The
Houston Comets were a
Women's National Basketball AssociationThe Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
(WNBA) team based in Houston,
TexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first
dynastyA sports dynasty is a team that dominates their sport or league for multiple seasons or years. Such dominance is often only realized in retrospect...
of the WNBA and won more championships than any other team in the WNBA. They began as the sister team of the
Houston RocketsThe Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
. The team was folded and disbanded by the league in 2008 because new ownership was not found.
The Comets were also known for courting great women's basketball stars. The team had among its members
Cynthia CooperCynthia Lynne Cooper is a former American basketball player who has won championships in college, the Olympics, and in the Women's National Basketball Association . She is considered by many as one of the greatest women's basketball players ever. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the...
(the WNBA's first
MVPThe Women's National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player is an annual Women's National Basketball Association award given since the league's inaugural season. MVP voting takes place immediately following the regular season. The award recipient is decided by a panel of sportswriters and...
), college and national team standout
Sheryl SwoopesSheryl Denise Swoopes is an American professional basketball player who, subsequent to being waived into free agency, signed to re-join the WNBA to play with the Tulsa Shock in 2011. She was the first player to be signed in the WNBA when it was created. She has won three Olympic Gold Medals and...
,
Kim PerrotKim Perrot , was an American basketball player. She played in the WNBA for the Houston Comets.Perrot attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana , and played four years there as a guard...
, who succumbed to
cancerCancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 1999, and college stars
Michelle SnowDonnette Jé-Michelle Snow is an American professional basketball player from the WNBA. She currently plays the center position for the Chicago Sky.-High school years:...
and
Tina ThompsonTina Marie Thompson is a professional basketball player in the WNBA for the Los Angeles Sparks. The first draft pick in WNBA history, Thompson was selected first by the Houston Comets. She helped lead the Comets to four WNBA Championships...
.
Building the First Dynasty of the WNBA (1997–2000)
The Comets were one of the founding teams in the WNBA. They capped off the league's inaugural season in 1997 with a win over the
New York LibertyThe New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
in the WNBA championship game to win the WNBA's first championship. When the league expanded the next season, the Comets were moved from the Eastern Conference to the Western Conference. In 1998, they put together a win loss record of 27-3 for a 900 winning percentage - a WNBA record that still stands. They went on to repeat as championships, defeating the
Phoenix MercuryThe Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
in the first-ever WNBA Finals that year due to the championship game being extended into a three game championship series.
In 1999, led by what was already known as the
Big Three, (Cythnia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson), the Comets survived a highlight film last second, court-to-court, game winning shot by the Liberty's
Teresa Weatherspoon-Personal:Weatherspoon was born to Charles and Rowena Weatherspoon in Pineland, Texas. Her father, Charles Sr., played minor league baseball in the Minnesota Twins' farm system, and holds the record for the most grand slams in a minor league game. Weatherspoon has two brothers and three sisters...
in Game 2 of the finals to beat the Liberty in three games and win their third straight title, this one after the death of teammate
Kim PerrotKim Perrot , was an American basketball player. She played in the WNBA for the Houston Comets.Perrot attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana , and played four years there as a guard...
, who died of
cancerCancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. In 2000, the Comets went all the way to the Finals again, and beat the Liberty in two games to win their fourth title in a row. 2000 was the Comets' last championship and last
WNBA FinalsThe WNBA Finals is the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002....
appearance in franchise history.
