Cynthia Cooper, Usa 

In 1988, she joined the US National Team (along with future stars Teresa Edwards, Katrina McClain, Anne Donovan, Suzie McConnell, Jennifer Gillom, Cindy Brown, Vicky Bullet, and Teresa Weatherspoon) for the Olympics in Seoul, Korea.  From the get-go, the '88 team had one thing on their mind... and it was displayed on their t-shirts: "Sole Goal - Seoul Gold."  Cynthia Cooper was one of three players to average double-figures for the US with 14.2 ppg, along with dominant inside-player Katrina McClain (17.6ppg, 10.4rpg) and tough-as-nails point guard Teresa Edwards (16.6ppg, 3.4apg, 4.6spg).  Behind those three hall-of-famers, the USA brought home the gold medal.

Name: Cynthia Cooper
Nickname: Coop, C-Coop
Born: April 14, 1963
Status: Retired as player in July 2000; Returned to the WNBA April 29, 2003; Retired again on May 02, 2004; Retired as coach of Phoenix Mercury; Active as coach of the Prairie View A&M University Women's basketball team.
Origin: Chicago, Illinois (grew up in Watts, South Central Los Angeles, California)
Height: 5-10/1,78
Weight: 150lbs/68kg
Schools:  Locke High School, University of Southern California
Drafted: 1996, Inaugural WNBA Elite Draft
Languages: English, Italian
Website: InterBasket
Teams (jersey): US National Team, USC Trojans, Houston Comets (14)
Ibn Notes: Cynthia Cooper made the most of her short stint in the WNBA.  Even on a team with worldly talents like Sheryl Swoopes, Tina Thompson, and Janeth Arcain, the veteran Cooper became the leader of the team.  She won back-to-back MVPs, was the league's leading scorer for three of the four years - in 1997 (22.2 ppg), 1998 (22.7 ppg) and 1999 (22.1 ppg) - and with Swoopes, Thompson and Arcain, they dominated the first four years of the WNBA by winning four consecutive Championships (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000). Cooper was named the Finals MVP each of those years and was also named All-WNBA First-Team member through those same years (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000).

Cooper attempted a comeback in 2003, however was only able to play 4 games before her at-the-time 40-year old body succumbed to injuries.  Shortly after missing more games from her third injury that season, Cooper announced her final retirement from basketball. Life after hoops has found her in Houston taking care of her son Tyquon, six nieces and nephews, writing a book (She Got Game released in 2000) as well as trying her hand as both WNBA coach and a coach in the collegiate ranks.