The 1998 Houston Comets were led by Cynthia Cooper, whose scoring and playmaking powered the offense, while Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson provided versatile two-way production as major scoring and rebounding threats. Janeth Arcain added efficient perimeter scoring to complement the star trio. Houston combined balanced offensive firepower with strong rebounding, disciplined ball movement, and aggressive defense, showcasing one of the league’s deepest and most well-rounded rotations.
Houston’s offense still revolved around Cooper, whose isolation scoring and late-game shot making routinely decided games. League coverage praised her relentless competitiveness as she repeated as MVP while leading another dominant championship run under Van Chancellor. (WNBA)
WNBA MVP (1998); WNBA Finals MVP (1998); All-WNBA First Team (1998); Best WNBA Player ESPY (1998); WNBA Champion (1998)
Sheryl Swoopes
Starter/Star (1.1)
32.3
High (1.2)
15.6
5.1
2.1
3.0
67.06
Back in a full-time role, Swoopes gave Houston another elite creator while taking on premier defensive assignments across the wing. Independent reporting regularly highlighted the Comets’ “Big Three” as the league’s most difficult matchup because of her two-way versatility. (The Guardian)
All-WNBA First Team (1998); WNBA Champion (1998)
Tina Thompson
Starter/Star (1.1)
32.4
High (1.2)
12.7
7.1
0.9
2.0
59.14
Thompson quietly anchored the frontcourt with rebounding, interior defense and dependable secondary scoring. Analysts consistently pointed to her versatility as the balance that allowed Houston’s perimeter stars to attack aggressively. (WNBA)
All-WNBA First Team (1998); WNBA Champion (1998)
Kim Perrot
Starter/Star (1.1)
32.9
Medium (1.1)
8.5
3.1
4.7
2.8
46.10
Perrot’s value went well beyond her shooting numbers, as she pressured opposing guards for 94 feet and organized Houston’s offense with poise. Coaches and teammates repeatedly credited her leadership and defensive intensity as vital pieces of the dynasty. (Swish Appeal)
WNBA Champion (1998)
Janeth Arcain
Key Contributor (1.05)
21.9
Low (1.0)
6.8
3.6
0.9
0.9
25.83
Arcain embraced a reduced role without disrupting Houston’s chemistry, supplying efficient scoring and smart off-ball movement whenever called upon. Her professionalism and adaptability were frequently noted in coverage of the Comets’ deep rotation. (Texas State Historical Association)
WNBA Champion (1998)
Monica Lamb
Key Contributor (1.05)
21.6
Low (1.0)
5.4
4.7
0.3
1.5
24.99
Lamb gave Houston dependable frontcourt minutes by defending bigger players, finishing around the basket and attacking the offensive glass. Her efficient interior play helped preserve the starters throughout the regular season. (Texas State Historical Association)
WNBA Champion (1998)
Yolanda Moore
Bench (1.0)
17.8
Low (1.0)
3.3
2.9
0.3
0.9
14.80
Moore filled reserve post minutes with energy and physicality. Limited independent coverage was available, but she strengthened Houston’s interior depth during another title campaign.
WNBA Champion (1998)
Amaya Valdemoro
Bench (1.0)
3.8
Low (1.0)
1.9
0.6
0.4
0.5
6.80
Limited contemporary coverage was available. The young Spanish guard spent the season developing behind one of the league’s deepest veteran backcourts while showing flashes of the skill that would later define her international career.
WNBA Champion (1998)
Tammy Jackson
Bench (1.0)
8.4
Low (1.0)
1.3
1.1
0.3
0.5
6.40
Jackson accepted limited reserve work and continued providing physical interior defense whenever Houston needed extra size. Her willingness to embrace a complementary role fit the Comets’ veteran culture.
WNBA Champion (1998)
Tiffany Woosley
Bench (1.0)
5.3
Low (1.0)
1.2
0.4
0.5
0.4
5.00
Limited independent reporting was available. Woosley primarily supplied backcourt depth while Houston relied on an experienced championship rotation.
