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Sheryl Swoopes gets back to her roots

(Mary Kate Ridgway/NBAE via Getty Images)

Sheryl Swoopes loves to garden. And not in the stereotypical, retiree sense. She’s the real deal. A Hall of Farmer, if you will. She and her husband have their own homestead. If they eat it, they grew it. Scarlet kale, buttercrunch lettuce, broccoli, onions, peppers, collard greens, green beans — and that’s just the salad bar.

“It never was something I thought I could do,” Swoopes tells Just Women’s Sports. “But to be able to walk out my back door every morning, walk to my garden and see what a tiny little seed has produced…”

She hesitated, letting out a deep breath.

“It gives me a sense of accomplishment, honestly, that I’ve never felt through playing basketball.”

The basketball court used to be the safe haven for the three-time Olympic gold medalist. But now, at 51, Swoopes has traded in her Nikes for rain boots and yellow-daisy Crocs. Her hands that used to whip the ball back and forth for a killer crosser, now house gardening gloves so the thorns won’t prick during harvest.

“It kind of takes me back to my childhood,” Swoopes says. The vast acres of land in her hometown of Brownsfield, Texas, with a population of less than 10,000, seem to stretch on endlessly. Deliveries come via tractors. The nearest Target is a 40-minute drive away. Swoopes originally dreamed of being a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader or even a flight attendant. But growing up hooping with her brothers outside, basketball ended up being her ticket out of Terry County.

And yet, she came back home.

“I’ve lived in the big city,” Swoopes says, listing the places she resided during her pro career. “Houston, Chicago, Seattle — I’ve done that.”

But this Texas gal is quick to remind you that she’s a farm girl at heart. Brownfield planted the seed from which the Sheryl Swoopes that we know and love sprouted. Air Swoopes. The Female Michael Jordan. The first-ever player signed to the WNBA.

The city’s center has roots that touch a number of milestones in Swoopes’ career. It’s less than a mile away from Brownfield High School, where Swoopes won the 1988 state title. It’s 29 miles away from South Plains College, the JUCO where Swoopes still holds the record for the most points scored in a season (1,620). It’s 37 miles away from Texas Tech University, where she won the 1993 NCAA championship and her record of 47 points in the title game still holds strong. And it’s 500 miles away from Compaq Center, the former Houston Comets’ arena, where she celebrated six All-Star selections, four consecutive WNBA championships from 1997 to 2000 and three MVP awards.

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Swoopes in Game 3 of the 1999 WNBA Finals, leading to the third of her four titles with the Houston Comets. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Being back home in Brownfield, tending to her garden, is right where Swoopes wants to be.

“I get excited when I talk about it,” she says. Her smile is so big, you can hear it in her voice over the phone. “But the real thing is,” Swoopes adds, “now, it’s not just about me.” Gardening and homesteading are things she and her husband, Chris Tellison, enjoy doing together.

“It’s prideful,” says Tellison, who grew up in inner-city Houston. “When you sit down, eating greens and you grew them, there’s a sense of pride. There’s a sense of fulfillment.”

Neither of them has prior experience, but throughout this process, they’re learning together. “It’s a passion we both have,” Swoopes says, “to continue to educate ourselves as much as trying to educate everybody else.”

And they’re not keeping the newfound knowledge to themselves. Swoopes has turned their passion into a nonprofit. They cooked up the name “Back to Our Roots,” and their YouTube channel serves as a hub of vlog content. The logo shows Swoopes spinning an egg on her index finger like a basketball, and the catchy auto-tuned theme song rhymes the line “We’re getting back to our roots” with “Come farm with Sheryl Swoopes.”

In these weekly 10- to 15-minute videos, POV camera shots give detailed tours of their garden. That includes “how-to” videos like making a chicken brooder, a “meat haul” showing off the beef their first-purchased cow produced and updates on their fig tree, FeFe.

“It was really important to me to find another way to give back to my African American community. We decided to do that through gardening and teaching our youth — and even adults — the importance of eating good nutrition and learning how to grow your own food,” Swoopes says. “As boring as that may sound to some people, that space gives me such peace and pleasure.”

The content is the antithesis of boring. Comments continually pour in from fellow Black homesteaders offering support, guidance, encouragement and thank yous. It’s different from her basketball stardom and highlight reels, she knows. But Swoopes still believes she’s making a difference.

“It’s just in a different way,” she says. “Being able to teach our kids something new and something they’re not being taught enough of, that’s definitely something that’s important to me.”

