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'I don't go unrecognized' Comets' Thompson content as 'role' player
HOUSTON (CNNSI.com) -- Tina Thompson hasn't exactly been lost in the shuffle for the three-time defending WNBA champion Houston Rockets. But the former top pick in the 1997 WNBA draft has had to carve our a niche as a role player with a team that includes Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes. Playing with those two, Thompson has become the Comets' third option offensively, defends the opposing team's best low-post threat and has set "more hard picks than I ever have in my life." But being a role player hasn't exactly taken the luster off her career. "Coming here, I did have high aspirations," Thompson says. "In college I was the go-to player. But it's not something I'm bitter about. I think you can't be when you have the success we've had on this team." Few can argue with the success of Thompson and the three-time WNBA champion Comets. Despite playing in the shadows of Cynthia Cooper, the WNBA MVP in 1997 and 1998, and Sheryl Swoopes, the league's leading scorer this season, Thompson has carved out quite a niche with the Comets. The Southern Cal product was a member of All-WNBA's first-team in 1997 and 1998, and was recently named as a starter in the All-Star game for the second consecutive season. "I don't go unrecognized," Thompson said. "My role is the third go-to player on this team. But I've got three rings because of that and I wouldn't trade anything for that." After slipping to second-team All-WNBA last season, Thompson is emerging this year as one of the league's best all-around players. She's ranked among the league's top 20 performers in nine different categories, including points, rebounds, blocks, minutes, free throw and field goal percentage. "We wouldn't have three rings without Tina Thompson," Comets coach Van Chancellor says. "She can do so many things right now. I really don't think she's got enough credit for what she's done. Tina changed her role, not me." Part of that role was Thompson becoming more of a scoring threat on a team that already has two of the WNBA's top four scorers in Swoopes and Cooper. Thompson's scoring average this season increased by more than five points to 17.4, good for seventh in the league. But it's her prowess from behind the 3-point arc that has helped the Comets remain the league's top team with a 19-2 record after Wednesday's 77-62 victory over Sacramento. Even as a 6-2 power forward, Thompson leads the WNBA in 3-point shooting percentage -- making more than 44 percent of her attempts. Her precision from the outside has opened up the lane for explosive wing players Swoopes, Cooper and point guard Janeth Arcain, making the Comets an even tougher defensive assignment than in previous years. "I think the fact that I can play the outside game or I'm able to venture away from the post adds to the versatility of the team," Thompson said. "It gives us a component that no other team in this league has. I think if I couldn't shoot outside shots, then our pick-and-roll wouldn't be as effective." Swoopes, who has benefited from Thompson's improvement as much as anyone, said the Comets' offense now has a number of weapons for a run at a fourth straight championship. "Teams have focused so much in the past on guarding Cynthia and then stopping me," Swoopes said. "But this year, teams really have to pay attention to her. Tina is very capable of taking over a game. She is the best 3-point shooter in the game at any position in my opinion." Thompson finally may receive some of the spotlight that has eluded her since her college days with the impending retirement of Cooper at the end of the season. Then, her "role-playing" days will be over. "It's not something that I'm shying away from," she said. "Scoring not being the way I received recognition has definitely opened up a lot for me. Now I understand what it is to be the player that gets in there and mixes it up."
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