THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 9, 1995 TAG: 9512090504
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
When Sheryl Swoopes graduated from Texas Tech, she had the kind of credentials that would have made pro basketball scouts salivate.
A national championship to go with Player of the Year honors in 1993. Selection as the Final Four Most Valuable Player after scoring an NCAA championship game record 47 points in the same year. Kodak All-American in 1992. National Junior College Player of the Year in 1991.
The only problem was Swoopes is a woman. And for women basketball players in the United States, there's no place to make a living playing professionally.
The solution for Swoopes - and most other players - was to head overseas.
But with the formation of the USA Basketball Women's National Team, which faces Old Dominion in an exhibition tonight, the pipeline of top American women's players going to foreign countries might dry up.
``Every player on this team feels fortunate not to have to go overseas,'' Swoopes said Friday night after the national team completed an open practice at the ODU field house. ``I'm very grateful.''
For Swoopes and most of the other players, being on the national team is about more than just being able to play for - and in - their country.
The greater good, she said, is in spreading the gospel about the quality of women's basketball nationwide while giving the younger players a role model to look up to.
``I'm hoping that some little girls out there playing will look at us and think that we're doing something for them. We're definitely doing this for the future,'' said forward Katrina McClain, who turned down reported offers of $300,000 to continue playing in Europe before deciding to try out for the national team.
``It's important for us to get seen, for the American public to be exposed to us.''
``I didn't have a female role model to look up to when I was growing up. When I see all these little girls reacting to me the way I acted towards Michael Jordan, it makes me see I am making an impact,'' said Swoopes. ``It's like (teammate) Teresa Edwards said - `Little girls need big girls to look up to.' ''
While Swoopes isn't the only player on the team to make her mark on the college scene, she is one of the most visible. She's played one-on-one against Jordan, her girlhood idol, and is the only women's basketball player to have a shoe named after her - the Nike Air Swoopes.
Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Dawn Staley, all former players of the year, are about to become television personalities as well. The three are featured in a Nike commercial directed by Spike Lee that portrays the trio playing three-on-three basketball against men.
``The thing I loved was it actually showed us playing hardcourt basketball, with men, outdoors,'' Swoopes said.
``It didn't show us being dainty, or saying `This is how you do a layup,' which might have been expected.''
For Swoopes, the commercial - which she praised for showing women as real athletes - was one of the steps necessary if women's basketball is to increase its popularity.
``And it was a long time coming,'' she said. ``Hopefully there will be more.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by CHRISTOPHER REDDICK, The Virginian-Pilot
Former NCAA Player of the Year Sheryl Swoopes works out with U.S.
teammates Friday at ODU field house.
by CNB