Back to Our Roots goes beyond gardening, though. Swoopes has a vision of allowing the local African American community to travel back to Africa; through sponsorships, they would be able to explore the land of their ancestors and learn about the history and heritage of where they come from. Growing your own food is a large part of African culture, but Swoopes feels it’s become a lost practice among today’s youth.

“And even adults,” she says, adding that her grandmother had a neighborhood fruit stand while she was young, but the true significance of growing your own fresh fruits and vegetables wasn’t instilled in her then. “There’s so much stuff I’ve learned about myself and where I come from that I didn’t know when I was growing up,” she explains. “It lit a fire in me that makes me want to learn more and be able to pass that on to my kids and other kids who haven’t been taught it.”

In order to be eligible to participate in Back to Our Roots’ nonprofit, African American high school students (and adult volunteers) must write an essay explaining what they know about Africa and, if chosen, what they’re hoping to absorb from the overseas field trip. For most of the African diaspora, it’s unknown exactly which part of the continent their family’s lineage stems from. Swoopes says they’re partnering with companies to offer DNA genetic testing, so when the participants arrive in Africa with Back to Our Roots, they’ll have a better idea of their heritage.

“We’ll be going to Ghana and teaming up with people there who can talk to the kids about their ancestry,” Swoopes says, painting a vivid picture. The students will have a real opportunity to experience their rich African culture, and the dream is that it’s not a one-time visit. “Hopefully,” Swoopes adds, “they’ll continue to want to learn more and more about the motherland.”

The first trip has been on pause because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Swoopes remains laser-focused on this passion project and how she can incorporate hoops, too.

“For me, basketball is one of those languages every country speaks,” she says, adding that she envisions student basketball camps and tournaments as a part of her nonprofit. “Basketball has allowed me to connect to so many people all over the world. That’s why, with Back to Our Roots, basketball will of course be a part of it.”

***

“Oo, that’s tough!” Sheryl Swoopes’ voice is booming through the mic. She’s color commentating a game for Athletes Unlimited’s inaugural basketball season and just witnessed Danni McCray absorb a double team, spin and shoot a fadeaway jumper. The move was reminiscent of Swoopes in her prime. And the first season of AU pro hoops in February reminded Swoopes of another league’s start.

“The atmosphere was so electric,” Swoopes says. “It definitely reminded me of when the W first started.”

As a fan, the five-week season wasn’t nearly enough, but it gave viewers an opportunity to see the untapped talent outside of the 144 roster spots in the WNBA. It was thrilling to witness, in real-time, the growth of the women’s game.

“I loved doing the games and being a part of it. It’s given players another opportunity to play professional basketball. That’s the part that makes me feel good,” Swoopes says. “I think it’s all our responsibility to do our part to help grow the game. I think it would be great for the WNBA to add more teams because it’s needed. There’s so much talent out there that’s not getting noticed because there aren’t enough teams and there aren’t enough roster spots.”

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Swoopes and Dawn Staley share a laugh with Sue Bird at the 2022 WNBA All-Star Game. (Mary Kate Ridgway/NBAE via Getty Images)

In 1997, when Swoopes and the first draftees of the WNBA entered onto the scene, they were bona fide celebrities. Then, when Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper, Tina Thompson and the Houston Comets won the league’s first four championships, they became royalty.

“Swoopes was the original two-way player,” says Dawn Staley, Hall of Famer and Swoopes’ Olympic teammate. Staley described her skill set as unmatched, and when they took the court together, winning was the only option.

“She emerged on the scene and quickly became a household name, and when you got the opportunity to see her play, she did not disappoint,” Staley adds. “Swoopes was as good as advertised. She changed the game.”

But since Swoopes’ final season in 2011, she expressed that their involvement with the league has been little to none (though they did sit courtside together during the WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago earlier this month). Using her green thumb, Swoopes offers some advice: “The WNBA still has a lot of Houston Comets fans, and even though the Comets no longer have a team, [the fans] continue to follow the league. So to me, it would do the league a great service for them to find a way to get some Houston Comets involved with the league. And that to me would definitely help its growth. Hell, I’d love to see the Comets come back to Houston!

“They have to continue to find ways to keep people involved, get former players involved,” she adds. “And continue to find interesting ways to gain more fans.”

In other words, they have to keep planting more seeds.

“You got to plant seeds and you got to continue to water them,” Swoopes says. “You can’t forget about those old plants, you know what I mean?” The new seeds — the rookies, the draftees, the signees from Athletes Unlimited — are wonderful and necessary. But as a gardener, you have to keep the entire crop in perspective.

