Q&a Sheryl Swoopes

SI: The Comets of the late 1990s won the first four WNBA championships but are rarely mentioned among the great sports dynasties. Where should you be ranked?

Swoopes: I don't think we get enough credit. I would say we deserve to be ranked in the top five when you think about dynasties in any sport.

SI: Who is the toughest player to guard in the league?

Swoopes: [Indiana Fever forward] Tamika Catchings, by far. She brings it every night, and if she's not scoring, she won't slack off defensively.

SI: It's been eight months since you revealed that you are gay. Has the public's reaction been what you expected?

Swoopes: The support I have gotten has been phenomenal. Before the announcement, when they introduced me, I would get claps from fans at away games. This year I've been on five road trips, and I have gotten standing ovations--and not just from gay women or gay men. It's been very emotional.

SI: Whose support surprised you most?

Swoopes: I was so nervous about going to the NBA All-Star Game in Houston this year because I know so many of those guys in the league. One of the things that has been most special to me was that Shaquille O'Neal and Kevin Garnett came up to me on different occasions. They hugged me and said, "I love you, I'm proud of you and I have your back." To hear that from two of the biggest guys in the NBA did so much for me and my confidence.

SI: Will we see a high-profile professional male athlete come out while still playing?

Swoopes: In my lifetime? No. I think high-profile male athletes feel like they have so much more to lose than to gain. People asked me if I was worried about losing endorsements and stuff. My answer was no. The one thing that I gained, which is bigger than any of that, is peace of mind and my happiness.