Sheryl Swoops In On Chances

Sheryl Swoopes recently received the ultimate validation that she is a basketball superstar. She had an athletic shoe named after her.

Nike unveiled plans to market a new basketball shoe called “Air Swoopes” that will be at sporting goods stores in the fall. With a barrage of Swoopes posters, she could become the most marketable name in women’s basketball history.

That’s not bad for somebody who has played 23 competitive basketball games since leaving Texas Tech in 1993 with a national championship and national player-of-the-year honors. And only one of those games was in the United States.

“I consider myself very fortunate, very blessed,” Swoopes said. “I’d definitely say women’s basketball has grown so much since 1993 when we won the title. I didn’t think about an endorsement deal when my college career was over. I was shocked but very excited when I talked to Nike about it.”

Swoopes has advanced her career through an unconventional route.

Swoopes played in Italy for three months in 1993 but left because of a contract dispute. Her only other basketball experience since has been as a member of the U.S. national team.

“I think it’s the worst part of being a great female athlete in a team sport in this country,” said Texas Tech women’s basketball coach Marsha Sharp on the lack of women’s pro leagues. “For so many players, there is no place to go. There are no professional leagues here, but I hope to see one in my lifetime.”

Swoopes has been a goodwill ambassador for women’s basketball since leaving Texas Tech. She played a one-on-one exhibition game against Michael Jordan in ‘93 and provided halftime commentary on CBS at the women’s Final Four in April. In her private life, she is planning a June wedding.

Swoopes said she hopes to be just as visible on the court as she is in advertisements. She is in Colorado Springs, Colo., this week to try out for the U.S. National team. The postcollegiate visibility of American women’s basketball players should receive a big boost in the fall as the U.S. prepares for the Olympics.

USA Basketball, the governing organization for women’s basketball in the United States, will hold trials for the team through Thursday.

The selected players, who are expected to be the core of the U.S. Olympic team, will begin training in September and play exhibitions against top-ranked college teams in the fall.

Each player will be paid at least $35,000.

The games will be televised, and Swoopes said there are tentative plans for the team to play Texas Tech in Lubbock.

“It hasn’t been easy,” Swoopes said of her experience since leaving Texas Tech. “I was very disappointed after coming home from Italy because I had to train by myself. I’ve had to work twice as hard, but luckily it has turned out well. I don’t regret anything.”