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Money Players
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Cynthia Cooper David E. Klutho |
Here's a friendly piece of advice for
ABL imports and rookie WNBA coaches: When the game is on the line, keep the ball
away from Cynthia Cooper! We asked coaches and players whom they feared most in
the waning seconds of a game, and not surprisingly, the Houston Comets' two-time
MVP ranked first on most ballots. Says Sacramento's Ticha Penicheiro,
"People compare her to Michael Jordan." Just as there's only one MJ,
there's only one CC. But which other players strike terror in the hearts of
opponents?
NANCY LIEBERMAN-CLINE
DETROIT SHOCK COACH
"If [Houston Comets guard Cynthia Cooper] were on my team, I'd love to go to war with the ball in her hands. She is the type of player who is not afraid
of risk or failure. She wants the ball when the game is on the line."
TICHA PENICHEIRO
SACRAMENTO MONARCHS GUARD
"People compare [Cooper] to Michael Jordan all the time and right now she
has two rings in two seasons. You have to look at those types of players that
have proven themselves on the
court."
PENNY TOLER
LOS ANGELES SPARKS GUARD
"[Charlotte Sting guard] Andrea Stinson. She's a good ball handler and a
good shooter. She's a player who can create her own shot, whether it's a jump
shot over you or a drive to the
hoop."
JENNIFER
GILLOM
PHOENIX MERCURY
FORWARD-CENTER
"[Cooper] loves to be in that type of position. She knows how to win
games."
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Lisa Leslie John W. McDonough |
VAN CHANCELLOR
HOUSTON COMETS COACH
"[Los Angeles Sparks center] Lisa Leslie. She's an inside-outside type of
player who can go anywhere. Plus she's big and a consistent
shooter."
RUTHIE BOLTON-HOLIFIELD
SACRAMENTO MONARCHS
GUARD
"[Cooper] is going to find a way to do it. She sees the court and knows how
to make things
happen."
JENNIFER
AZZI
DETROIT SHOCK GUARD
"[Teresa Edwards, late of ABL's Philadelphia Rage] is the best player ever
to play the women's game. She can pass, shoot, and is just explosive in all
areas."
NANCY DARSCH
WASHINGTON MYSTICS COACH
"[Cooper]'s done it so many times, and I also think she's at a place in her
life where she'll either take the shot or can still give it up and find somebody
more open. You just never know which one she's going to do."
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Andrea Stinson Todd Warshaw/ Allsport |
SUZIE MCCONNELL SERIO
CLEVELAND ROCKERS GUARD
"[Phoenix Mercury forward-center] Jennifer Gillom. She's proved again and
again that she can hit the
game-winner. We learned that the
hard way
last
year."
NIKKI MCCRAY
WASHINGTON MYSTICS GUARD
"I don't fear anyone on the court, but [Sacramento Monarchs guard] Ruthie
Bolton-Holifield is the toughest player for me to face. She works as hard as I
do, and I think I'm the hardest-working
player!"
CHERYL MILLER
PHOENIX MERCURY COACH
Reason: "Like [Phoenix's] Jennifer Gillom, [Cooper] is a clutch shooter who
can win any game for her
team."
CYNTHIA COOPER
HOUSTON COMETS GUARD
"Jennifer Gillom. I've just seen her win too many games with huge
last-second
shots."
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