Winning A Professional

WINNING A PROFESSIONAL sports league’s first championship happens only once. But for Cynthia Cooper, coming home meant more than capturing the WNBA’s first title in 1997.

Boasting the best record in the Women’s National Basketball Association, the Houston Comets tangled with the New York Liberty on their home court in front of 16,285 fans. Despite Houston’s stellar mark, the Liberty had beaten the Comets in all three regular season encounters.

With New York’s Rebecca Lobo scoring 16 points in the Liberty’s 59–41 semifinal win over Phoenix, Houston coach Van Chancellor handed rookie Tina Thompson the assignment of guarding the all-star center. The first player taken in the WNBA draft responded like a veteran by holding Lobo to nine points.

Tough defense from both teams dominated the contest as Houston pulled in front 28–24 at the half. Early in the second half, the Comets erupted for a 10–0 run, but the Liberty closed to 50–43 with a little over three minutes remaining. Down the stretch, Cooper took command. The 32-year-old guard sank eight successive free throws to clinch the 65–51 victory, giving the Comets the first WNBA crown.

Playing the entire 40 minutes, the former USC All-American scored 25 points, grabbed four rebounds, dished out four assists, made two steals, and blocked a shot to claim the league’s first championship series Most Valuable Player award.

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POINT Cooper not only came home to Houston and a victory, she came home to play in front of her mother Mary Cobbs, who battled breast cancer. Cynthia Cooper cherished home and family. And we should do the same. Our parents may come down on us every once in a while and our siblings may occasionally annoy us—nothing on earth is perfect. But deep down we have to admit that we love our family.

God created homes to provide loving, safe places for kids to grow and thrive. The heavenly Father made mothers and fathers to teach their offspring right from wrong and to show them his way. Then the Lord planned for the children to grow up to establish their own homes and teach their children and their children’s children until the end of time.

GOAL! Trace the branches of your family tree on a free Internet site. Thank God for family members who cherish you.