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{{Short description|American basketball player (born 1971)}} |
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{{Infobox basketball biography |
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'''Sheryl Denise Swoopes''' (born ], ] in ]) is an ] ] player who currently plays for the ] in the ]. After winning the ] ] women's basketball title with ], she gained national prominence when she won the gold medal with the USA Women's Basketball Team at the ]. |
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| name = Sheryl Swoopes |
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| image = 20140814 Cheryl Swoopes 2.jpg |
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| caption = Swoopes at the 2014 World Basketball Festival |
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| height_ft = 6 |
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| height_in = 0 |
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| weight_lbs = 145 |
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| league = ] |
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| team = |
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| position = |
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| number = |
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|3|25|mf=y}} |
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| birth_place = ], U.S. |
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| high_school = ] (Brownfield, Texas) |
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| college = *] (1989–1991) |
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*] (1991–1993) |
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| draft_league = WNBA |
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| draft_year = 1997 |
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| draft = Allocated |
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| draft_team = ] |
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| career_start = 1997 |
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| career_end = 2011 |
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| coach_start = 2009 |
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| coach_end = |
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| career_position = ] / ] |
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| career_number = 22 |
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| years1 = {{WNBA Year|1997}}–{{WNBA Year|2007}} |
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| team1 = ] |
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| years2 = {{WNBA Year|2008}} |
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| team2 = ] |
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| years3 = {{WNBA Year|2011}} |
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| team3 = ] |
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| cyears1 = 2009–2010 |
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| cteam1 = ] (assistant) |
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| cyears2 = 2013–2016 |
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| cteam2 = ] |
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| cyears3 = 2017–2018 |
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| cteam3 = Texas Tech (assistant) |
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| highlights = |
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* 4× ] (]–]) |
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* 3× ] ({{WNBA Year|2000}}, {{WNBA Year|2002}}, {{WNBA Year|2005}}) |
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* 6× ] (], ], ], ], ], ]) |
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* ] ({{WNBA Year|2005}}) |
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* 5× ] ({{WNBA Year|1998}}–{{WNBA Year|2000}}, {{WNBA Year|2002}}, {{WNBA Year|2005}}) |
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* 2× ] ({{WNBA Year|2003}}, {{WNBA Year|2006}}) |
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* 3× ] ({{WNBA Year|2000}}, {{WNBA Year|2002}}, {{WNBA Year|2003}}) |
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* 2× ] ({{WNBA Year|2005}}, {{WNBA Year|2006}}) |
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* 2× ] ({{WNBA Year|2000}}, {{WNBA Year|2005}}) |
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* 2× ] ({{WNBA Year|2000}}, {{WNBA Year|2003}}) |
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* ] ({{WNBA Year|2005}}) |
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* ] ({{WNBA Year|2006}}) |
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* ] ({{WNBA Year|2011}}) |
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* ] ({{WNBA Year|2016}}) |
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* ] ({{WNBA Year|2021}}) |
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*] (]) |
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* ] (1993) |
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* ] (1993) |
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* ] (1993) |
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* ] (1993) |
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* ] (1993) |
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* 2x All-American – ] (1992, 1993) |
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* 2x ] All-American (1992, 1993) |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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| stats_league = WNBA |
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| stat1label = ] |
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| stat1value = 4,875 (15.0 ppg) |
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| stat2label = ] |
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| stat2value = 1,596 (4.9 rpg) |
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| stat3label = ] |
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| stat3value = 1,037 (3.2 apg) |
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| wnba_profile = sheryl_swoopes |
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| HOF_player = Sheryl-Swoopes |
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| womensHOF = sheryl-swoopes |
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| medal_templates = {{MedalSport|Women's ]}} |
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{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }} |
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{{MedalCompetition|]}} |
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{{MedalGold|]|]}} |
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{{MedalGold|] | ]}} |
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{{MedalGold|] | ]}} |
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{{MedalCompetition|]}} |
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{{MedalGold| ] |Team competition}} |
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{{MedalGold| ] |Team competition}} |
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{{MedalBronze| ] |Team competition}} |
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{{MedalBronze| ] |Team competition}} |
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{{MedalCompetition|]}} |
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{{MedalGold| ] |Team competition}} |
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}} |