“If you forget about your old plants that continue to produce food for you, eventually those old plants are going to die. Former players, such as myself, who continue to do everything in our power to talk about the league, promote the league, help grow the game, but at some point, if we feel like it’s not appreciated or we’re not being recognized or used enough, then we will just move on to something else.”

Real fans know what Swoopes has done for the game. The first player signed; the first champion; the first player to have a kid and come back; the first player to get a triple-double. She’s a Hall of Famer and a member of the W25. When it’s all said and done, she’ll be one of the greatest to ever do it.

Rapper Shavone Charles reminded everyone of this when she released the tribute song “Sheryl Swoopes” in partnership with Spotify during last year’s Women’s History Month.

Sheryl Swoopes with the air game
Might add Nike to my last name

Not too many WNBA players have songs dedicated to them. Not many NBA players either. “Sheryl Swoopes” was a headliner for Spotify’s first-ever Queen playlist, which honored women who’ve had an impact on culture.

Shoot like Sheryl Swoopes, yeah
Shoot like Sheryl Swoopes, yeah
Double Nike swoosh, yeah
Car ain’t got no roof, yeah
There go Sheryl Swoopes, yeah
Yeah, she bad, yeah
Gettin’ all them bags, yeah
Triple-double racks, yeah

“It’s time to give Sheryl her flowers, not only for her impact in sports but for her unapologetic legacy, as a trailblazer in fashion and culture,” said Shavone, referencing Swoopes being the first female hooper to have their own signature shoe.

It is time we give Swoopes her flowers. She deserves them, undoubtedly. But if the flowers don’t come from the places she helped make prominent , don’t worry. She’ll just plant her own.

Editor’s Note: This story is a part of the Just Women’s Sports inaugural Legends Collection. Check out our stories on the other legends, Billie Jean King and Brandi Chastain.

Jordan Ligons is a contributing writer at Just Women’s Sports. She is also the host of Jordan’s “Take it From LA” series, the co-host of “Spinsters” and a WNBA host for “Buckets.” Follow her on Twitter @_jordanligons.

‘The Late Sub’ Digs Into the Injury Report for NWSL and USWNT Star Trinity Rodman

A close-up profile of USWNT star Trinity Rodman looking out on the 2024 Olympic pitch.
Spirit star Trinity Rodman is away from the NWSL indefinitely with an ongoing back injury. (Harriet Lander - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

In this week's episode of The Late Sub, host Claire Watkins breaks down the newly reported indefinite absence of NWSL star Trinity Rodman from the Washington Spirit, with the 22-year-old attacker rehabbing an ongoing back injury that could reshape the prospects of both the Spirit and the USWNT.

Calling her "the face of the NWSL," Watkins details the Spirit star's long-term back injury, which has led Rodman to seek treatment with a team doctor in London — all while acknowledging that she doesn't think her "back will ever be 100%."

Watkins digs into the potential contributing factors to Rodman's current injury status, including the USWNT's heavy use of the forward during the 2024 Olympic gold medal-winning run in Paris — and whether the team will make different decisions going forward due to the fallout on players like Rodman.

"I'm really curious if [USWNT manager Emma] Hayes and her coaching staff will adjust the way they approach strikers in the future, or forwards in the future, or rotation — or if this is just one of those many stories of a player giving it all for the United States and living with the consequences," says Watkins.

As for Washington, Watkins note that — in the wake of copious injuries — the Spirit is still finding ways to win, with club owner Michele Kang and the coaching staff shrewdly managing the depleted roster.

"I think they would be a juggernaut if they were healthy, but they can win pretty, they can win ugly," notes Watkins.

'An NWSL breaking point'

Watkins also points out that she thinks Rodman's choice to seek treatment in London could be significant, as the forward is currently in a contract year.

With multiple NWSL standouts recently defecting to European clubs, Watkins argues that the US league is hitting a "breaking point" when it comes to retaining top players.

"I am just really, really curious if, by the end of this season, this situation has led Rodman back to the Spirit or if this is the beginning of a player having to progress forward in a different environment," Watkins sums up.

About 'The Late Sub' with Claire Watkins

The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes on the USWNT, NWSL, and all things women's soccer. Special guest appearances featuring the biggest names in women’s sports make TLS a must-listen for every soccer fan.

Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women’s Sports newsletter for more.

Subscribe to The Late Sub to never miss an episode.

