Cynthia Cooper

Despite having played professionally in Europe for so long, Cooper was not unknown to American fans. She had played for the U.S. National team in the World Championships and the Goodwill Games in 1986 and 1990, and on the gold medal-winning team in the 1988 Olympics and the bronze medal-winning one in 1992. This and her dominance in the Italy—she was that league's leading scorer eight times—guaranteed her a marquee spot in the new WNBA. Cooper was assigned to the Houston Comets, along with 1996 Olympian and former Texas Tech star Sheryl Swoopes. Swoopes was out on maternity leave the first half of the season, but with Cooper and other excellent players the Comets still managed to make an impact. They eventually caught up to their division's early leaders, the New York Liberty, and on the penultimate day of the season they clinched the Eastern Division title.

The Comets went on to become the first dynasty in the WNBA, winning the WNBA championships that year and for the next three years as well. Cooper was named the most valuable player of the championship series every one of those four years. She became a celebrity, appearing on the Rosie O'Donnell and David Letterman shows after that first championship. Nike even created a shoe, called the C-14, in honor of her. She also became a spokesperson for General Motors' Concept Cure program, a charity focused on preventing and curing breast cancer. This cause is particularly dear to Cooper: her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer early in 1997 and passed away from the disease in 1999.