.7 rebounds in nine games … missed the first 19 games of the inaugural season due to her pregnancy … played her first WNBA game on August 7 vs. Phoenix.

In the Playoffs:
Has posted career playoff averages of 16.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 25 games … Comets career playoff leader in free throw percentage (.867, 98-113) and total steals (56) … has recorded three double-doubles in playoff action … had 27 points and nine rebounds on August 29 at Sacramento in Game 1 of the 2003 WNBA Playoffs … led the Comets in scoring in each of the team’s three games vs. Utah during the 2002 WNBA Playoffs, including a pair of 28-point performances in Game 2 (August 18) and Game 3 (August 20) … in 2000, averaged 18.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game … scored a playoff career- high 31 points in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals vs. New York on August 26, 2000, including seven in overtime as the Comets clinched a fourth consecutive title … in 1999, averaged 14.7 points and 3.7 rebounds … in 1998, averaged 14.6 points and 10.0 rebounds per game … in the overtime victory against Phoenix in Game 2 of the 1998 WNBA Finals, scored 14 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field, pulled down 13 rebounds and dished out five assists, while recording two steals and two blocked shots.

Additional Basketball Experience:
Has played with the Houston Stealth of the National Women’s Basketball League the past two offseasons (2002, 2003) … as a core player on the 2002 USA Basketball Women’s World Championship Team, contributed to a perfect 9-0 record and earned a gold medal at the 14th FIBA World Championship for Women held in the People’s Republic of China (Sept. 14-25) … also led the USA Basketball World Championship Team to a 4-0 mark and the 2002 Opals World Challenge title, topping all scorers with an average of 15.5 points an outing and earning tournament MVP … member of the 1996 and 2000 USA Women’s Olympic Team that won gold medals in Atlanta and Sydney, respectively … member of the undefeated USA Basketball Women’s National Team that played 52 games around the world to prepare for the Olympics … averaged 23.0 points per game while playing in Bari, Italy in 1993 … averaged 9.1 points while playing in eight games of the 1994 World Championships … played in four games of the 1994 Goodwill Games and averaged 10.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.25 steals for the American squad … member of the 1999 USA Women’s National Team that finished 4-1 in the 1999 Winter European Tour … was also part of the 1998 WNBA Touring Team and the U.S. Women’s 1999 Winter European Tour Team.

As a Collegian:
In two seasons, led Texas Tech to 58-8 record, including one NCAA title (1993) and two Southwest Conference titles … ranked second in the nation with a 28.1 points per game average, and was named 1993 National Player of the Year two years after winning 1991 Junior College Player of the Year honors at South Plains (TX) Junior College … also earned 1993 NCAA Final Four MVP honor after setting an NCAA Championship game record with 47 points in Texas Tech’s 84-82 win over Ohio State … her No. 22 was retired by Texas Tech on February 19, 1994.


Personal

  • Born Sheryl Denise Swoopes on March 25, 1971, in Brownfield, Texas
  • Gave birth to her son, Jordan, on June 25, 1997
  • Inspired by her mother, Louise, who single-handedly raised four children
  • Was the first woman to have her own Nike basketball shoe named after her called the “Air Swoopes”
  • Would like to pursue sports broadcasting after playing career is over
  • Enjoys spending time with her son, shooting pool and playing video games
  • Patterned her game after brother James
  • First basketball memory is “going to nationals with Little Dribblers team when I was eight years old”
  • Formed The Sheryl Swoopes Foundation for Youth
  • Has a book Bounce Back in the Positively For Kids series with author Greg Brown, sharing her personal story of triumph and encouragement to bounce back from adversity
  • Also featured in books Sports Heroes and Women Who Win
  • Won the 2001 ESPY for Women’s Pro Basketball Player of the Year
  • Has made appearances on the Today Show, Ricki Lake Show, Weakest Link and SportsCenter “HearSay”
  • Was invited to join President George W. Bush for the Opening Ceremonies to the 2002 Winter Olympics
  • On April 2, 2002, she and USA Basketball teammate Dawn Staley rang the opening bell of the American Stock Exchange in New York City

  • Career Transactions

    Signed by the WNBA and assigned to Houston on January 22, 1997.

    created:5/12/2008 6:27:17 AM
    Saturday
    May 17
    WNBA Opening Day 2008
    L.A. Sparks at Phoenix Mercury
    3:30 p.m. ET on ABC
    Tuesday
    May 20
    WNBA Tuesdays on ESPN2
    Sacramento Monarchs at Seattle Storm
    10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2
    Saturday
    May 24
    Seattle Storm at S.A. Silver Stars
    3:30 p.m. ET
    ABC
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