She Got Game: My Personal Odyssey

by Cynthia Cooper, Russ Pate

Considered the best female basketball player in the WNBA today, Cooper shares her extraordinary story--showing how hard work, commitment, and determination helped her rise from poverty in Watts to win an Olympics gold medal and eventually lead the Houston Comets to victory. A new chapter discusses the Comets' 1999 championship. photo insert.

Genres: Basketball, Sports, Biography

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Dave Hambleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring read.

[RYCJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though the story is dated, the account of Coop's rise to MVP is relevant. This is an insightful story of how attitude and persistence plays into teamwork...blending into one of the most interesting pictorials of what success means to most. I personally enjoyed the world travelogues and just loved the b-ball jargon…“jump shot cooking,” “rocked the joint,” and how one of the teams “sent many ‘Cleveland’ fans home early…” among many, many, many other quips that kept the pages turning. ~She Got Game I highly recommend!!!

[simpcocktail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cynthia cooper is so awesome. I don’t read a lot of sports memoirs, but when I do they are WNBA players always.

In the beginning she mentioned how WNBA players should be able to make a living playing in the US and it hurt so much knowing what happened to BG.

Sorry, she was the face of the Nike air shake em ups??? You okay like a girl bud light commercials??? How do you not Stan?!
I love how she includes every single name of every single person she has ever been helped by.
I am SUCH a slut for a feminism story and all of the beating boys, getting respect from the dream team, and paving the way warms my heart so much but omg she’s so fucking funny too. This book honestly has too many hilarious quotes to pick a favorite.

I am so glad that she was able to be a professional athlete against all of the odds but we are also SO lucky that she was in that first WNBA season because she’s just such a great person.

[Erin Greene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a true underdog story, start to finish. While it’s not the deepest, most thought provoking read, it is encouraging to read about the rising to stardom of a female athlete, with the odds stacked against her. Even reaching her late 30s before the development of the WNBA, many would have thrown in the towel by then. It had me rethinking choices I made later in life with the idea that, “it might be too late.”
I believe this is a must-read for any aspiring female athlete.

[Eric C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book came out 26 years ago, it's messages are poignant today, especially the live n passion for the game of basketball. It is my feeling n belief that the majority of today's youth 'play basketball' bur are not 'basketball players'. They lack passion, determination and dedication to be better. This book can inspire young women, not just athletes.

[Will Plunkett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in March (when NCAA tournament games are played, and is Women's History Month), but Coop is more than just a woman who was good and playing basketball. Perseverance, drive, dedication, willingness to fail in order to learn, compassion; all are important aspects of this book and her life.

[Jeff Wait · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cynthia rules. Lots of cool stories from the trenches of women’s basketball before the WNBA and up through the first two seasons of it. Very inspirational. Perfect for WNBA fans who want to learn some history.

[Kernisha Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book was good because it talks about her life how she started to play basketball and why she started playing and how basketball was important to her life. Then it talks about ho was her favorite basketball player in the women national basketball.

Her my mom have cancer so she couldn't make it to her games sometime so its hard for her to like foucs on the games because she had to thinking about winning and her mom at the same time so it was like its tough for her

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book when I was a kid she was my idol. Truly respected her more after reading her book as an adult.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel inspired me to be a better teammate and person!