Hall of Fame
CYNTHIA COOPER
CLASS OF 2024
Born in Chicago, Cynthia Cooper began playing basketball at 16 and quickly found her love for the sport while growing up in Los Angeles. In 1983, she enrolled at the University of Southern California, where she helped lead the team to NCAA appearances in all four years and Final Four appearances in three of those seasons.
Cynthia Cooper's introduction at the 2024 Houston Sports Awards.
After playing overseas for nearly ten years after college, Cooper signed with the WNBA and joined the Houston Comets at the age of 34. During her time in Houston, Cooper’s leadership and skillset helped the team secure four consecutive WNBA championships.
She was named WNBA MVP in 1997 and 1998 and earned MVP honors during each of the team’s four WNBA Finals appearances. Cooper became the 1st WNBA player to reach the 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 2,500 point milestones in a career.
Watch former head Houston Comets head coach Van Chancellor present Cyntia Cooper at the 2024 Houston Sports Awards.
Beyond her success in the WNBA, Cooper's basketball career is adorned with numerous accolades. She is a two-time Olympic medalist, a 2009 Women's Basketball Hall of Famer, and, in 2010, the first WNBA player to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Get a sneak peek at the HSHOF pendant created for Cynthia by Diamon Cutters International and the jacket custom tailored by Knot Standard.
In the years since her playing days, Cooper has been a collegiate coach for several universities and has dedicated her time to helping young girls achieve their dreams through the game of basketball.
Watch Cynthia Cooper's acceptance speech at the 2024 Houston Sports Awards.
Watch the musical tribute to Cynthia Cooper by Christina Wells at the 2024 Houston Sports Awards.
The Harris County - Houston Sports Authority, with the help of several Houston Rockets staff members surprised Cynthia Cooper at the Toyota Center announcing her induction to the Houston Sports Hall of Fame
Cynthia Cooper signs memorabelia and poses with fellow Houston Sports Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy on the day of her surprise announcement.
Fellow Houston Sports Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes backstage with Cynthia Cooper after her induction into the HSHOF at the 2024 Houston Sports Awards.