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'''Sheryl Denise Swoopes''' (born March 25, 1971)<ref name="NCAA Coaches"/> is an American former professional ] player. She was the first player to be signed in the ],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wnba.com/about_us/greatest_moments_020508.html |title=WNBA's Greatest Moments |publisher=WNBA.com |access-date=November 21, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011103530/http://www.wnba.com/about_us/greatest_moments_020508.html |archive-date=October 11, 2011 }}</ref> is a three-time ], and was named one of the league's Top 15 Players of All Time at the ]. Swoopes has won three ] gold medals and is one of eleven women's basketball players to have won an Olympic gold medal,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Sheryl Swoopes|url=https://olympics.com/en/athletes/sheryl-swoopes|access-date=2021-11-19|website=Olympics.com}}</ref> an ], a ] gold, and a WNBA title. She was elected to the ] in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hoophall.com/news/2016/4/4/naismith-memorial-basketball-hall-of-fame-class-of-2016-anno.html|title=Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2016 Announcement presented by Haggar Clothing Company|work=Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame|date=April 4, 2016|access-date=April 4, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417204345/http://www.hoophall.com/news/2016/4/4/naismith-memorial-basketball-hall-of-fame-class-of-2016-anno.html|archive-date=April 17, 2016}}</ref> In 2017, she was inducted into the ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/local/2017/06/09/sheryl-swoopes-enjoying-her-hall-fame-moment/381548001/ |title=Sheryl Swoopes enjoying her Hall of Fame moment |last=Fleser |first=Dan |date=June 10, 2017 |work=] |access-date=June 11, 2017}}</ref> |
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==Early life== |
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She is one of the most decorated female athletes in recent memory. She has won a collegiate national title, is a three-time Olympic gold medalist (1996, 2000, 2004) and a four-time WNBA champion (1997 - 2000). As a member of the Houston Comets, she has accumulated over 2,000 career points, 500 career rebounds, 300 career assists and 200 career steals. |
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Born in ], Swoopes was raised by her mother, Louise Swoopes, and played basketball with her three older brothers.<ref name="Porter p 464">Porter p 464</ref> She began competing at age seven in a local children's league called Little Dribblers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wnba.com/playerfile/sheryl_swoopes/bio.html |title=Sheryl Swoopes Playerfile |publisher=Wnba.com |access-date=November 21, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113040724/http://www.wnba.com/playerfile/sheryl_swoopes/bio.html |archive-date=November 13, 2011 }}</ref> She played basketball at ].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Glass|first1=Ray|title=Overcoming the Odds|url=http://lubbockonline.com/stories/062799/hig_062799108.shtml|access-date=April 16, 2016|newspaper=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|date=June 27, 1999}}</ref> |
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==College career== |
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Her scoring and defensive ability have helped her become a three-time ] (2000, 2002, 2005) and a three-time ] (2000, 2002, 2003). Swoopes's contributions to women's basketball as well as her tough play through injury have her generally considered to be one of the best female basketball players of all time. She is also the first women's basketball player to have a ] shoe named after her: the "Air Swoopes". |
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Initially recruited by the ], Swoopes left the school shortly after her arrival without playing a game and enrolled at ]. After playing at South Plains for two years, Swoopes transferred to ],<ref name="Porter p 464"/><ref>{{Cite journal|last=University|first=Texas Tech|date=1993|title=La Ventana, vol. 068|hdl=2346/48673|language=en}}</ref> near her hometown. |
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In 1993, Swoopes won the ] with the ] during her senior season.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Martin|first=Brian|title=Sheryl Swoopes Career Timeline|url=https://www.wnba.com/news/sheryl-swoopes-career-timeline/|access-date=2021-11-19|website=WNBA.com}}</ref> Her jersey was retired by the school the following year, making her one of only three Lady Raiders to be honored in this way. The others are ] and ], Swoopes' teammate from the 1993 championship team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/100403/col_100403012.shtml|title=Tech Hall of Honor Inducts New Class of Six|access-date=December 3, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401085641/http://lubbockonline.com/stories/100403/col_100403012.shtml|archive-date=April 1, 2012}}</ref> |
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==Early success== |
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A native of ], Swoopes was raised by her mother Louise. She would eventually go on to became a star in her native state as a standout player at Texas Tech. She won a national title with the women's basketball team in 1993 during her senior season. Her jersey was retired by the school the following year. |
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As of 2010, Swoopes was still a part of the women's basketball record books in many categories, including single-game scoring record (53 points on March 13, 1993, vs. ], tied for tenth place), single-season scoring (955 points in the 1993 season, fourth place), highest championship tournament scoring average (35.4 in the 1993 tournament, second place), best single-game championship scoring performance (47 points vs. ],<ref>Grundy p 217</ref> 1993 championship), which broke Bill Walton's record,<ref name="Porter p 464">Porter p 464</ref> and scoring record for championship series (177 points, five games). She set the record for the most field goals in the championship game with 16.<ref name=Records/> |
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Swoopes's college career translated to success as a professional basketball player both internationally and in America. She won a gold medal with the United States Women's Basketball team during the ] and became a focal point of the fledgling Women's National Basketball Association. Although she was assigned to the Houston Comets of the WNBA, Swoopes was unable to play during the inaugural WNBA season due to her pregnancy. Despite this, her Houston Comets team went on to win a WNBA Championship in ]. |
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Swoopes also set several school records at Texas Tech. She scored 955 in the 1992–93 season, which is an all-time scoring record for a single season (as of 2006). Swoopes' 24.9 points-per-game average for her career is the best in school history; she also boasts three triple-doubles and 23 double-doubles, 14 of which came during her senior year.<ref name="College">{{cite news| url=http://media.www.dailytoreador.com/media/storage/paper870/news/2007/04/03/Sports/Vote-In.Our.Online.Poll.Sheryl.Swoopes.And.Carolyn.Thompson-2819063.shtml?reffeature=htmlemailedition| title=Vote in our online poll: Sheryl Swoopes and Carolyn Thompson| newspaper=]| date=April 4, 2007| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927011615/http://media.www.dailytoreador.com/media/storage/paper870/news/2007/04/03/Sports/Vote-In.Our.Online.Poll.Sheryl.Swoopes.And.Carolyn.Thompson-2819063.shtml?reffeature=htmlemailedition| archive-date=September 27, 2007}}</ref> |
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==Later success and possible retirement== |
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Swoopes had what may be the best year of her career in ]. After winning a second straight gold medal in the ], she went on to win her first ] and her first ]. Swoopes capped off her season by winning her fourth consecutive WNBA Championship with the Comets. |
