Another Legend Speaks
Comets star Tina Thompson comments on her future
Players such as Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoops may have taken some of the spotlight, but Tina Thompson is the preeminent face of the Houston Comets. Representing Houston’s franchise from Day One to now, Thompson’s star shines just as bright as her flashier former teammates.
In recent years, many have wondered how much longer the legend would grace the basketball court as a player. Saturday before playing the Minnesota Lynx, Thompson spoke with Stephen Litel on her future plans. Also giving a brief look back at the accomplishment on her impressive resume that brings her the most pride, Thompson continues SLAM’s discussions with the greatest players in league history.
Sheryl Swoopes last week. Tina Thompson this week. Look out, Lisa Leslie. You’re next.
Have you begun to think about how much longer you’d like to play in the WNBA?
“Yeah, I have for the last few years. Not very much longer.”
Any interest in coaching after your playing days are over?
“Absolutely not. No interest. I just don’t see myself as a coach. Maybe it’s a lack of patience.”
A
ny interest in a front office position or becoming a General Manager of a team?
“Probably not. I think that if I’m involved in basketball in any way, it would probably be as a color analyst or something like that. As far as coaching, front office or anything like that, I don’t see it. Who knows? I mean, I can’t predict the future, but I just don’t see it being in my interest right now.”
Why would working as a color analyst appeal to you?
“Well, I mean I just enjoy watching the game and I tried to be a student of the game when I started my career, so I think I have a pretty good grasp or knowledge of it. I think that would be something that could be appealing.”
Looking back on all your accomplishments on a basketball court, is there one that might stand out from the rest?
“I’ve been very blessed to have a lot of very good things happen to me through basketball, so to pick one out, I don’t know if I could. I mean, just getting a scholarship and being able to go to college would definitely be one of them. I went to Southern Cal, which is a very expensive university, so I don’t know if I would’ve been going there or I’d be up to my head in debt right now considering if I had to pay for it myself. I would think that would be a huge accomplishment, but I mean, I’ve won four championships in the WNBA, as well as Olympic gold medals. All of them have a special spot in my heart, so I don’t know if I could choose any of them.”
What are your overall thoughts of the WNBA from the inaugural season to now and what are your hopes for the future of the league?
“I think the growth has been great. There’s a lot more diversity from when I started. I was one of the very few young players making an impact or even playing a lot of minutes on their team because at that time we were a veteran league. I think, from that aspect, it’s grown tremendously where now you have different generations of basketball in the WNBA. You have this year’s draft picks and then you have the Seimone Augustus and Diana Taurasi and then Lisa Leslie and myself are kind of in a different class. I think just the evolution where you can separate players and kind of put them at a certain time in basketball shows the growth of the WNBA. If players like Candace Parker, Seimone Augustus and Pondexter can continue to come out of that college basketball crop, the sky’s the limit for the WNBA.”
16 Responses to “Another Legend Speaks”
Jul.15 at 4:25 pm
Jukai says:
Even the interviews are more boring in the WNBA…
Jul.15 at 4:57 pm
Dee says:
But you took the time to read the interview and then comment on it? LOL
Jul.16 at 2:23 am
Cindy says:
Always good to hear from Tina! Thanks, Stephen! Jukai, maybe soccer would suit you better.
Jul.16 at 4:12 am
Michael says:
they actually believe their own propaganda, the sky’s the limit!
Jul.16 at 7:39 am
Hursty says:
Why is the photo “name” of Cynthia Cooper when this is an article on Tina Thompson?
Jul.16 at 7:43 am
Hursty says:
That is possibly the shortest interview ever posted on Slam. But thats ok. Quality over quantity right? Right?
Jul.16 at 11:55 am
Tre' says:
Michael says:
they actually believe their own propaganda, the sky’s the limit! – Obviously you do believe their propaganda also because you definitely posted that at 4:12am.
Jul.16 at 12:45 pm
Larry says:
Why is it that men continually bash the WNBA? Is it because they are jealous that the women are more fundamentally sound and play team basketball?
Jul.16 at 5:12 pm
marcusnyc says:
Larry, I agree with you. I go to the NY Liberty games quite often and the level of play is excellent. I think a lot of guys are unable to get past their prejudice about women in sports. That and they probably realize they could not even compete against most of these women. A vast majority of the bashers on these boards probably have never even watched a game.
Jul.16 at 5:20 pm
Darryll says:
Tina is a legend. Thank you very much Tina. I love you and the WNBA. You lady’s are the best. I enjoyed all 12 years of you playing. I am a guy who played college basketball. The guys that bash women basketball can’t play. That’s why they bash. Thanks again Tina I love you and all of the the women of the wnba.
Jul.17 at 12:56 am
Anna says:
Tina has ben a great ambassador of the game. She is truly a class act. As for men constantly bashing the game I know many a male coaches who use film of the women’s game to teach/coach. I know coaches who require male players to attend WNBA games. Let’s not forget the impressive stats on women who actually graduate from college before entering the WNBA!!!
Jul.17 at 3:22 am
Doc Fan says:
For god’s sake,why does this league still exist?
I’m all for equal oppurtunity but if a business venture makes no money,and in fact siphons off its partner organization,its time to fold.
Those passes sure are crisp tho.
And the lay ups?
Awe inducing
Jul.17 at 5:45 am
Michael says:
Tre’, aside from the fact your comment made no f*ckin sense, maybe you should realise that the usa is only country out of close to 200 hundred that make up the world, and we are on different time zones. The WNBA sucks, and you are stupid.
Jul.17 at 9:43 am
Denise Domingue says:
For God’s sake if the men weren’t paid so much money then maybe the women wouldn’t struggle so much financially. And why should ANYONE be paid so much for doing so little. Do you hear of the women being arrested for abuse, drugs, alcohol, robbery and oh yea killing dogs? If you don’t appreciate women’s sports THEN DON’T WATCH IT. I’m sure there is something else to suit your male ego. For myself, I love all women’s sports and hope to see them continue to grow in the future. Love ya Tina, I think you are one of the best.
Jul.19 at 1:32 am
Jukai says:
Candace Parker is changing my opinion of the WNBA. Not only is she the second person to ever dunk in the game, she is actually only the sixth person to jump!
Jul.20 at 6:32 pm
Paul Fitzgerald Bennett says:
I think its a shame that the WNBA has not gotten the attention and recognition it deserves. Pound for pound the ladies are just as talented and actually have more skill level than the men. In the 90s and 2000 you had the best basketball team in any professional basketball league on the planet with the Houston Comets (and its big three, Cooper, Thompson, and Swoopes) who won four titles in a row…something Jordan and the Bulls did not do. And for my money, Cynthia Cooper is the best basketball player (pound for pound) I have ever seen (with the exception of Jordan…maybe).