Mid-Table Contenders Square Off in Sixth NWSL Matchday

Seattle's Ainsley McCammon and Ana-Maria Crnogorevic warm up before a 2025 NWSL match.
Coming off a big win against Portland, the Seattle Reign face a key mid-table matchup this weekend. (Steph Chambers/NWSL via Getty Images)

There's a traffic jam in the middle of the NWSL standings, with this weekend's slate bound to create some distance among mid-table teams jockeying to break free from the pack.

Between rising underdogs and top-dog rivalries, expect the 2025 NWSL season's sixth matchday to leave it all on the field:

  • No. 10 Houston Dash vs. No. 11 Utah Royals, Friday at 8 PM ET (NWSL+): Tied up at four points apiece, the pair of struggling teams just below playoff contention on the NWSL table will battle for a boost above the cutoff line as the recently sold Royals take a trip to Texas on Friday.
  • No. 3 Washington Spirit vs. No. 4 Gotham FC, Saturday at 1 PM ET (CBS): This week's top-table showdown features two injury-struck East Coast rivals getting rowdy at Audi — can Gotham turn things around or will Washington keep persevering?
  • No. 9 Bay FC vs. No. 8 Seattle Reign, Saturday at 10 PM ET (ION): Seattle holds a slim tie-break over Bay FC as both teams hug the playoff line, with the Reign looking to build on last week’s Cascadia Clash victory over Portland.

This weekend has the potential to divide the contenders from the pretenders, while the league's top three clubs continue to hold court over the rest of the field.

Spirit, Gotham Stoke East Coast Rivalry Flames in Saturday NWSL Matchup

Washington goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury makes a save against East Coast rival Gotham during the 2024 NWSL semifinals.
The Washington Spirit knocked East Coast rival Gotham out of the 2024 NWSL Playoffs. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Saturday's soccer lineup underlines a brewing East Coast rivalry, as the Washington Spirit hosts Gotham FC for the first time since knocking the Bats out of the 2024 NWSL semifinals.

"Just playing against them, you feel that fire," Spirit forward Makenna Morris told JWS this week, with Washington's Audi Field anticipating a large crowd for Saturday's match.

Both clubs know each other well, with 2021 NWSL champions Washington and 2023 trophy-winners Gotham seeing a number of big-name players migrating between New York and DC in recent years.

After finishing 2024 in the league's top four, both teams continue to lurk near the top of NWSL table this season, cementing the idea that the best rivalries blossom between winning sides.

"The [team] that poses the most challenge to you, it just makes you want to beat them so bad," said Washington midfielder Gabby Carle.

"You hate to play them because they're good, but you also love it because it's so competitive," echoed Morris.

Ultimately, familiarity is breeding healthy resentment between two of the NWSL's winningest sides, providing a little extra incentive to secure all three points in this weekend’s matchup.

How to watch NWSL rivals Washington vs. Gotham this weekend

The Spirit will host East Coast rival Gotham at 1 PM ET on Saturday, with live coverage of the 2024 NWSL semifinals rematch airing on CBS.

WSL Clubs Fight for Survival in Champions League Semifinals

Barcelona's Claudia Pina celebrates her goal by pointing at teammate Alexia Putellas during their first-leg 2024/25 Champions League semifinal win over Chelsea.
Chelsea will attempt to overcome a 4-1 deficit against Barcelona on Sunday. (Ruben De La Rosa/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

As the 2024/25 UEFA Women's Champions League (UWCL) wraps up its two-leg semifinals on Sunday, the English teams still in the running find themselves on the brink of elimination from Europe's most prestigious club competition.

Facing a 4-1 deficit against reigning champs Barcelona, Chelsea will aim to close the gap — and keep their historic quadruple hopes alive — at home this weekend.

Meanwhile, Arsenal will try to overcome a more manageable 2-1 deficit against eight-time Champions League winners Lyon, traveling to France to keep their UWCL campaign alive.

An English side hasn't won the UWCL since 2007, when Arsenal took home the WSL's lone European championship trophy.

"Huge respect for their history and what they have been doing and producing in the Champions League, in Europe," Arsenal manager Renée Slegers said of Lyon. "I think they're still a very strong side."

"Subconsciously, you always have that thing when you fall short, like last year," said Lyon midfielder and USWNT captain Lindsey Heaps, reflecting back on last season’s title loss to Barcelona. "You lose a game, you lose a tournament – the feeling is there until you're back in the the games that can fix that feeling."

How to watch the 2024/25 Champions League semifinals

Sunday's second leg of the 2024/25 Champions League semifinals kicks off with Chelsea vs. Barcelona at 9 AM ET, before Arsenal faces Lyon at 12 PM ET.

Both matches will air live on DAZN.

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