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Swoopes was the 1993 winner of the ] award at the age of 22, the ],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://baylorbears.com/news/2006/4/10/Sophia_Young_a_Honda_Award_Finalist.aspx?path=wbball|title=Sophia Young a Honda Award Finalist|website=Baylor University Athletics|language=en|access-date=2020-03-30}}</ref> was selected as that year's ] Player of the Year, and was chosen to the Division I All-American squad in both 1992 and 1993. Swoopes was named the 1993 Sportswoman of the Year (in the team category) by the Women's Sports Foundation.<ref name="Sportswoman"/> |
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Although she won her second Defensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards in 2002 and her third Defensive Player of the Year award in 2003, nagging injuries plagued Swoopes in the seasons following her fourth championship win. She won a third gold medal at the ] but was said to have contemplated retiring after the 2004 WNBA season. |
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===Texas Tech statistics=== |
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Despite these setbacks, Swoopes persisted and returned for the 2005 WNBA season. On ], 2005 she won the ] Most Valuable Player award, an award she shared with her son Jordan. She also won the 2005 ] in a narrow win over ]. Swoopes set a WNBA record with this third career win of the MVP award. The win also made her the second player in WNBA history to win both the regular season MVP award and the All-Star Game MVP award in the same season. The first player to accomplish this is ]. During this season, she led the WNBA in scoring, averaging 18.6 points per game and made the All-WNBA First Team as a forward for the first time in her career. |
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Source<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_basketball_RB/misc/wbbfinest.pdf|title=Women's Basketball Worst|website=fs.ncaa.org|access-date=2017-10-03}}</ref> |
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{{NBA player statistics legend}} |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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!Year |
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!Team |
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!GP |
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!Points |
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!FG% |
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!3P% |
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!FT% |
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!RPG |
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!APG |
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!SPG |
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!BPG |
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!PPG |
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|- |
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|1992 |
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|Texas Tech |
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|32 |
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|690 |
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|50.3% |
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|41.0% |
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|80.8% |
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|8.9 |
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|'''4.8''' |
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|'''3.4''' |
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|1.0 |
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|21.6 |
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|- |
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|1993 |
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|Texas Tech |
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|'''34''' |
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|'''955''' |
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|'''54.6%''' |
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|'''41.0%''' |
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|'''86.8%''' |
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|'''9.2''' |
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|4.1 |
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|3.4 |
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|'''1.0''' |
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|'''28.1''' |
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|- |
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|Career |
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|66 |
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|1645 |
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|52.7% |
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|41.0% |
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|84.4% |
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|9.0 |
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|4.4 |
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|3.4 |
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|1.0 |
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|24.9 |
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|} |
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==USA Basketball== |
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==Personal life and sexuality== |
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Swoopes was named to the USA national team and competed in the 1994 World Championships, held in June 1994 in ], Australia.<ref name=":0" /> The team was coached by ], and won their first six games, when they faced Brazil. In a closely contested, high-scoring game, Brazil hit 10 of 10 free throws in the final minute to secure a 110–107 victory. The USA won a close final game against Australia 100–95 to earn the bronze medal. Swoopes averaged 9.1 points per game, while recording seven steals, second highest on the team.<ref name="1994 WC"/> |
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Swoopes was selected to represent the US at the 1995 USA Women's Pan American Games, but only four teams committed to participate, so the event was cancelled.<ref name="1995 Pan Am"/> |
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Swoopes has a young boy named Jordan, named after former professional basketball player ]. |
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Swoopes continued as a member of the USA team at the 1996 Olympics, held in ], Georgia. The USA team won all their pool play games by large margins, although they were behind Cuba by as many as seven points before ]'s 24 points helped the USA take over the game. <!--not relevant The USA victory over Australia featured a record-setting 15 assists by Teresa Edwards, while Johnson was the leading scorer with 24 points. Against Japan, Lisa Leslie set a USA Olympic scoring record with 35 points. In the final, the USA team faced 7–0 Brazil—a team that had beaten the USA squad in the 1991 Pan Am games and the 1994 World Championships. This time, playing before a home crowd of 32,987, the USA team started out very strong, hitting 71.9% of their field goals, leading to an 11-point margin at the half. The USA team scored the first eight points of the second half and won the gold medal 111–87. Smith was the third-leading scorer for the team with 13.0 points per game and was second on the team with 31 assists and 23 steals. --><ref name="1996 Olympics"/> |
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Swoopes divorced in 1999. She came out of the closet as a ] to ] in October of 2005 . In the piece, she said that the reason for her divorce wasn’t due to her sexuality and that she does not believe people are born homosexual. |