The Years of Change and Rebuilding (2001–2006)
After Cooper retired in 2001, Houston clinched the playoffs with a 19-13 record, but lost in the first round in a sweep to the 2001 eventual champion
Los Angeles SparksThe Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
. In 2002, when Swoopes was injured most of the year with a torn ACL, the Comets were able to qualify for the playoffs with a 24-8 record, but lost to the
Utah StarzzThe San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
in 3 games. In 2003, they qualified to the playoffs for the 7th straight year, but they lost in the first round to the Sacramento Monarchs in 3 games. They missed the playoffs for the first time in franchise history with a record of 13-21 in 2004, but returned to the playoffs with a 19-15 record, finishing 3rd. In the first round, the Comets knocked out the 2004 defending champion
Seattle StormThe Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
in 3 games, but lost in the conference finals to the
Sacramento MonarchsThe Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
in a sweep, which Sacramento later became WNBA Champions in 2005. Houston would return to the playoffs with an 18-16 record, but lost to the 2005 defending champion
Sacramento MonarchsThe Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
in another sweep. 2006 was the last playoff appearance for the Houston Comets. After the Comets' season ended in 2006, the Comets underwent major front-office changes during the off-season. In October 2006, team owner Leslie Alexander (who also owns the NBA's
Houston RocketsThe Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
team) announced he was selling the Comets, and longtime Head Coach
Van ChancellorVan Chancellor is the former Louisiana State University women's basketball coach. He was named head coach on April 11, 2007, replacing Pokey Chatman. In 2001, Van Chancellor was elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Knoxville, Tennessee...
resigned in January 2007.
New Ownership and a New Home (2007)
On January 31, 2007, the WNBA Board of Governors approved the sale of the team to
Hilton KochHilton Koch is a furniture dealer and store owner in Houston Texas at Hilton Furniture. He was the owner of the former Houston Comets of the WNBA before they folded.His catch phrase is "Oohhhhh, That's a Fact Jack"....
, a Houston-based
mattressA mattress is a manufactured product to sleep or lie on, consisting of resilient materials and covered with an outer fabric or ticking. In the developed world it is typically part of a bed set and is placed upon a foundation....
and
furnitureFurniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things...
businessman. Two weeks later, Comets assistant coach Karleen Thompson was named to become the team's new Head Coach and General Manager for the 2007 season.
For the 2007 season, they would miss the playoffs for the second time in franchise history after starting the season 0-10, resulting in a 13-21 record.
On December 12, 2007, team owner Hilton Koch announced that the Comets would be moving from the
Toyota CenterThe Toyota Center is an indoor arena located in downtown Houston, Texas. It is named after the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. The arena is home to the Rockets of the National Basketball Association, the principal owners of the building, and the Aeros of the American Hockey League.Rockets...
to
Reliant ArenaThe Reliant Arena, formerly the "Astroarena", is a 350,000 square feet sports center in Reliant Park, in Houston, Texas, USA. It is one of the state's major arenas and convention centers. Reliant became the home of the Women's National Basketball Association's Houston Comets for what proved to...
for the 2008 WNBA season. This resulted in a loss of fans. The Compaq Center drew 13,000 fans, but the Reliant Arena could only house 7,200. In 2008, the Comets' final year, they only drew an average 6,000 fans per game and sold out four games.
End of the Era (2008)
In 2008, Koch put the team up for sale, asking $10 million USD. No investors stepped up. The WNBA took over management of the Comets and disbanded the team in December 2008. They stated that they would only be suspending operations in 2009, which some people saw as a sign that the franchise could be revived if an investor came in. Comets players were sent off to other teams in a dispersal draft.
League president Donna Orender said that the collapse of the Comets was not a sign that the WNBA was in trouble. Former player Cynthia Cooper-Dyke said that the loss of the Comets was "disturbing news" and that the Comets were integral to the WNBA.
The Comets played their final home game on September 15, 2008 at the
Strahan ColiseumStrahan Coliseum is a 7,200-seat multi-purpose arena in San Marcos, Texas. It was built in 1982 and is home to the Texas State University Bobcats basketball team....
on the campus of Texas State due to
Hurricane IkeHurricane Ike was the second-costliest hurricane ever to make landfall in the United States, the costliest hurricane ever to impact Cuba and the second most active hurricane to reach the Canadian mainland in the Great Lakes Region after Hurricane Hazel in 1954...
