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Swoopes is the obvious choice
Posted: Thursday June 15, 2000 10:49 AM
Sheryl Swoopes sat in the locker room, proudly proclaiming she was one of 23 players who were notified by USA Basketball that they were being considered for the last spot on the U.S. Women's Senior National Team, the athletes who will make up the 2000 Olympic team. Come on. Couldn't USA Basketball have saved all that postage, and just sent one letter, maybe even flowers and candy, begging Swoopes to join the team? Is there a need for any drama? Swoopes, who turned down the invitation to train with the U.S. team in the offseason because of childcare issues, is the leading candidate for the last spot, and the U.S. team desperately needs her talents on the floor if it is to defend its 1996 Olympic gold medal. At 29, Swoopes offers everything the U.S. Team needs -- experience, good defense, a great shooting touch and the quickest first step in the world. Swoopes, who averaged 13 points and shot 60 percent in the '96 Games, is off to her best start of her career in the WNBA. She is shooting 52 percent and averaging 24 points, 2.86 steals, 3.9 assists and 5.9 rebounds. Those are the types of numbers the U.S. team needs, and USA Basketball should do whatever it takes to get her on the team. Indications are, it won't take much. "I'd definitely have to consider it if they asked me to play," Swoopes said. "Any time you have an opportunity to represent your country, you have to take advantage of that. Right now my focus is on the WNBA, but playing in the Olympics, very few people get to know what that feels like." It's doubtful the euphoria surrounding USA's romp through the '96 field in Atlanta could be topped in the 2000 Games. Certainly, no one is expecting the U.S. to dominate, and the Americans could even be considered underdogs to Australia. The U.S. team resumes training on Aug. 14. "Everyone wants to beat the U.S.," said Swoopes, talking like she already is a member of the team. "The biggest thing for us is going to be fatigue. Most of the team trained eight or nine months beforehand, then jumped into the WNBA season. Hopefully none of us will get hurt during the season, but it'll be interesting to see how we respond to the fatigue." Swoopes is in some of the greatest shape of her life, after spending the first two years in the WNBA recovering from her pregnancy with her son, Jordan. She spent four hours a day playing pickup games in Houston, then worked on shooting drills and weights and conditioning after that. "I'm never satisfied with my game, but I do feel good about it," she said. "The first year I felt I was there only for promotional reasons because of Jordan and the second year I still wasn't in the shape I knew I could be in. Last year I was going through a divorce and Kim's [Perrot] illness. This year I'm having fun and playing relaxed."
Just in CaseJust for kicks, or for some unexpected reason Swoopes doesn't take the last spot on the Olympic roster, here are a few players USA Basketball would have to consider. First is Phoenix's Brandy Reed , one of the up-and-coming players in the WNBA who is averaging 19 points. Her only negative is her off-court troubles in Minnesota last year. USA Basketball doesn't like PR problems, and although Reed hasn't had any trouble this year, USA Basketball still might hesitate to choose her because of the history.Even at 37-years-old, Houston's Cynthia Cooper is still one of the most dangerous, and determined players in the world. She resigned from the national team because she couldn't commit to the long training period, but might be talked back into the fold. Utah's Adrienne Goodson has a similar style to Swoopes and is having the kind of year that should get her noticed. She is ranked 10th in the league, averaging 16.4 points. Orlando's Nykesha Sales also is off to a fast start, averaging 15.9 points. She has improved most in her outside shooting, ranking third in the league shooting 51.5 percent.
Azzi's Return SetJennifer Azzi , Utah's point guard who broke her hand in a preseason game on May 14, is set to return July 7, when the Starzz play Detroit at home. Azzi was acquired from the Shock on April 24 for Utah's first round draft picks, No. 3 and No. 8 overall. Azzi had the cast removed from her right hand on Monday and is cleared to start range of motion exercises. She was supposed to be the missing link this year for the Starzz, who have hovered at the bottom of the Western Conference every year. Not surprisingly, the Starzz have struggled without her, averaging 19 turnovers a game with the point guard duties splint between second-year player Dalma Ivanyi and rookie Stacy Frese.
Fouls Slowing VodichkovaSeattle coach Lin Dunn is considering using Kamila Vodichkova , the Storm's 6-foot-4 first round draft pick, more off the bench rather than starting her because fouls are knocking her out of her rhythm early in the game. Vodichkova is the Storm's second-leading scorer, averaging 10.4 points and 5.9 rebounds, but is playing just 24 minutes a game. Dunn thinks Vodichkova, from the Czech Republic, will settle into the game easier if she brings her off the bench.
Lya Wodraska is a sports writer for the Salt Lake Tribune.
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