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In 2002, Swoopes was named to the national team which competed in the World Championships in ], ], and ], China. The team was coached by ]. Swoopes scored 16.9 points per game, second highest on the team and recorded a team-high 24 steals. The USA team won all nine games, including a close title game against Russia, which had a one-point difference late in the game.<ref name="2002 WC"/> |
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==Vital statistics== |
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*Position: ] |
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Swoopes was named to the National Team representing the US at the 2006 World Championships, held in ] and ]. The team won eight of their nine contests, but the lone loss came in the semifinal medal round to Russia. The USA beat Brazil in the final game to earn the bronze medal. Swoopes, hampered by injuries, averaged 3.0 points per game and was second on the team with six blocks.<ref name="2006 WC"/> |
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*Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
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*College: ] '93 |
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==WNBA career== |
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*Team(s): ] (WNBA), ] (NWBL) |
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] in 2008]] |
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Swoopes was recruited for the Houston Comets of the WNBA during the 1997 inaugural season. Due to the birth of her son, Swoopes had a late-season debut for her career, playing her first game on August 7, 1997 (6 weeks after the season started). In her debut game, the Comets defeated the ] 74 - 70 with Swoopes playing for 5 minutes and recording no stats.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/boxscores/199708070HOU.html | title=Phoenix Mercury at Houston Comets, August 7, 1997 }}</ref> |
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As a 11 year member of the Houston Comets, she accumulated over 2,000 career points, 500 career rebounds, 300 career assists, and 200 career steals. Her extraordinary scoring and defensive ability made her the first three-time WNBA MVP (2000, 2002, and 2005) and the first three-time ] (2000, 2002, and 2003). Swoopes is also a four-time WNBA champion as the Comets won the first 4 championships in WNBA history from 1997 to 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All-Time WNBA Champions - WNBA |url=https://www.wnba.com/all-time-wnba-champions |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=www.wnba.com}}</ref> |
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Swoopes is the second player in WNBA history to win both the regular season MVP award and the All-Star Game MVP award in the same season. The first player to accomplish this was ]. Swoopes is also the first player in WNBA history to record a triple-double in both the regular season and the playoffs. |
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Swoopes gained national prominence when she won the ] with the USA Basketball Women's National Team <!-- (WNT) --> at the ] and became a focal point of the fledgling WNBA. The 1996 Olympic win over Brazil (117–87) is considered by some to be the "best woman's basketball game they'd ever seen."<ref>Grundy p 216</ref> She is a three-time Olympic gold medalist (1996, 2000, and 2004).<ref name=":1" /> |
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Swoopes is the first women's basketball player to have a ] shoe named after her: the "Air Swoopes".<ref name="Porter p 464"/> |
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On March 3, 2008, Swoopes signed with the ], ending her 11-year career with the Houston Comets. She was waived by the Storm on February 3, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/basketball/wnba/02/03/swoopes.ap/index.html |title=Swoopes' Career Could Be Over |website=SI.com |date=February 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208140125/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/basketball/wnba/02/03/swoopes.ap/index.html |archive-date=February 8, 2009}}</ref> |
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Two days after her 40th birthday in 2011, sources for the ] claimed that Swoopes was preparing to return to the WNBA in anticipation of an official signing announcement from the ].<ref>{{Citation|last=Feinberg|first=Doug|title=AP Source: Swoopes to sign with Tulsa Shock|newspaper=Kansas City Star|date=March 27, 2011|url=http://www.kansascity.com/2011/03/27/2756525/ap-source-swoopes-to-sign-with.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sheryl Swoopes Signs with Tulsa| date=28 March 2011 |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/news/story?id=6266254|access-date=March 29, 2011}}</ref> At the ], she was announced as one of the top 15 players in the 15-year history of the WNBA.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stanchak |first=Scott |url=http://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/allstar/2011/top15_players_110723.html |title=Roundtable Discussion: WNBA Top 15 Players of All Time |publisher=WNBA.com |date=July 24, 2011 |access-date=April 16, 2016}}</ref> |
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On August 26, 2011, the 40-year-old Swoopes hit a buzzer-beating shot to edge the Los Angeles Sparks 77–75 and end the Shock's WNBA-record 20-game losing streak.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-sparks-20110827,0,5253004.story |title=Tulsa Shock ends 20-game skid with a 77-75 win over Sparks |date=August 26, 2011 |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=June 4, 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020005224/http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-sparks-20110827,0,5253004.story |archive-date=October 20, 2011}}</ref> |
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Swoopes became an unrestricted free agent after the 2011 season: Tulsa Shock owner Steve Swetoha announced on 15 February 2012 that the team did not intend to offer Swoopes a new contract.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lantz|first=Jessica|title=Gary Kloppenburg's Plans For The Tulsa Shock Do Not Include Sheryl Swoopes, Betty Lennox|url=http://www.swishappeal.com/2012/2/16/2802742/wnba-tulsa-shock-gary-kloppenburg|publisher=SwishAppeal.com|access-date=March 19, 2012|date=February 16, 2012}}</ref> As of the beginning of the 2012 preseason on 5 May, Swoopes remained an unsigned free agent. While no official announcement has been made, when Swoopes began blogging at the ''Shape'' magazine website during the 2012 Olympic Summer Games, she identified herself as "a former professional basketball player."<ref>{{cite web|last=Swoopes|first=Sheryl|title=Olympic Fever Starts Now!|url=http://www.shape.com/blogs/london-2012-summer-olympics/olympic-fever-starts-now|work=Shape.com|access-date=September 13, 2012|date=July 27, 2012}}</ref> |
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Swoopes' final WNBA game was played on September 11, 2011, a 94–102 loss to the ], where she recorded 20 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/boxscores/201109110TUL.html | title=San Antonio Silver Stars at Tulsa Shock, September 11, 2011 }}</ref> |
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In 2016, she was voted into the ], in celebration of the league's 20th anniversary. |
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==International career== |
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===Europe=== |
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* 1993–1994: {{flagicon|Italy}} Basket Bari |
