| | Associated Press
HOUSTON -- Normally unflappable Cynthia Cooper, MVP of the
WNBA finals for all three years of the league's existence, appeared
unsettled and unsure about her retirement plans Wednesday during a
combative meeting with reporters.
The Houston Comets star berated reporters for indicating her
announcement was provoked in part by unhappiness with her reduced
role in the team's offense.
|  | | Cynthia Cooper also helped the U.S. women's team win the Olympic gold medal in 1988 and bronze in '92. |
"I'm not disgruntled, I'm not angry," she said, visibly
agitated throughout the 10-minute interview session. "I don't have
to justify why I feel like it's time to move on. My retirement is
totally separate from my role on the team. I have made the
adjustment to my role on the team this year."
Cooper announced her plans to retire at the end of the season
Monday night, but left the door open for a return.
"The only chance that I'm going to reconsider is because I'm
human," she said. "I really don't have to make the decision until
next season. As of right now this is my last season."
One of the WNBA's two oldest players, Cooper, 37, was the
league's scoring champion in its first three seasons and the
regular season MVP in 1997 and 1998. In this year's season opener,
she became the first player in the league to reach 2,000 points.
But with the emergence of Sheryl Swoopes, Tina Thompson and
Janeth Arcain as more potent weapons, Cooper's scoring average this
season dipped by almost four points from her career average.
"I'm still on top of my game," she said. "Now I think I'm in
a supporting role, but I'm not jealous of my teammates. I've played
too much basketball and we've enjoyed too much success for that to
be the case."
Cooper said she made the announcement in the middle of the
season so Comets' fans wouldn't be caught off-guard by her
decision.
"I want to give them a chance to know my intentions," she
said.
After retiring, Cooper said she wants to go into broadcasting or
coaching.
Cooper's retirement would bring to an end a 15-year professional
career that began shortly after she left the University of Southern
California as an unheralded member of a two-time NCAA championship
team featuring Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller.
During 11 years of pro ball overseas, primarily in Italy, Cooper
established herself as one of the world's premier players.
Comets coach Van Chancellor said he hasn't talked to Cooper
about her decision, but insists that she has adapted agreeably to
her lesser offensive role.
"That's her business, I don't need to meet with her about
whether she's retiring or not," he said. "Why in the world would
I want to lose one of the best players to ever play the game? She
can make more plays and do more things than anybody I know of."
Cooper's intentions caught Thompson by surprise, but she
believes her teammate will return for another year.
"She'll be back," Thompson said. "Cynthia has a lot to offer
in this game. Not just with her talents, but with her personality.
She's an incredible role model for the WNBA. She'll definitely
leave an incredible legacy." | |
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Cynthia Cooper of the Houston Comets joins ESPN's Robin Roberts.
RealVideo: 28.8
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