. They defeated the
Sacramento MonarchsThe Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
90-81. They finished the season 17-17 and missed the playoffs for the third time in their history.
Season-by-season records
| Season |
Team |
Conference |
Regular Season |
Playoff The WNBA Playoffs is a best-of-three elimination tournament between eight teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association , ultimately deciding the final two teams who will play in the WNBA Finals....
Results |
Head coach |
| W |
L |
PCT |
| Houston Comets |
| 1997 -External links:*...
|
1997 The 1997 WNBA season was the 1st season for the Houston Comets. The Comets won the inaugural WNBA Finals.-Initial Player Allocation:-WNBA Draft:-Season Schedule:-Player stats:*Janeth Arcain ranked second in the WNBA in Free Throw Pct with .894...
|
East The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference...
|
1st |
18 |
10 |
.643 |
Won WNBA Semifinals (CharlotteThe Charlotte Sting was a Women's National Basketball Association franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina and it was one of the league's eight original teams. The team folded on January 3, 2007....
, 1–0)
Won WNBA Finals (New YorkThe New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
, 1–0) |
Van Chancellor Van Chancellor is the former Louisiana State University women's basketball coach. He was named head coach on April 11, 2007, replacing Pokey Chatman. In 2001, Van Chancellor was elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Knoxville, Tennessee...
|
| 1998 -External links:**...
|
1998 The 1998 WNBA season was the 2nd season for the Houston Comets. The Comets won their 2nd straight championship. Their record of 27-3 remains the best in league history.-WNBA Draft:-Season Schedule:-Playoffs:-Awards and honors:...
|
West The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
|
1st |
27 |
3 |
.900 |
Won WNBA Semifinals (CharlotteThe Charlotte Sting was a Women's National Basketball Association franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina and it was one of the league's eight original teams. The team folded on January 3, 2007....
, 2–0)
Won WNBA Finals (PhoenixThe Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
, 2–1) |
Van Chancellor Van Chancellor is the former Louisiana State University women's basketball coach. He was named head coach on April 11, 2007, replacing Pokey Chatman. In 2001, Van Chancellor was elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Knoxville, Tennessee...
|
| 1999 -External links:**...
|
1999 The 1999 WNBA season was the 3rd season for the Houston Comets. The Comets won their third WNBA Finals.-WNBA Draft:-Season Schedule:-Playoffs:...
|
West The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
|
1st |
26 |
6 |
.813 |
Won Conference Finals (Los AngelesThe Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
, 2–1)
Won WNBA Finals (New YorkThe New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
, 2–1) |
Van Chancellor Van Chancellor is the former Louisiana State University women's basketball coach. He was named head coach on April 11, 2007, replacing Pokey Chatman. In 2001, Van Chancellor was elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Knoxville, Tennessee...
|
| 2000 -External links:**...
|
2000 The 2000 WNBA season was the 4th season for the Houston Comets. The Comets won their fourth WNBA Finals and their last title in franchise history before disbanding in 2008.-WNBA Draft:-Season Schedule:-Playoffs:-Awards and honors:...
|
West The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
|
2nd |
27 |
5 |
.844 |
Won Conference Semifinals (SacramentoThe Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
, 2–0)
Won Conference Finals (Los AngelesThe Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
, 2–0)
Won WNBA Finals (New YorkThe New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
, 2–0) |
Van Chancellor Van Chancellor is the former Louisiana State University women's basketball coach. He was named head coach on April 11, 2007, replacing Pokey Chatman. In 2001, Van Chancellor was elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Knoxville, Tennessee...
|
| 2001 -External links:**...
|
2001 The 2001 WNBA season was the 5th season for the Houston Comets. The team advanced to the WNBA Playoffs, but later failed to conquer for a fifth consecutive championship.-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:-References:...