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* 2004–2005: {{flagicon|Russia}} VBM-SGAU Samara |
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* 2005–2006: {{flagicon|Italy}} Taranto Cras Basket |
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* 2010: {{flagicon|Greece}} Esperides Kallitheas<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/news/story?id=4802945 |title=Associated Press via ESPN.com, "Swoopes Replaces Wisdom-Hylton," January 6, 2010 |publisher=] |date=January 6, 2010 |access-date=November 21, 2011}}</ref> |
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==Post-playing career== |
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In 2008, Sheryl Swoopes made an appearance on '']'', a reality series on ]. Swoopes mentored the San Francisco Rockdogs, a gay basketball team, and shared her experiences on basketball, family, faith, and coming out.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.logoonline.com/video/?id=1594621&vid=282208 |title=Sister Swoopes (Skins & Skins: Episode 4) |publisher=Logoonline.com |access-date=2011-11-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212000516/http://www.logoonline.com/video/?id=1594621&vid=282208 |archive-date=2008-12-12 }}</ref> |
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In 2010, Swoopes was an assistant basketball coach at ] in ].<ref name="Chicago Tribune 4-15-16"/> She was a color analyst for the Texas Tech women's basketball broadcast during the 2012–2013 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sheryl Swoopes joins Texas Tech women's basketball broadcast team for 2012–13|url=http://www.hoopfeed.com/content/2012/11/08/sheryl-swoopes-joins-texas-tech-womens-basketball-broadcast-team-for-2012-13/|publisher=hoopfeed.com|access-date=March 23, 2013|date=November 8, 2012}}</ref> |
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In 2013, Swoopes became head coach of the ] women's basketball team. In April 2016, Loyola announced that it was investigating Swoopes for alleged mistreatment, after the school newspaper reported that 10 of the team's players had either transferred or wanted a release from their scholarships.<ref name="Chicago Tribune 4-15-16">{{cite news|last1=Ryan|first1=Shannon|title=Loyola to investigate complaints about Sheryl Swoopes after mass transfers|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-loyola-sheryl-swoopes-transfers-spt-0416-20160415-story.html|access-date=April 15, 2016|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=April 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Finley|first1=Patrick|title=Loyola to investigate its coach, Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes|url=http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/loyola-to-investigate-coach-sheryl-swoopes-hall-of-fame-player |access-date=April 16, 2016|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|date=April 15, 2016}}</ref> On July 4, 2016, Loyola announced it had fired Swoopes as a result of the investigation but declined to say what it had found.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2016/07/04/sheryl-swoopes-fired-loyola-player-mistreatment-investigation?xid=si_social|title=Loyola fires Sheryl Swoopes after investigation|author=SI Wire|website=www.si.com|date=4 July 2016 |access-date=2016-07-04}}</ref> |
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In July 2017, Swoopes returned to her alma mater, Texas Tech, hired as the women's basketball program's Director of Player Development, where her job included resuming work as broadcast color analysis for Lady Raiders games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lady Raider Great Sheryl Swoopes Joins Staff|url=http://www.texastech.com/news/2017/7/5/lady-raider-great-sheryl-swoopes-joins-coaching-staff.aspx|publisher=Texas Tech Athletics|access-date=26 July 2017|date=5 July 2017}}</ref> Following the firing of head coach ] on January 1, 2018, Swoopes was promoted to regular assistant coach under interim head coach Shimmy Gray-Miller.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lubbockonline.com/sports-red-raiders-womens-basketball/sports-red-raiders/sports/2018-01-01/texas-tech-relieves|title=Texas Tech relieves Whitaker of head coaching duties|author=Silva, Carlos Jr.|work=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|access-date=January 20, 2018|date=January 1, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/texastech.com/documents/2018/1/2/Kansas_Notes.pdf|title=Texas Tech Lady Raider Basketball Game 14: Kansas|publisher=Texas Tech|date=January 2, 2018|access-date=January 20, 2018}}</ref> |
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==Personal life== |
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Swoopes was married from June 1995 to 1999 to her high school sweetheart, with whom she has one son, Jordan Eric Jackson (b. 1997). |
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In October 2005, Swoopes announced she was ], becoming one of the highest-profile athletes in a team sport to do so publicly.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Robbins|first=Liz|date=2005-10-27|title=Swoopes Says She Is Gay, and Exhales|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/27/sports/basketball/swoopes-says-she-is-gay-and-exhales.html|access-date=2021-11-19|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Swoopes said, "it doesn't change who I am. I can't help who I fall in love with. No one can. ... Discovering I'm gay just sort of happened much later in life. Being intimate with or any other woman never entered my mind. At the same time, I'm a firm believer that when you fall in love with somebody, you can't control that."<ref>{{cite news | author=LZ Granderson | title=Three-time MVP 'tired of having to hide my feelings' | url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/news/story?id=2203853 | work=ESPN The Magazine | date=October 28, 2008 | access-date=December 11, 2008}}</ref> She and her partner, former basketball player and Houston Comets assistant coach Alisa Scott, together raised Swoopes' son.<ref>{{cite news | author=Blaine Harden | title=Washington State Upholds Ban on Same-Sex Marriage | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/26/AR2006072600406.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=July 26, 2008 | access-date=November 22, 2008}}</ref> The couple broke up in 2011. Later that year, Swoopes got engaged to Chris Unclesho, a longtime male friend; the couple wed after a long engagement on July 21, 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maya-rupert/sheryl-swoopes-marriage_b_909288.html |title=Maya Rupert: What Sheryl Swoopes' Engagement Means: Understanding the Role of Identity and Combo Guards |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date= August 1, 2011|access-date=November 21, 2011}}</ref> |
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==Awards and honors== |
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Swoopes won the female ] award in 1993.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Swoopes scores AP award|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1994/01/21/swoopes-scores-ap-award/|access-date=2021-11-19|website=Tampa Bay Times|language=en}}</ref> The same year, she also won the ] for basketball and the ] award.<ref name="Past Winners - basketball"/> She was named one of the 20 female athletes of the decade for 2000 to 2010 by '']''. She was named an ] History Month Icon by the Equality Forum.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sheryl Swoopes|url=http://www.lgbthistorymonth.com/sheryl-swoopes|website=April 17, 2016|publisher=Equality Forum}}</ref> |
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==WNBA career statistics== |
