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August 11, 2004 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Houston Comets News Release


All-Around Player

Forward Tina Thompson, who is having an MVP-caliber WNBA season and will be making her first appearance in the Summer Games this August, is the only player in WNBA history to rank among the league's Top-10 all-time leaders in total points (#2, 3,536), total rebounds (#4, 1,554), 3-pointers made (#3, 321) and total blocks (#9, 191).

Player of the Week

Tina Thompson was named WNBA Player of the Week for games played Monday, July 26 through Sunday, August 2. This was the second time this season Thompson has received the Player-of-the-Week honor. Thompson also captured the first WNBA Player of the Week for games played Thursday, May 20 through Sunday, May 30. In her September return to WNBA action, Thompson has the opportunity to become the first player in Comets history to earn WNBA Player of the Week three times in one season. Guard Cynthia Cooper did it twice in three different campaigns (1997, 1998, 1999), while forward Sheryl Swoopes picked up WNBA Player of the Week two times in 1999.

30 Something

With 31 points vs. Indiana (7/31) heading into the August break, Tina Thompson recorded her third 30-plus-point outing of 2004 and the fifth 30-plus-point game of her career. Thompson, who scored a career-high 35 points on May 23 at New York and had 33 points on July 15 vs. Detroit, became just the seventh player in WNBA history to record three or more 30-plus point games in a single season:

Three or More 30-Plus Point Games in a Season

Cynthia Cooper, Houston (8 in 1997, 4 in 1998, 4 in 1999)

Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles (3 in 1998)

Brandy Reed, Phoenix (4 in 2000)

Katie Smith, Minnesota (3 in 2000, 5 in 2001)

Lauren Jackson, Seattle (4 in 2003, 3 in 2004)

Tamika Catchings, Indiana (3 in 2003)

Tina Thompson, Houston (3 in 2004)

3 for the Road

Tina Thompson will look to continue her hot streak from beyond the 3-point arc when she returns from Athens. Thompson entered August shooting eight-of-nine from 3-point range. She hit four-of-five 3-pointers vs. Seattle (7/27) and was a perfect four-of-four vs. Indiana (7/31).

Stealing a Bit of WNBA History

Sheryl Swoopes will return from Athens with hopes of "stealing" a piece of WNBA history. With 448 career steals, Swoopes is just 16 takeaways shy of catching Los Angeles guard Teresa Weatherspoon (464) for the WNBA's all-time lead in total steals.

Improved Play

The Comets return to play in September on the momentum of a 4-2 run at the end of July. Helping to carry that momentum will be the improved play of guard Sheila Lambert. Over the final six games of July, Lambert averaged 4.3 assists and 8.5 points. During that same stretch, Lambert had only 13 turnovers with 26 assists for a 2.00 assist-per-turnover ratio. Lambert has become a regular starter for the Comets this season (19 starts in 2004), while setting single-game career highs in points (19 on July 15 vs. Detroit), rebounds (11 on June 27 vs. Washington), assists (9 on July 17 vs. Connecticut), steals (3 on July 15 vs. Detroit) and blocks (2 on June 30 at Minnesota).

What They Were Saying Heading into the August Break

Indiana Fever Head Coach Brian Winters on Tina Thompson (7/31/04): "She's back to the Tina Thompson of old. She had an injury earlier in the year and they missed her and lost a bunch of games in a row. The last time we played them was about 10 days ago and it was her second game back. I thought there was still some rust on her game, but obviously in the last few games, that rust has come off pretty quickly. She played a hell of a game today. She was terrific. She made them inside and outside. That's why she's an Olympian."

Comets "Summer Swing" Community Outreach Month

Center Tiffani Johnson will be sharing pro-ball techniques at her Second Annual Tiffani Johnson Girls Basketball Camp, August 14-15 at the First Ward Recreation Center in Charlotte, NC. ... Center Michelle Snow will appear at 97.9 The Boxx "Stuff the Bus" back-to-school promotion on August 12 at the Wal-Mart on Dunvale at Westheimer in Houston. "Stuff the Bus" is a project where the public donates schools supplies to fill up a bus for underprivileged students within HISD. ... Comets Assistant Coach Kevin Cook will host a series of basketball camps during the month of August. ... The Houston Comets Caravan will be making several stops during the month of August. The Comets Caravan, which brings the excitement of a Comets game to events with basketball contests, inflatables and interactive games, will make a stop at Moody Park for the Northside Community Health and Resources Fair on August 13. The Comets Caravan will then travel to Joe Myers Toyota for the Joe Myers Toyota DNA LifePrint National Child Safety event on August 14. DNA LifePrint is endorsed by John Walsh and will provide DNA kits to many of the children in the area. ... The Comets will also have Read to Achieve events on August 19 and August 26.



Women's National Basketball Association Stories from August 11, 2004


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