|
West The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
|
4th |
19 |
13 |
.594 |
Lost Conference Semifinals (Los AngelesThe Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
, 0–2) |
Van Chancellor Van Chancellor is the former Louisiana State University women's basketball coach. He was named head coach on April 11, 2007, replacing Pokey Chatman. In 2001, Van Chancellor was elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Knoxville, Tennessee...
|
| 2002 -External links:***...
|
2002 The 2002 WNBA season was the 6th season for the Houston Comets. They made their best record in two years at 24-8. Despite with that, they eventually lost in the first round to the Utah Starzz.-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:-References:...
|
West The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
|
2nd |
24 |
8 |
.750 |
Lost Conference Semifinals (Utah The Utah Starzz were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They began play in the 1997 WNBA season as one of the league's eight original teams. The Starzz relocated, in 2003, to San Antonio, Texas where the team became the San Antonio Silver Stars...
, 1–2) |
Van Chancellor Van Chancellor is the former Louisiana State University women's basketball coach. He was named head coach on April 11, 2007, replacing Pokey Chatman. In 2001, Van Chancellor was elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Knoxville, Tennessee...
|
| 2003 -External links:***...
|
2003 The 2003 WNBA season was the seventh for the Houston Comets. Former WNBA MVP Cynthia Cooper came out of retirement and played four games with the Comets. This was their final year in the Compaq Center.-Dispersal Draft:-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:...
|
West The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
|
2nd |
20 |
14 |
.588 |
Lost Conference Semifinals (SacramentoThe Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
, 1–2) |
Van Chancellor Van Chancellor is the former Louisiana State University women's basketball coach. He was named head coach on April 11, 2007, replacing Pokey Chatman. In 2001, Van Chancellor was elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Knoxville, Tennessee...
|
| 2004 -External links:***...
|
2004 The 2004 WNBA season was the 8th season for the Houston Comets. The Comets missed the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.-Dispersal Draft:Based on the Comets' 2003 record, they would pick 8th and 11th in the Cleveland Rockers dispersal draft...
|
West The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
|
6th |
13 |
21 |
.382 |
|
Van Chancellor Van Chancellor is the former Louisiana State University women's basketball coach. He was named head coach on April 11, 2007, replacing Pokey Chatman. In 2001, Van Chancellor was elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Knoxville, Tennessee...
|
| 2005 -External links:***...
|
2005 The 2005 WNBA season was the 9th season for the Houston Comets. The Comets knocked off defending champion Seattle Storm in the first round, but they were unable to get past the eventual champion Sacramento Monarchs in the conference finals.-WNBA Draft:...
|
West The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
|
3rd |
19 |
15 |
.559 |
Won Conference Semifinals (SeattleThe Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
, 2–1)
Lost Conference Finals (SacramentoThe Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
, 0–2) |
Van Chancellor Van Chancellor is the former Louisiana State University women's basketball coach. He was named head coach on April 11, 2007, replacing Pokey Chatman. In 2001, Van Chancellor was elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Knoxville, Tennessee...
|
| 2006 -External links:*******...
|
2006 The 2006 WNBA season was the 10th season for the Houston Comets. The Comets qualified for the WNBA Playoffs for the 9th and last time in franchise history...
|
West The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
|
3rd |
18 |
16 |
.529 |
Lost Conference Semifinals (SacramentoThe Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
, 0–2) |
Van Chancellor Van Chancellor is the former Louisiana State University women's basketball coach. He was named head coach on April 11, 2007, replacing Pokey Chatman. In 2001, Van Chancellor was elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Knoxville, Tennessee...
|
| 2007 -External links:* * * * * * * *...
|
2007 The 2007 WNBA season was the 11th season for the Houston Comets. The team started the season 0-10, finishing 13-11 in the remainder part of the season, and missing the playoffs for the first time in four years. It was also their last year playing at the Toyota Center.-Dispersal Draft:Based on the...
