They're Back

September 1, 2004 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Houston Comets News Release


Chancellor, Swoopes and Thompson Bring Home Gold

Under the guidance of USA Basketball and Comets head coach Van Chancellor, the 2004 U.S. Women's Olympic Basketball Team went a perfect 8-0 and captured the gold medal with a 74-63 victory over previously unbeaten Australia (7-1) on August 28 in Athens, Greece. Comets forward Tina Thompson led the team's efforts with 18 points against Australia, including several key baskets down the stretch to earn her first Olympic gold medal. Forward Sheryl Swoopes, who scored a pair of buckets in a 37-second span with 3:15 left to help clinch a 66-62 win in the semifinal game against Russia (8/27), won her third consecutive Olympic gold medal (1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens). Overall, Thompson (14.1 ppg.) and Swoopes (9.1 ppg.) finished two and three, respectively, in scoring for the U.S. Coach Chancellor, who also led the 2002 USA Basketball Women's World Championship Team the gold medal at the 14th FIBA World Championship for Women, now owns a 38-0 record as a USA Basketball head coach. The Comets will honor their returning Olympians in a pre-game ceremony on September 3 vs. Phoenix.

All-Around Player

Forward Tina Thompson looks to continue her MVP-caliber WNBA season when the Comets return to action tonight vs. the Minnesota Lynx (9/1). Thompson is currently 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 returns to action as the reigning WNBA Player of the Week, which she captured for the games played Monday, July 26 through Sunday, August 2. It 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 tonight against the Lynx. Thompson finished July 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 returns 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 tonight on the momentum of a 4-2 run at the end of July. Helping to carry that momentum is 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).

Ole Miss to Honor Scott

Comets assistant coach Alisa Scott will be one of five inductees into the Ole Miss M-Club Athletic Hall of Fame this Saturday, September 4 at the Triplett Alumni Center. Joining Scott in the 2004 class will be Tony Dees, the late Jeff Hamm, Jimmy Heidel and Chris Snopek. The 2004 class will also be recognized prior to the Ole Miss football season-opener against Memphis at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/Hollingsworth Field. http://olemisssports.collegesports.com/genrel/083104aac.html

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 Transactions

The Comets placed guard Gordana Grubin on the suspended list yesterday (8/31) after she elected to leave the team and return home for personal reasons.



Women's National Basketball Association Stories from September 1, 2004


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