Sheryl Swoopes

Sheryl Swoopes is a pioneer for women's basketball in America. After excelling all throughout high school and college, she moved right to the WNBA for its first year ever. With the Houston Comets, she didn't slow down at all. Nicknamed the Texas Tornado, the six-foot-tall shooting guard and forward has been referred to as the female counterpart of NBA superstar Michael Jordan.

In her autobiography, Bounce Back, Sheryl describes how her welfare family often had to do without, and tells the difference between being a good winner and a poor sport. To be sure, Sheryl didn't have it easy. Not long after Sheryl was born in 1971, her father left home. She and her three brothers were raised single-handedly by their mother, who occasionally relied on welfare to support the family. She started playing basketball at age seven with her brothers. Later when she wanted to attend college, she knew an athletic scholarship was her only chance. By the middle of her senior year in high school, recruitment letters were pouring in from everywhere, and wanting to stay in Texas, she chose to Texas Tech.

At Texas Tech, she led the team to 58-8 record in two seasons, including one NCAA title (1993) and two Southwest Conference titles. She was named the 1993 National Player of the Year and was given the 1991 Junior College Player of the Year honors at South Plains (Texas) Junior College. Additionally, Sheryl earned the 1993 NCAA Final Four MVP honor after setting an NCAA Championship game record with 47 points.

Her awards and accomplishments include: Member of the three-peat WNBA champion Houston Comets in 1997, 1998, 1999, Gold Medal Winner with the 2000 USA Women's Olympic Team at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, Gold Medal Winner with the 1996 USA Women's Olympic Team at the Atlanta Games, Gold Medal Winner with the USA Women's team at the 1994 Goodwill Games, 2000 WNBA Most Valuable Player, 2000 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, Member of the undefeated USA Basketball Women's National Team that played 52 games around the world to prepare for the Olympics.

Fortunately Sheryl not only has talent, but also the story of someone who, through determination and hard work, overcame personal hardship. She has represented Nike, Kelloggs, Hasbro, Wilson and Discover Card and is the first woman to have her own Nike basketball shoe named after her, the Air Swoopes.

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