|
West The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
|
5th |
13 |
21 |
.382 |
|
Karleen Thompson |
| 2008 -Season Highlights:*Candace Parker becomes the second and third player in WNBA history to dunk in a regular season game.*A fight breaks out between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Detroit Shock resulting in four ejections and ten suspensions....
|
2008 The 2008 WNBA season was the 12th and final season for the Houston Comets. The Comets were not able to return to the postseason for the first time since 2006...
|
West The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
|
5th |
17 |
17 |
.500 |
|
Karleen Thompson |
| Regular Season |
241 |
149 |
.618 |
4 Conference Championships |
| Playoffs |
20 |
14 |
.588 |
4 WNBA Championships |
Former Comets
- Matee Ajavon
Matee Ajavon is a Liberian American player in the WNBA for the Washington Mystics. A 5'8" guard, Ajavon was chosen by the Houston Comets as the fifth overall draft pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft.-Early life:...
, now a member of the Washington MysticsThe Washington Mystics is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1998 season. The team is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment , who also owns the Mystics'...
- Janeth Arcain
Janeth dos Santos Arcain is a retired Brazilian professional women's basketball player. She played in the United States for the Houston Comets in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997–2005.-WNBA career:Arcain was one of the original players selected from the WNBA's inaugural...
- Octavia Blue
Octavia Blue is a American former WNBA player with the Los Angeles Sparks and Houston Comets. She played during the 1998, 2003 and 2004 seasons.-External links:* wnba.com...
- Latasha Byears
Latasha Nashay Byears is a former American professional women's basketball player. She played in the WNBA for the Sacramento Monarchs, the Los Angeles Sparks, the Washington Mystics, and the for the Houston Comets...
- Dominique Canty
Dominique Danyell Canty is an American professional women's basketball player with the Chicago Sky in the WNBA.-High School and College:...
, now a member of the Chicago SkyThe Chicago Sky is a professional basketball team based in Rosemont, Illinois, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2006 WNBA season began. The team is owned by Michael J. Alter and Margaret Stender...
- Cynthia Cooper
Cynthia Lynne Cooper is a former American basketball player who has won championships in college, the Olympics, and in the Women's National Basketball Association . She is considered by many as one of the greatest women's basketball players ever. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the...
, now the Head Coach at UNC Wilmington
- Tamecka Dixon
Tamecka Michelle Dixon is an American professional basketball player. She announced her retirement prior to the 2010 WNBA season.-High school:...
- Ukari Figgs
Ukari Okien Figgs is a former collegiate and professional basketball player.- High School and College years :...
- Sonja Henning
Sonja L. Henning is an attorney and former collegiate and professional basketball player. She grew up in Racine, Wisconsin, where she attended Horlick High School.-Stanford University:...
- Tammy Jackson
Tammy Eloise Jackson is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a center in the Women's National Basketball Association for six seasons in the 1990s and early 2000s. Jackson played college basketball for the University of Florida, and played professionally for the...
- Shannon Johnson
Shannon Regina Johnson is an American basketball player who last played for the Seattle Storm in the WNBA.-Career:...
- Amanda Lassiter
Amanda Lassiter is a professional basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association , currently with the Chicago Sky....
- Edwige Lawson
Edwige Lawson , also Edwige Lawson-Wade, is a French professional women's basketball player for the WNBA's San Antonio Silver Stars. Edwige has played in numerous other professional basketball leagues as well. She started her professional career at the age of 17...
- Tynesha Lewis
Tynesha Rashaun Lewis is a former American professional women's basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association ....
- Rebecca Lobo
Rebecca Rose Lobo-Rushin is an American television basketball analyst and a former player in the professional Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 to 2003...
, now working for ESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
- Sancho Lyttle
Sancho Lyttle is a professional basketball player born in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with Spanish citizenship. She is currently a power forward in the WNBA for the Atlanta Dream. Through her career, she has scored 1,505 points, collected 1,041 rebounds, and has 200 assists, 242 steals, and...