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{{WNBA player statistics legend}} |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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|- |
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|style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|† |
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|Denotes seasons in which Swoopes won a ] |
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|} |
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===Regular season=== |
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{{WNBA player statistics start}} |
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|- |
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|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| ]<sup>†</sup> |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| 9 || 0 || 14.3 || .472 || .250 || .714 || 1.7 || 0.8 || 0.8 || 0.4 || '''0.44''' || 7.1 |
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|- |
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|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| ]<sup>†</sup> |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| 29 || 29 || 32.3 || .427 || .360 || .826 || 5.1 || 2.1 || 2.5 || 0.5 || 2.00 || 15.6 |
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|- |
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|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| ]<sup>†</sup> |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| 32 || 32 || 34.4 || .462 || .337 || .820 || '''6.3''' || 4.0 || 2.4 || '''1.4''' || 2.59 || 18.3 |
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|- |
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|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| ]<sup>†</sup> |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| 31 || 31 || 35.2 || '''.506''' || '''.374''' || .821 || '''6.3''' || 3.8 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|'''2.8'''° || 1.1 || 2.65 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|'''20.7'''° |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| 32 || 32 || 36.1 || .434 || .288 || .825 || 4.9 || 3.3 || '''2.8''' || 0.7 || 2.72 || 18.5 |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| 31 || 30 || 35.0 || .406 || .304 || '''.887''' || 4.6 || 3.9 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|2.5° || 0.8 || 2.35 || 15.6 |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| 31 || 31 || 34.5 || .422 || .308 || .856 || 4.9 || 2.9 || 1.5 || 0.5 || 1.90 || 14.8 |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| '''33''' || '''33''' || style="background:#D3D3D3"|'''37.1'''° || .447 || .360 || .850 || 3.6 || '''4.3''' || 2.0 || 0.8 || 2.18 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|18.6° |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| 31 || 31 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|35.8° || .413 || .278 || .764 || 5.9 || 3.7 || 2.1 || 0.3 || 2.39 || 15.5 |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| 3 || 3 || 35.3 || .360 || .143 || 1.000 || 5.7 || 3.7 || 1.7 || 0.3 || 3.00 || 7.7 |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| 29 || 25 || 24.3 || .391 || .222 || .695 || 4.3 || 2.1 || 1.5 || 0.3 || 1.07 || 7.1 |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| 33 || 28 || 29.9 || .398 || .319 || .870 || 4.1 || 2.3 || 0.8 || 0.3 || 1.36 || 8.2 |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:left;"| Career |
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| style="text-align:left;"|12 years, 3 teams |
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| 324 || 205 || 32.7 || .436 || .316 || .825 || 4.9 || 3.2 || 2.0 || 0.7 || 2.09 || 15.0 |
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{{S-end}} |
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===Postseason=== |
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{{WNBA player statistics start}} |
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|- |
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|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| ]<sup>†</sup> |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| 2 || 0 || 7.0 || .000 || .000 || .000 || 1.5 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 0.5 || '''0.00''' || 0.0 |
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|- |
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|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| ]<sup>†</sup> |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| 5 || 5 || 37.6 || .443 || .278 || .933 || '''10.0''' || 5.2 || 1.8 || '''1.4''' || 3.20 || 14.6 |
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|- |
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|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| ]<sup>†</sup> |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| '''6''' || '''6''' || 36.0 || .358 || .308 || .929 || 3.7 || 1.2 || 2.3 || 0.5 || 2.00 || 14.7 |
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|- |
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|style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| ]<sup>†</sup> |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| '''6''' || '''6''' || 36.7 || '''.471''' || '''.471''' || .793 || 5.7 || 3.2 || 2.8 || 0.0 || 2.00 || 18.8 |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| 3 || 3 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|'''42.3'''° || .397 || .333 || .800 || 7.3 || '''5.7''' || '''4.0''' || 0.7 || 2.67 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|'''24.3''' |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| 3 || 3 || 36.7 || .435 || .100 || '''.938''' || 6.3 || 4.3 || 1.3 || 0.7 || 1.67 || 18.7 |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| 5 || 5 || 37.8 || .402 || .357 || .810 || 5.6 || 3.8 || 1.4 || 0.4 || 3.00 || 18.4 |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| 2 || 2 || 31.0 || .389 || .167 || .875 || 2.5 || 1.5 || 1.0 || 1.0 || 1.00 || 11.0 |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| style="text-align:left;"| ] |
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| 3 || 2 || 24.0 || .320 || .200 || .889 || 3.3 || 1.0 || 2.0 || 0.0 || 1.67 || 8.7 |
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|- |
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| style="text-align:left;"| Career |
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| style="text-align:left;"|9 years, 2 teams |
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| 35 || 32 || 34.3 || .406 || .293 || .861 || 5.5 || 3.1 || 2.0 || 0.5 || 2.14 || 15.5 |
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{{s-end}} |
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==Head coaching record== |
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{{CBB yearly record start | type = coach | conference = | postseason= }} |
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{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead |
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| name =] |
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| conference=] |
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| startyear =2013 |
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| endyear = 2016 |
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}} |
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{{CBB yearly record entry |
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| championship = |
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| season = ] |
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| name = Loyola (Chicago) |
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| overall = 11–21 |
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| conference = 6–12 |
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| confstanding = 8th |
