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HOUSTON—Sheryl Swoopes is the same person today that she was a year ago—a superstar here on the court for the Comets, one of the WNBA’s true legends and an off-the-court celebrity whose fan appeal crosses every possible barrier. From race to sex to sexual preference.
A three-time Olympic gold medallist and three-time MVP of the WNBA, Swoopes come out publicly as a lesbian last October, making her the highest-profile team sport athlete to come out while playing. She is a spokeswoman for Olivia Cruises, which specializes in tour packages for lesbians.
Swoopes still gets swarmed for autographs. She still gets asked to pose for countless pictures. She still gets who knows how many other non-contractual requests—many of which she fulfills with a smile—on a daily basis.
Sheryl Swoopes is a lesbian … it’s really no big deal.
‘Since I made the announcement (that I am a lesbian), I have not changed. (Instead), I think people around me have changed, not in a good way or in a bad way. I just don’t think people know how to handle the situation; they don’t know what to say, how to approach me, but I’m the same person; I haven’t changed for the good or for the bad,’ Swoopes said last week in an exclusive sit-down interview after her Comets defeated the Washington Mystics, 83-73, before a season-high crowd of 11,315 at the Toyota Center.
Sheryl Swoopes will also attend a very special event after Houston’s July 14 game aginst the Chicago Sky, to benefit Gay Games VII: Friday, July 14, 9 p.m.-Midnight, a Gay Games VII Chicago Women’s Kick-Off Party: Olivia and the Human Rights Campaign present a party featuring Swoopes and LPGA athlete Rosie Jones, plus dancing and special performances. At the Chicago Hilton Hotel, 720 S. Michigan Ave., $25 advance, $35 at the door, www.boxofficetickets.com/hrc or 1-800-494-TIXS. www.oliviacruises.com or see HRC’s Web site at www.hrc.org/gaygames.
The Gay Games has tickets for two WNBA games being held during the Gay Games week. Gather your friends and come out July 14 and July 16 to cheer the Chicago Sky. They take on the Houston Comets (July 14) and the Washington Mystics (July 16). Tickets are $25 and $37. The WNBA Sky will be donating $5 to Gay Games Chicago for every ticket sold. Email tickets@gaygameschicago.org.
‘For me, the one thing (coming out) has done is, it’s given me freedom and that opportunity to go out and just be myself, whether on the court or in life in general. It’s been such a relief. The world knows, so I don’t have to pretend anymore, nor hide. It’s definitely given me a sense of relief and that sense of freedom to just be myself and be me.’
Swoopes has helped carry the Comets to second place in the WNBA’s Western Conference as Houston finished June with an 11-6 mark, within striking distance of Los Angeles.
Away from her traditional basketball garb, Swoopes said things couldn’t be any better with her partner, Alisa Scott, and her son, Jordan, 9.
‘The best since coming out is everyone knowing so I now don’t have to hide,’ Swoopes said. ‘The worst thing is how people around me have changed. I wouldn’t say I have lost friends because the friends who I had, they knew before I came out. But I can see changes.
‘The biggest surprise has been the support I’ve gotten from the fans throughout the WNBA. Not just here in Houston, but everywhere we’ve gone to; the fans have been very, very supportive.’
No surprise, Swoopes is a role model to millions worldwide—of all ages, races and sexual preferences.
‘I’ve always viewed myself as a role model. Whether I choose to or not, whether I like it or not, I think I am. And I take a lot of pride it that,’ she said. ‘I probably would consider myself a bigger role model today since coming out than I was before. And for a whole different audience, including parents who are gay, parents who are straight, kids who are dealing with the (sexual preference) issue. I know a lot of people look at me and say, ‘Wow, Sheryl is well known, a great athlete, a single parent, a Black female, and gay.’ I think I’m a role-model today for a completely different audience, (because I am a lesbian), and that’s something I take a lot of pride in. I would not have it any other way, because I don’t feel as though there are enough of us—Black, female, gay, strong and powerful. And I think there’s a big need for it.’
Swoopes is averaging 14.1 points per game this season, just below her 10-year career average with the Comets (16.9). Swoopes led Texas Tech to the 1993 NCAA Championship and has four WNBA titles with the Comets.
‘Everyone’s different, so everyone handles the situation (of coming out) differently,’ Swoopes said. ‘The one thing I had to deal with and the one thing I had to understand was, there would be good things said and some people would support and encourage you. But, there also would be bad things said about you, and there would be people who question you. They would say, ‘How could you?’ or wonder why, why now. Well, I had to come to a realization that it’s not about everyone else; it’s about me; it’s about what I want, about my happiness. And, for so long, I put everyone else before me; that means everyone else’s happiness and everyone else’s concerns. And I was totally miserable. It wasn’t healthy. I would wake up in the morning miserable, with knots in my stomach. I was so unhappy. I’d go to bed feeling the same way. I’d even go to work, which is playing for the Houston Comets, and would be miserable. I was hurting inside because I wasn’t able to be me, to show my real feelings, to show who I am.