, now a member of the Atlanta DreamThe Atlanta Dream is a professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2008 WNBA season began. The team is owned by Dream Too LLC, which is composed of two Atlanta...
- Mwadi Mabika
Mwadi Mabika is a Congolese basketball player and an All-Star in the Women's National Basketball Association ....
- Hamchétou Maïga
Hamchétou Maïga-Ba is a Malian professional women's basketball player most recently with the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA. She is also a member of the Mali women's national basketball team.-At Old Dominion:...
- Kim Perrot
Kim Perrot , was an American basketball player. She played in the WNBA for the Houston Comets.Perrot attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana , and played four years there as a guard...
- Jennifer Rizzotti
Jennifer Rizzotti is a retired American collegiate and professional basketball player, and current Division I coach. She is the daughter of Tom Rizzotti and Carol Rizzotti.-College:...
, now the head coach at Hartford University
- Michelle Snow
Donnette Jé-Michelle Snow is an American professional basketball player from the WNBA. She currently plays the center position for the Chicago Sky.-High school years:...
, now a member of the Chicago SkyThe Chicago Sky is a professional basketball team based in Rosemont, Illinois, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2006 WNBA season began. The team is owned by Michael J. Alter and Margaret Stender...
- Dawn Staley
Dawn Michelle Staley is an American basketball player and coach. Staley is a three-time Olympian and was elected to carry the United States flag at the opening ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics. She was named the University of South Carolina women's head basketball coach on May 7, 2008...
, now the head coach at the University of South CarolinaThe University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
- Sheryl Swoopes
Sheryl Denise Swoopes is an American professional basketball player who, subsequent to being waived into free agency, signed to re-join the WNBA to play with the Tulsa Shock in 2011. She was the first player to be signed in the WNBA when it was created. She has won three Olympic Gold Medals and...
now a member of the Tulsa Shock
- Lindsay Taylor
Lindsay Corine Taylor is an American professional basketball player and a former college player who has played in the Women's National Basketball Association , Turkish Women's Basketball League, Ligue Féminine de Basketball , the WKBL, Polish Women's League, and the Women's Chinese Basketball...
- Tina Thompson
Tina Marie Thompson is a professional basketball player in the WNBA for the Los Angeles Sparks. The first draft pick in WNBA history, Thompson was selected first by the Houston Comets. She helped lead the Comets to four WNBA Championships...
, now a member of the Los Angeles SparksThe Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
- Amaya Valdemoro
Amaya Valdemoro Madariaga is a Spanish professional women's basketball player.-WNBA:Valdemoro was selected with the 30th overall pick in the 1998 WNBA Draft by the Houston Comets...
- Coquese Washington
Coquese Makebra Washington is a former collegiate and professional basketball player who currently serves as the head coach of Penn State's women's basketball team. Washington holds a law degree, and was also the first president of the WNBA Players Association, holding that position from 1999 to...
, now the head coach at Penn State University
- Kara Wolters
Kara Wolters is a retired American collegiate and professional basketball player.Standing at six feet and seven inches , she was appropriately nicknamed "Big Girl". She is the tallest player in University of Connecticut women's basketball history and one of the tallest women to ever play in the WNBA...
- Monica Lamb-Powell
Monica Lamb-Powell or Monica Lamb is an American former basketball player. She played for the Houston Comets in the WNBA and US National Teams. She is now the founder and president of the Monica Lamb Wellness Foundation.- External links :*...
, now the president of the Monica Lamb Wellness Foundation
Coaches and others
Head Coaches:
- Van Chancellor
Van Chancellor is the former Louisiana State University women's basketball coach. He was named head coach on April 11, 2007, replacing Pokey Chatman. In 2001, Van Chancellor was elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Knoxville, Tennessee...
(1997–2006) (currently the women's basketball coach at Louisiana State UniversityLouisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
)
- Karleen Thompson (2007–2008)
External links