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| postseason = |
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}} |
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{{CBB yearly record entry |
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| championship = |
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| season = ] |
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| name = Loyola (Chicago) |
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| overall = 6–25 |
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| conference = 3–15 |
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| confstanding = 9th |
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| postseason = |
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}} |
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{{CBB yearly record entry |
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| championship = |
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| season = ] |
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| name = ] |
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| overall = 14–16 |
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| conference = 10–8 |
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| confstanding = 5th |
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| postseason = |
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}} |
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{{CBB yearly record subtotal |
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| name = Loyola (Chicago) |
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| overall = 31–62 |
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| confrecord = 19–35 |
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}} |
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{{CBB yearly record end |
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| overall = 31–62 |
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| legend = no |
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}} |
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==See also== |
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* ] |
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==References== |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist|30em|refs= |
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*{{Web reference simple |Bernardo Rosello | URL=http://www.wnba.com/playerfile/sheryl_swoopes/ | title=WNBA.com: Sheryl Swoopes Player Info | date=August 30 | year=2005}} |
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<ref name="NCAA Coaches">{{cite web|title=Women's Basketball Coaches Career|url=http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/careersearch|website=NCAA|access-date=September 29, 2015}}</ref> |
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<ref name=Records>{{cite web|title=Championship records remembered|date=April 2012 |url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/ncaa/article/2012-04-01/championship-records-remembered|publisher=NCAA|access-date=May 15, 2012}}</ref> |
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<ref name="Sportswoman">{{cite web|title=Sportswoman of the Year|url=http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/en/home/programs/awards/sportswoman-of-the-year|publisher=Women's Sports Foundation|access-date=January 5, 2013}}</ref> |
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<ref name="1994 WC">{{cite web|title=Twelfth<!-- "Twelvth" in original --> World Championship For Women -- 1994|date=June 10, 2010|url=http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-womens/twelvth-world-championship-for-women-1994.aspx|publisher=USA Basketball|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905195924/http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-womens/twelvth-world-championship-for-women-1994.aspx|archive-date=September 5, 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=October 19, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref> |
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<ref name="1995 Pan Am">{{cite web|title=Twelfth<!-- "Twelvth" in original --> Pan American Games -- 1995|date=June 10, 2010|url=http://www.usab.com/history/pan-am-womens/twelvth-pan-american-games-1995-1.aspx|publisher=USA Basketball|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929045436/http://www.usab.com/history/pan-am-womens/twelvth-pan-american-games-1995-1.aspx|archive-date=September 29, 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=October 15, 2015}}</ref> |
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<ref name="1996 Olympics">{{cite web|url=http://usabasketball.com/womens/national/woly_1996.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914205425/http://www.usabasketball.com/womens/national/woly_1996.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 14, 2010|title=Games of the XXVIth Olympiad – 1996|publisher=USA Basketball|access-date=July 3, 2010}}</ref> |
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<ref name="2002 WC">{{cite web|title=Fourteenth World Championship For Women -- 2002|date=June 10, 2010|url=http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-womens/fourteenth-world-championship-for-women-2002.aspx|publisher=USA Basketball|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905200622/http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-womens/fourteenth-world-championship-for-women-2002.aspx|archive-date=September 5, 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=October 19, 2015}}</ref> |
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<ref name="2006 WC">{{cite web|title=Fifteenth World Championship For Women -- 2006|date=June 10, 2010|url=http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-womens/fifteenth-world-championship-for-women-2006.aspx|publisher=USA Basketball|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905200902/http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-womens/fifteenth-world-championship-for-women-2006.aspx|archive-date=September 5, 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=October 19, 2015}}</ref> |
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<ref name="Past Winners - basketball">{{cite journal|title=PAST HONDA SPORTS AWARD WINNERS FOR BASKETBALL|url=http://www.collegiatewomensportsawards.com/archives/basketball|journal=THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards Program|access-date=May 8, 2014}}</ref> |
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}} |
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==Further reading== |
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* {{cite book|last=Grundy|first=Pamela| year=2005|title=Shattering the glass|url=https://archive.org/details/shatteringglassr0000grun|url-access=registration|publisher=New Press |isbn=978-1-56584-822-1}} |
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* {{Cite book|last=Ikard|first=Robert W.|year=2005|title= Just for Fun: The Story of AAU Women's Basketball |publisher=The University of Arkansas Press|isbn=978-1-55728-889-9}} |
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* {{cite book|title=Basketball: A Biographical Dictionary|editor=David L. Porter|publisher=Greenwood Press|year=2005|isbn=978-0-313-30952-6}} |
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==External links== |
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{{Commons}} |
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*{{Official website|1=http://www.sherylswoopes.net}} |
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* |
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* |
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{{Navboxes|title=Sheryl Swoopes – Awards and achievements|list1= |
