Cynthia Cooper Announces Her Retirement From WNBA

May 2, 2004 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Houston Comets News Release


HOUSTON - Houston Comets guard Cynthia Cooper announced today that she is retiring from the WNBA. A two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player (1997, 1998), Cooper finishes her career with averages of 21.0 points, 4.9 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 124 games with the Comets.

Cooper (5-10, USC '86) announced her return to play for the Comets on April 29, 2003, after serving as head coach of the Phoenix Mercury. She averaged 16.0 points, 5.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds in four starts last season. Cooper became the oldest woman to play in a WNBA game at 40 years, one month and eight days, scoring 11 points with seven assists vs. Seattle on May 22. She scored a season-high 22 points in back-to-back games vs. Connecticut on May 30 and at Minnesota on June 1. Cooper suffered a right shoulder rotator cuff tendon tear at practice on June 2 and was placed on the injured list on June 5. She underwent successful season-ending surgery to repair the torn rotator cuff tendon in her right shoulder on June 13. Despite the injury, Cooper was voted in as a starting guard to the 2003 WNBA All-Star Game.

During her remarkable playing career, Cooper 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 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).

Cooper, who has made Houston her home, just finished her first season as studio analyst and halftime feature reporter for the Houston Rockets broadcast team. She was selected as one of 38 Houston sports legends honored at the opening ceremonies for Super Bowl XXXVIII: A Houston Salute on January 26, 2004. Cooper is also working on a line of women's athletic wear called "One 4 Clothing."

Cynthia Cooper Retirement Press Conference

Sunday, May 2, 2004

Cynthia Cooper

Opening statement... "I am here to announce my retirement from the Comets and professional basketball. I re-injured my shoulder - a slight separation and an injury to my repaired rotator cuff. I just had to sit down with the doc and ask him if I was going to be on and off (injured list) all season long and if this was something that was going to bother me after basketball, and he said it was very possible that could happen. That the next time it could be worse or better. So, that wasn't my goal. I'm here to help the Comets, and I just didn't feel like I could give the Comets 100 percent of myself this season, so I am here to announce my retirement."

On how tough it was to make this decision... "It was tough, but it was also exciting. I'm going to be doing a lot of different things - broadcasting, I have my own clothing line that we're starting, I'm going to get my black belt in taikwondo. My family has always supported me and always been behind me, and now I get a chance to spend a lot more time with my family. While it was very tough to leave professional basketball, and more specifically the Comets, I will always be a part of the Comets/Rockets family, so I won't be too far away from the game of basketball. I'll continue my broadcasting career, and then I'll continue being a pain in coach Chancellor's behind. So, I'll be around. I'll be here. I'll be in the Toyota Center, and I was talking to Stick (William Stickney) at the last practice that I attended and tears just came to my eyes thinking about playing in the Toyota Center, thinking about practicing on the practice court, thinking about being a part of the Comets this year. It's just special to me. It always has been since 1997 and it always will be."

On what she will miss the most... "I think I'll miss the fans. The fans in Houston are great. They've been awesome. They've been special, and they've made my professional career here in Houston special. The fans - they're what really make the professional teams. They are the people that make you play hard every single night. They're the momentum, they're the intensity, they're your focus, and they get you focused. I remember playing in a game and a fan was like, 'Coop, Coop, you missed the last two shots. Pass the ball.' The next offensive stand, I penetrated and got fouled and made the basket. I ran back down the court after I made the free throw, and he looked at me and said, 'Okay. All right. Okay, I get it.' The fans are everything, so I'll miss the fans most. But then I'll miss my teammates, and I'll miss the soreness, the sweating and the competition - the players on the other team trying to get you off your game and you coming in night after night bringing it. So there are a lot of things that I'm going to miss, and I can't just put my finger on one. But if I had to say one thing, it would be the fans."

On if there is one singular moment in her career that stands out... "It would have to be the Olympics, but I'll talk about my Comets career. The second championship was the most special moment in my life, because my mom passed away after that and Kim passed away after that. I just remember my mother's smile when the confetti was coming down. When she was sitting on the stand that we received our trophy on, she was sitting there and she was just smiling, and she had this big sign, 'Super Cooper.' That was my mother. It was just a special moment. It was just a special memory that I'll always have, that I had a chance, that Les Alexander, Carroll Dawson, the Comets/Rockets organization allowed me the opportunity to come back and play professional basketball here in Houston and have some level of success."

On comparing here emotions now with her emotions the last time she said she was retiring... "I really believed last time that I was done. This time I know that I am done, because I want to be able to pick up my kids again. I know that it's time to move on, and not every player knows when it's time to move on. I know in my heart that it's time to move on and it's time to - you know everyone says 'Pass the Torch,' but the torch has already been passed. Sheryl Swoopes has been doing a great job, Tina Thompson is awesome, Michelle Snow...I could go on and on...Dominique Canty...just everyone has really picked up the ball and ran with it, so to speak. I feel excited. I feel excited about the opportunities, the broadcasting, the clothing, interacting with the fans on a different level in a different way. I'm more excited this time because I know at age 41 - I'm done."

Van Chancellor

On how special Cynthia Cooper has been to him and the Comets... "Well, how special is it that a country boy from Mississippi is going to be coaching the Olympic team in Greece this summer? And anybody who knows anything about anything knows that I wouldn't be that coach if it wasn't for Cynthia Cooper and a number of other Comets players, but she led the charge."

On what he remembers most... "I have this (championship) ring on, and I wear this ring in memory of Kim Perrot and what a wonderful experience it was coaching both of them. Cooper had about 30 or 35 one night and we were drilling somebody, and I told her, 'The next time you hit a 3-ball and raise the roof and your man shoots a lay-up on the other end, you're out.' The next play - that happened. She shot a 3-ball and I took her out and took Perrot out with her. Kim said, 'Well, what did I do?' I said, 'You let her shoot it. Both of y'all get over there and sit down.' She thought that was the unfairest thing I'd ever done - taking her out for Cynthia doing it. But I just think about all of the great plays, the will to win and what she has done for our organization. You just cannot measure it. Let me tell you why all the fans love her. In this day and age, you've always heard that there is not a shot that a certain player doesn't like. There is not one autograph that this woman won't sign. When you're a superstar in a league and you're on television, and you'll sign - I've never seen here turn down anybody. Think about that. If you're a great player and you sign everywhere you go, that tells you about the character of this player."

On how you try to fill the void when Cooper leaves... " What you usually do is try to find about three more. That's about the norm - or two more players. Take out the athletic ability, take out the ability to take the ball to the basket and make plays - just the heart and the will to win is the hardest thing to replace. She was just not going to get beat. Not going to get beat. Four championships. Every MVP. She'll be an All Hall of Famer...she's still going to be in a lot of Hall of Fames."

Cynthia Cooper

Closing comments... "I just wanted to close by saying again, thanks. Thanks to the Comets and coach Chancellor and the coaching staff - you guys are great. Thanks for passing to me coach (Kevin) Cook. Thanks for getting on me defensively coach Scotty (Alisa Scott) - defense is not my strong point. I want to thank my husband, Brian, and my family for supporting me through all of the times that I had to get in shape and it took me a little longer than expected. Just thanks to everyone. Thanks to the fans for being a part of the Comets family and always being our sixth man - or our sixth person."



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