Sixteen years after leading Texas Tech to a pair of victories in the 1993 NCAA tournament’s West Regional, Sheryl Swoopes will be making a return appearance to Dahlberg Arena. It was announced Thursday by the University of Montana and Idol Sports and Entertainment that Swoopes will play for Idol Sports when the traveling team faces the Lady Griz in the teams’ exhibition game Sunday, Nov. 8.
The Montana game will be the only one that features Swoopes, who led the Lady Raiders to two more wins and the 1993 national championship after Texas Tech’s two games in Missoula.
Tech, the No. 2 seed in the West Region, opened the 1993 NCAA tournament with a 70-64 home-court win over Washington in the second round following a first-round bye.
In two regional games in Missoula, Swoopes led the Lady Raiders to a pair of double-digit victories while averaging 34.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
In one regional semifinal game, Swoopes scored 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in an 87-67 victory over No. 3 USC.
Tech rolled past No. 4 Colorado, which had knocked out No. 1 Stanford in the other regional semifinal game, in the regional final, 79-54, behind a 36-point, 10-rebound, six-steal performance from Swoopes, who was named the West Regional MVP.
Texas Tech would go on to a 60-46 win over Vanderbilt in the national semifinals in Atlanta and an 84-82 victory over Ohio State in the national championship game behind a Final Four-record 47 points from Swoopes.
Swoopes would be named the 1993 Naismith Player of the Year, but her senior season would not be the end of her successful basketball career.
One of the pioneers of the WNBA, Swoopes led the Houston Comets to the league’s first four titles in 1997, ’98, ’99 and 2000.
Swoopes was the WNBA MVP in 2000, ’02 and ’05 and an Olympic gold medalist in 1996, 2000 and 2004.
After an 11-year career with the Comets, Swoopes joined the Seattle Storm for the 2008 season. She continues to reside in the city.
“Sheryl is one of the premier players in women’s basketball history,” Lady Griz coach Robin Selvig, who was part of the huge crowds at Dahlberg Arena for the 1993 regional games, said. “She was so much fun to watch. She could beat her opponent in so many ways, yet she was always under control. The thought that comes to mind is that she was just smooth.
“I think once they saw Sheryl play, our fans kind of identified with her the rest of her career. And I’m sure she has some positive feelings about this place. Her team did pretty well here.”
Montana Sports Information