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{{Naismith Award Winners Women| |
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{{1993 Texas Tech Lady Raiders basketball navbox}} |
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preceded=]| |
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{{USBWA National Player of the Year – Women}} |
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succeeded=] |
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{{United States Women Basketball Squad 1996 Summer Olympics}} |
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{{United States Women Basketball Squad 2000 Summer Olympics}} |
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{{United States Women's Basketball 2002 FIBA Champions}} |
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{{United States Women Basketball Squad 2004 Summer Olympics}} |
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{{NCAA basketball tournament MOP women}} |
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{{Naismith Player of the Year women}} |
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{{WNBADec}} |
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{{WNBA Top 15 Team}} |
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{{WNBA MVP}} |
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{{WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award}} |
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{{WNBA All-Star Game MVP Award}} |
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{{WNBA scoring champion}} |
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{{WNBA steals leaders}} |
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{{Houston Comets 1997 WNBA Champions}} |
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{{Houston Comets 1998 WNBA Champions}} |
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{{Houston Comets 1999 WNBA Champions}} |
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{{Houston Comets 2000 WNBA Champions}} |
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{{Texas Women's Hall of Fame}} |
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{{Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame}} |
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{{2016 Basketball HOF}} |
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{{Women's Basketball Hall of Fame|U.S. players}} |
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{{Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year navbox}} |
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{{Honda Sports Award}} |
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}} |
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}} |
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{{Portal bar|Basketball|Biography|Sports}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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] |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Swoopes, Sheryl}} |
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As of 2010, Swoopes was still a part of the women's basketball record books in many categories, including single-game scoring record (53 points on March 13, 1993, vs. Texas, tied for tenth place), single-season scoring (955 points in the 1993 season, fourth place), highest championship tournament scoring average (35.4 in the 1993 tournament, second place), best single-game championship scoring performance (47 points vs. Ohio State, 1993 championship), which broke Bill Walton's record, and scoring record for championship series (177 points, five games). She set the record for the most field goals in the championship game with 16.
Swoopes also set several school records at Texas Tech. She scored 955 in the 1992–93 season, which is an all-time scoring record for a single season (as of 2006). Swoopes' 24.9 points-per-game average for her career is the best in school history; she also boasts three triple-doubles and 23 double-doubles, 14 of which came during her senior year.
Swoopes was named to the USA national team and competed in the 1994 World Championships, held in June 1994 in Sydney, Australia. The team was coached by Tara VanDerveer, and won their first six games, when they faced Brazil. In a closely contested, high-scoring game, Brazil hit 10 of 10 free throws in the final minute to secure a 110–107 victory. The USA won a close final game against Australia 100–95 to earn the bronze medal. Swoopes averaged 9.1 points per game, while recording seven steals, second highest on the team.
Swoopes was selected to represent the US at the 1995 USA Women's Pan American Games, but only four teams committed to participate, so the event was cancelled.
In 2002, Swoopes was named to the national team which competed in the World Championships in Zhangjiagang, Changzhou, and Nanjing, China. The team was coached by Van Chancellor. Swoopes scored 16.9 points per game, second highest on the team and recorded a team-high 24 steals. The USA team won all nine games, including a close title game against Russia, which had a one-point difference late in the game.
Swoopes was named to the National Team representing the US at the 2006 World Championships, held in Barueri and Sao Paulo, Brazil. The team won eight of their nine contests, but the lone loss came in the semifinal medal round to Russia. The USA beat Brazil in the final game to earn the bronze medal. Swoopes, hampered by injuries, averaged 3.0 points per game and was second on the team with six blocks.
Swoopes was recruited for the Houston Comets of the WNBA during the 1997 inaugural season. Due to the birth of her son, Swoopes had a late-season debut for her career, playing her first game on August 7, 1997 (6 weeks after the season started). In her debut game, the Comets defeated the Phoenix Mercury 74 - 70 with Swoopes playing for 5 minutes and recording no stats.
As a 11 year member of the Houston Comets, she accumulated over 2,000 career points, 500 career rebounds, 300 career assists, and 200 career steals. Her extraordinary scoring and defensive ability made her the first three-time WNBA MVP (2000, 2002, and 2005) and the first three-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2000, 2002, and 2003). Swoopes is also a four-time WNBA champion as the Comets won the first 4 championships in WNBA history from 1997 to 2000.
Swoopes is the second player in WNBA history to win both the regular season MVP award and the All-Star Game MVP award in the same season. The first player to accomplish this was Lisa Leslie. Swoopes is also the first player in WNBA history to record a triple-double in both the regular season and the playoffs.
On August 26, 2011, the 40-year-old Swoopes hit a buzzer-beating shot to edge the Los Angeles Sparks 77–75 and end the Shock's WNBA-record 20-game losing streak.
Swoopes became an unrestricted free agent after the 2011 season: Tulsa Shock owner Steve Swetoha announced on 15 February 2012 that the team did not intend to offer Swoopes a new contract. As of the beginning of the 2012 preseason on 5 May, Swoopes remained an unsigned free agent. While no official announcement has been made, when Swoopes began blogging at the Shape magazine website during the 2012 Olympic Summer Games, she identified herself as "a former professional basketball player."
In July 2017, Swoopes returned to her alma mater, Texas Tech, hired as the women's basketball program's Director of Player Development, where her job included resuming work as broadcast color analysis for Lady Raiders games. Following the firing of head coach Candi Whitaker on January 1, 2018, Swoopes was promoted to regular assistant coach under interim head coach Shimmy Gray-Miller.
Swoopes was married from June 1995 to 1999 to her high school sweetheart, with whom she has one son, Jordan Eric Jackson (b. 1997).