Comets to Retire Cynthia Cooper\'s #14; Jersey to be Retired on July 15 vs. Detroit
July 14, 2004 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Houston Comets News Release
Houston, TXâ Houston Comets Owner Leslie Alexander has named tomorrow, July 15 vs. the Detroit Shock as "Cynthia Cooper Night," where the team will retire the #14 jersey during a halftime ceremony. The first 5,000 fans through the doors will also receive a Cynthia Cooper Water Bottle. Cooper, who announced her retirement from the WNBA on May 2, 2004, was a two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player (1997, 1998). She finished her WNBA career with averages of 21.0 points, 4.9 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 124 games with the Comets.
The #14 will be only the second number ever retired by the Comets. The Comets retired jersey #10 in honor of the late Kim Perrot on July 29, 2000, which was the first player's jersey ever retired in the history of the WNBA.
Cooper (5-10, USC â86) helped the team win four consecutive titles and was named WNBA Finals MVP in each of the championship runs (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000). She ranks as Houston's all-time leader in scoring average (21.0), free throw percentage (.871) and assists per game (4.9). Cooper became the first player in WNBA history to reach the marks of 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 2,500 points. A four-time All-WNBA First-Team member (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000), Cooper was voted in as a starter to three WNBA All-Star Games (1999, 2000, 2003). Cooper, who topped the league in scoring in 1997 (22.2 ppg), 1998 (22.7 ppg) and 1999 (22.1 ppg), recorded 16 games of 30-plus points in her career. She also recorded the first two 40-point games in WNBA history (44 at Sacramento on July 25, 1997; 42 vs. Utah on August 16, 1999).
She currently serves as color analyst for Comets telecasts on KNWS TV51 and is studio analyst and halftime feature reporter for the Houston Rockets broadcast team.
Tickets are available at Toyota Center Box Office or at most area Randalls locations. Tickets may also be purchased by phone on the toll-free hotline at 1-877-COMETS-WIN or by going on-line at www.houstoncomets.com. Prices for lower-level seats start at just $10. For season tickets, mini-plans or group tickets, call (713) 627-WNBA.
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