Cynthia Cooper
Olympic Gold-Medalist, Two-Time WNBA MVP
Universally considered one of the best women’s basketball players of all time, Cynthia Cooper helped lead the Houston Comets to four consecutive national championships. She won two NCAA basketball titles in college and went on to win an Olympic gold medal in 1988 and a bronze medal in 1992. Cooper is the WNBA’s all-time leading…
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Full Bio
Universally considered one of the best women’s basketball players of all time, Cynthia Cooper helped lead the Houston Comets to four consecutive national championships. She won two NCAA basketball titles in college and went on to win an Olympic gold medal in 1988 and a bronze medal in 1992.
Cooper is the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, and the Houston Comet’s all-time leader in points scored, scoring average, free throw percentage, assists and minutes played. She is also the recipient of two regular season MVP awards, four finals MVP awards and two ESPY Awards.
Motivating audiences with her inspiring story and winning attitude, Cooper describes her childhood in inner-city Los Angeles, through her years as a college player at USC on a basketball scholarship, and as a professional player in Europe for a decade before her recruitment to the Comets (she was the Continent’s leading scorer and her European fans voted her Female Player of the Century). She also discusses her battles off the court–her family’s struggles to survive the temptations of South Central L.A. and her mother’s bout with breast cancer.
Cynthia Cooper had the odds stacked against her while growing up in impoverished Watts, California. She was the middle child of eight siblings, and was abused by both her father and an older brother. But she had a great role model in her mother, who taught her to strive to be the best she could be, no matter what the odds. She has done that and more.
In addition to her basketball talents, Cooper is an accomplished author. She chronicled her remarkable story in “She Got Game: My Personal Odyssey,” and has published a book project with elementary school children titled “Modern Day Fairy Tales.” She is a proponent of Title IX, the federal law enabling gender equality in university sports, and co-chairs a federal commission put forth by President George W. Bush devoted to preserving and improving the law.
An active literacy advocate and mother of twins, Cooper travels the country to promote children’s education issues. She started an inner city after-school program to provide tutoring, computer training and other alternatives to drugs and gangs. After her mother’s bout with breast cancer, Cooper devotes much of her time and money raising awareness of the disease as a spokesperson for Concept Cure.
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LITTLE RIVER BAND OF OTTAWA INDIANS
Our speaker was great and the crowd enjoyed her! She was very engaging. Thank you again PDA for the great list of suggestions!
MEDTRONIC
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UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – KANSAS CITY
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BAYLOR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
We had a fantastic day with Inge! She was very engaging with all those that attended. Her personal stories about the holocaust were very special and we were moved that she was willing to share them with everyone. Thank you again, PDA for all your hard work and dedication to make this program such a success!
SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
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SAP COMPANY
Thank you again, Dr. Kimbrough, for a great presentation, our attendees are still talking about it!
CAMPUS LABS
Dr. Henry Lee's presentation was entertaining, insightful and wise. I, and everyone at Pfizer, especially appreciate the remarks you directed about following your passion and preparing yourself to excel. Thank you, everyone, at PDA for helping to make this happen!
PFIZER
The event was successful! I received many messages expressing how awesome, outstanding and inspiring Ms. Webb-Christburg's speech was."
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL BREAKFAST, BOSTON, MLK SPEAKER
Everything went well. Atsuko was very easy to work with and the students enjoyed her performance! Thank you again for your recommendation and I hope to work with you again in the future!
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Novello left this morning after a very successful event on our campus! Thank you PDA Group for your help from the first phone to the last you were with us every step of the way.
GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Jordan Carlos was very very entertaining! A majority of students who answered the event survey indicated they really enjoyed Jordan and definitely will bring him back!
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
On behalf of myself and my organization Entertainment Unlimited the Campus Programming Board of Ferris State University, we thank you PDA and Dan for a successful event!! Dan was magnificent! Students really enjoyed the presentation. I know I did. Can't wait to bring in more programs with PDA Group.
FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
It was a great pleasure to work with PDA Group! The communication was always prompt, friendly and helpful. We loved the speakers and events we booked through Mr. Peter Walker (PDA Group).
WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Thank you, Peter, for all your help, you'll be happy to know that the event went incredibly well! Aneesa Ferreira was by far one of the best speakers we've ever had!
FURMAN UNIVERSITY
Topics
An Evening With Cynthia Cooper
Videos
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke's Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Speech
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