Houston Comets forward Sheryl Swoopes came clean yesterday about her s*xuality, opening up that she is a lesbian.
"My reason for coming out now isn't to be some sort of hero," Swoopes said to ESPN The Magazine. "It's not something that I want to throw in people's faces."
Swoopes has been married but divorced in 1999. She also has an eight-year-old son named Jordan.
Swoopes claims that her divorce was not because she was gay, but because she was three years older than her ex-husband and that she matured faster than he did.
Swoopes is now with her partner, and former college standout, Alisa Scott, for eight years.
She says that Scott was the best friend that she had while she was having tough times in her marriage.
"I'm tired of having to hide my feelings about the person I care about. About the person I love," Swoopes said to ESPN The Magazine.
"Some people might say my coming out just after winning the MVP Award is heroic, and I understand that. And I know there are going to be some negative things said, too. But it doesn't change who I am. I can't help who I fall in love with. No one can," she added.
Swoopes is a five-time All-Star and a three-time Olympic gold medalist.
She is also the WNBA's only three-time MVP, including being named the reigning MVP for the 2004-2005 season.
With the Comets, Swoopes won four championships from 1997-2000.
Swoopes hopes that her coming out will not hinder young children from looking up to her as a role model.
"My biggest concern is that people are going to look at my homos*xuality and say to little girls -- whether they're white, black Hispanic -- that I can't be their role model anymore," said Swoopes to ESPN The Magazine.
Swoopes also claims that it is irritating for it to be such an issue about lesbians in the WNBA, but there is no attention put on gays that may be in the NBA and other men's sports.
"Women play just as hard as guys do. We're just as competitive. We're just as intense," Swoopes said to ESPN The Magazine.
"There are so many other issues to discuss besides rumors about the WNBA being full of lesbians. And I think that's why we don't get the type of fan support we deserve," she added.
Swoopes led the WNBA in scoring last season, averaging 18.6 points. She also averaged 4.3 assists and 2.65 steals per game.
"Being gay has nothing to do with the three gold medals or the three MVPs or the four championships I've won. I'm still the same person. I'm Sheryl."
"I'm tired of being miserable. Not being free to be who I am, not being OK with other people knowing who I am -- it has been miserable. And it hurts. I'm a very affectionate person," Swoopes said to ESPN The Magazine.
"Going out to the movies or dinner, seeing so-called normal couples show affection in public and knowing that I can't, that hurts," she added.
"It's frustrating to keep everything inside and not be who I want to be. I'm sure life is not going to be easier for me just because I'm coming out. But at least I'll be free."
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Thursday, October 27th 2005 at 9:30AM
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