Only Seven American

ONLY SEVEN AMERICAN professional sports teams have captured four consecutive championships. The Houston Comets did it in stunning fashion by winning the first four WNBA titles. But their quest for trophy number four in 2000 required some last-second heroics.

The Comets hosted the New York Liberty in game two of the best-of-three WNBA championship series. After defeating New York 59–52 on the road, Coach Van Chancellor’s team sought to join men’s basketball’s Boston Celtics, baseball’s New York Yankees, and hockey’s Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders as four-in-a-row title holders.

Despite being the underdogs, the Liberty battled gamely and overcame a 12–2 first-half deficit and a 44–35 second-half margin to lead 64–61 with 31 seconds remaining. Unfazed, Cynthia Cooper, the three-time WNBA championship MVP, fired a shot from beyond the men’s three-point line. The ball touched nothing but net, tying the score and sending the contest into overtime.

Three-pointers by Crystal Robinson and Sue Wicks gave the Liberty a 70–69 edge with a little over two minutes to play, but Sheryl Swoopes put the Comets back in front with two free throws. Cooper hit a running jump shot with just under a minute left, making the score 72–70. Two free throws each by Tina Thompson and Coquese Washington iced the 79–73 victory. For her 25-point effort in her final professional game, Cooper received her fourth MVP award.

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POINT Cynthia Cooper rescued the Houston Comets from defeat. Her strength and rock-solid play saved the victory and gave Houston a four-peat.

Cooper’s job was to play basketball. But other people earn their pay as rescuers in much more stressful arenas. Firefighters, police, and emergency medical personnel save people from injury or death—often putting themselves at risk.

From 1993 to 2002, 1,655 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty, an average of one death every 53 hours.

God wants us to remember the brave people who put their lives on the line for us. And he wants us to know that he’s our ultimate rescuer.

GOAL! Would you risk your life as a police officer, firefighter, or emergency medical rescuer? Praise Jesus for his willing sacrifice to rescue us from sin.