Swoopes, Sheryl (1971–)

views updated

Swoopes, Sheryl (1971–)

African-American basketball player. Born Mar 25, 1971, in Brownsfield, TX; attended South Plains Junior College; graduate of Texas Tech in Lubbock; m. Eric Jackson.

Forward; led Texas Tech Lady Rangers to NCAA championship (1993), setting an NCAA record for most points scored by any basketball player (47) in Final Four history; won a team gold medal at Atlanta Olympics (1996), Sydney Olympics (2000) and Athens Olympics (2004); was a founding player in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA); led the Houston Comets to 3 straight WNBA championships beginning with the inaugural season (1997). Was the 1st woman to have her own athletic shoe named for her (Nike "Air Swoopes"); named WNBA Most Valuable Player (2000, 2002, 2005) and WNBA Defensive Player (2000, 2002, 2003).

See also Christina Lessa, Women Who Win (Universe, 1998); and Women in World History.