‘Being a teenager nowadays, I know it’s hard dealing with (one’s sexual preference). There are so many issues for teenagers. So, understanding one’s sexuality, or one’s sexual preference, is a tough, tough issue. And, because of (sexual preference issues), other issues come up as well that they also have to deal with. Quite often, they don’t have someone they can go to and talk to, someone who can understand what they’re going through without pre-judging them, or just saying what they’re doing, feeling or thinking is wrong.
‘You need to find someone who will encourage you, someone who will support you. But finding that person is not easy. And it’s still not easy for me.’
But Scott is always there for Swoopes, always caring, always concerned, always loving. They’ve been together for about seven years and the flame is still ever-bright.
‘The first couple of weeks (after the announcement) were a whirlwind, but then we went back to Italy (where Swoopes was playing professionally), so it calmed down,’ Scott said. ‘We came back in March, and that’s when we really started getting the affects of (last) October. It’s been good. It’s been better than we even thought.
‘Nowadays, I think Sheryl is a lot more relaxed; she doesn’t have to worry, so there’s less stress on her, which is good for both of us.
‘The reception Sheryl gets everywhere she goes is incredible. She’s Sheryl Swoopes; it’s like being around a rock star all the time so, sure, at times it gets frustrating. But that comes with the territory. Overall, there’s nothing bad about it. I’m still her biggest fan, her biggest supporter. I just want her to be happy.’
Scott added: ‘She does a phenomenal job with all of the hats that she has to wear. I’m really proud of her for that. I really admire her too for that, too.’
Swoopes and Scott will be in Chicago on July 14—for personal and professional reasons. The Comets play the Chicago Sky, starting at 7:30. The two then will attend the Gay Games VII Chicago Women’s Kickoff Party, starting at 9 p.m., at the Chicago Hilton Hotel (720 S. Michigan Avenue). Olivia and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) will sponsor the three-hour affair, which will be Swoopes’ only Gay Games-related appearance since the Comets play July 16 in Indiana.
‘I wanted to be able to do something and be a part of the Games, and being in Chicago (on July 14) and Olivia being a part of it, this was a natural,’ Swoopes said. ‘I don’t know what my role is going to be (at the party), but I’ll be there. And hopefully I’ll be celebrating after a win; that would be nice. Chicago is an expansion team, but I don’t think they’re playing like an expansion team. You have to be prepared for them, especially playing on the road, regardless of their record.
‘I’m not actually part of the Games, but if there wasn’t a conflict in my schedule, I absolutely would love to be there, be a part of it. Going to this (July 14) event after playing that day, well, I think that shows my dedication and support of the Gay Games, which I think will be a lot of fun. This is an event I’m really looking forward to; I’m really excited.’
Swoopes said she does not know anyone who is competing in the Games or who is attending the event. Would Swoopes ever compete in the Gay Games?
‘Probably not, but, I know you should never say never,’ she said. ‘Regardless, I’d like to be doing something with the Games in some aspect in the future. I definitely could see myself being a part of it. Be it promotions or something else. It’s definitely something I would enjoy doing.’
And maybe even playing volleyball, she said, ‘because I absolutely love volleyball.’
Scott added: ‘I’m excited, really looking forward to July 14. I think it will be big. It will be fun. I think the Games are awesome. I’ve heard a lot about them, and it’s an awesome concept.’
SHERYL SWOOPES SPEAKS:
On the Comets’ come-from-behind win June 29 over Washington:
‘To get another win definitely is great. If we could play all of our games at home, that would be a wonderful feeling. But, we’ve got to find a way to do the same thing on the road that we’re doing at home. Washington is a very good team, so to come in here and walk away with a win definitely is a good feeling.
‘People look at pre-season games and say that they don’t really mean a lot, regardless if they’re at home or on the road. But I view (preseason games) differently. When you play a team in preseason, regardless of where the game’s at, they do matter because if a team beats you, it tends to give them a little more confidence so that when the regular-season starts, they will remember what happens during the preseason. They spanked us in the preseason and then again in our first regular-season game, so, for us to come in here today, this definitely feels good.’
On the season-high crown of 11,315 watching the Washington game:
‘It might be a little more special to me, or it might mean a little more to me, because I have one of those kids who screams and yells and just enjoys being out here. I can honestly say, today, it really made a difference, knowing they were yelling, screaming and pulling for us. That definitely helped us get over that hurdle, especially late in the game.’
On Gay Pride Parades:
‘I would have liked to have attended (the Houston parade), and not to make an excuse, but, our schedule is so crazy that, to be honest, when I get a chance to rest, I do because there’s not much time to rest during the season. But in the future, I absolutely would love to’ be a part of a Pride parade.
Swoopes’ memorabilia will be auctioned July 21 in Lubbock, Texas:
An auction will be held featuring memorabilia from Swoopes’ illustrious career, such as, her 1993 Naismith Trophy, Olympic gold medals, and Texas Tech Lady Raider uniforms, among other things.
The auction, starting at 1 p.m., will be held at B&W Self Storage on 66th Street in West Lubbock, where Swoopes held most of her old Lady Raider memorabilia.