The Official 2026 Public Vote

Your Vote Shapes the Hall

Explore the official candidates and cast your votes for the individuals you believe deserve a place in the United States Athletics Hall of Fame.

Cynthia Cooper

  • Contest: The US Athletics Hall of Fame - Athletes 2026
  • Embed from Getty Images
  • Sport(s): Basketball
  • Statistics & Accolades: 4 WNBA Championships (1997, 1998, 1999 & 2000)
    2 WNBA MVPs (1997 & 1998)
    4 All-WNBA First Teams Selections (1997, 1998, 1999 & 2000)
    3 WNBA All-Star Games (1999, 2000 & 2003)
    3 WNBA Scoring Titles (1997, 1998 & 1999)
    1 Olympic Gold Medal (1988)
    1 Olympic Bronze Medal (1992)
    2 FIBA World Championship Gold Medals (1986 & 1990)
    1 Pan American Games Gold Medal (1987)
    2 NCAA Championships (1983 & 1984)
    Member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
    Member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
    Number retired by USC
    Named one of WNBA’s Top 15 Players of All Time
  • One of the first real female stars in basketball, Cynthia Cooper, was a two-time NCAA Champion at USC in the early 80s and would later win a Gold Medal for the United States at the 1988 Olympics. Plying her trade in the Italian League, where she was an eight-time scoring champion, Cooper returned to the U.S. at age 34 when the WNBA formed in 1997.

    Playing for the Houston Comets, Cooper let them to the first four league titles, winning the Finals MVP in all of them while also winning the scoring title in the WNBA's first three years. Cooper would later become a coach at both the WNBA and NCAA level.

    We are proud to nominate Cynthia Cooper for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.
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