Swoopes heads to the Hall

KNOXVILLE — Sheryl Swoopes fought back tears as she read a poem to her late mother while accepting induction into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

The three-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time WNBA MVP was part of a Hall of Fame class that included longtime official Sally Bell, former Iowa women’s athletic director Christine Grant, Middle Tennessee State coach Rick Insell, former Southern Connecticut University coach Louise O’Neal and former Connecticut star Kara Wolters.

Swoopes acknowledged Saturday that the honor felt “bittersweet” because her mother wasn’t with her. Swoopes’ mom, Ida Louise Swoopes, died of colon cancer on March 14.

“Although she’s not physically here with us, I know she’s here in spirit and will forever live on in my heart,” Swoopes said.

As she closed her induction speech, Swoopes read from a poem that ended with the line, “God took you home to prove to us he only takes the best.”

“I love you, Mom,” Swoopes said. “Thank you.”

Swoopes knew this would be an emotional moment for her because of her mom’s absence. Swoopes said she intentionally wore a dress with pockets to hold the tissues that she’d need later in her speech.

Swoopes later handed over part of her tissues to Wolters, who tearfully thanked her own mother who also had died. Swoopes and Wolters were teammates on the 2000 U.S. Olympic gold-medal team and on the Houston Comets’ 1999 WNBA championship squad. Swoopes also won gold medals in 1996 and 2004 and was part of Houston’s WNBA championship teams in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 — each of the league’s first four seasons.

Wolters credited Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma for taking a chance on her when other people said she wasn’t fast or athletic enough to succeed.

“I had schools that didn’t want me, that thought I was too much of a project,” Wolters said. “I loved playing them, actually.”