WNBA Champion (1998)
Nyree Roberts
Bench (1.0)
3.9
Low (1.0)
1.1
0.7
0.1
0.1
4.00
Limited contemporary reporting was available. Roberts saw brief developmental opportunities on an exceptionally deep roster.
WNBA Champion (1998)
Wanda Guyton
Bench (1.0)
14.0
Low (1.0)
0.0
0.0
0.0
2.0
4.00
Limited contemporary coverage was available. Her lone appearance came in a reserve role focused on interior defense and physical play.
WNBA Champion (1998)
Karen Booker
Bench (1.0)
2.0
Low (1.0)
0.0
0.0
0.0
1.0
2.00
Limited contemporary coverage was available. Booker appeared briefly as roster depth after joining Houston during the season. (Wikipedia)
WNBA Champion (1998)
TOTALS
—
231.3
—
79.5
29.6
21.4
17.6
352.71
Houston dominated behind the league’s premier core of Cooper, Swoopes and Thompson, pairing elite shot creation with relentless perimeter defense and remarkable roster depth to secure a second straight WNBA title.
Houston again leaned on Cooper whenever the offense stalled, and she responded with another dominant Finals performance built on relentless rim pressure and clutch shot-making. National coverage emphasized that she remained the unquestioned centerpiece of the dynasty while earning a second straight Finals MVP. (WNBA)
WNBA Finals MVP (1998); WNBA Champion (1998)
Sheryl Swoopes
Starter/Star (1.1)
37.6
High (1.2)
14.6
10.0
5.2
3.2
87.65
Functioning as Houston’s two-way star, Swoopes impacted every phase of the series through rebounding, playmaking and late defensive stops. Van Chancellor publicly praised her game-saving block and relentless hustle, while reporters noted she took over crucial possessions late in the deciding game. (Los Angeles Times)
All-WNBA First Team (1998); WNBA Champion (1998)
Tina Thompson
Starter/Star (1.1)
37.2
High (1.2)
11.6
9.2
1.2
2.2
63.89
Thompson balanced the frontcourt by stretching Phoenix’s defense and controlling the glass. Her timely three-point shooting in the title clincher was repeatedly highlighted as a key reason Houston secured its second consecutive championship. (Los Angeles Times)
All-WNBA First Team (1998); WNBA Champion (1998)
Kim Perrot
Starter/Star (1.1)
36.4
Medium (1.1)
8.2
3.2
5.0
1.6
43.08
Even when her shot deserted her early in the series, Perrot continued setting Houston’s defensive tone from the point of attack. She broke out in the decisive game with timely scoring and veteran composure after battling through a postseason shooting slump.
WNBA Champion (1998)
Monica Lamb
Key Contributor (1.05)
21.4
Low (1.0)
5.8
3.6
0.0
1.2
22.26
Lamb filled an unselfish interior role by defending bigger forwards, finishing efficiently around the rim and providing physical minutes. Although rarely featured offensively, her willingness to absorb difficult defensive assignments strengthened Houston’s rotation. (Los Angeles Times)
WNBA Champion (1998)
Janeth Arcain
Key Contributor (1.05)
18.4
Low (1.0)
3.2
1.6
0.8
0.6
12.96
Arcain accepted reduced minutes without disrupting Houston’s rhythm, supplying smart off-ball movement and dependable execution whenever called upon. Contemporary reporting frequently praised the Comets’ remarkable depth, with Arcain remaining an important reserve scorer. (WNBA)
WNBA Champion (1998)
Yolanda Moore
Bench (1.0)
12.2
Low (1.0)
4.2
1.8
0.0
0.8
13.60
Moore gave Houston productive reserve frontcourt minutes by finishing efficiently around the basket and supplying additional rebounding. Limited independent Finals coverage was available, but she contributed valuable depth throughout the championship run.
WNBA Champion (1998)
Tammy Jackson
Bench (1.0)
3.7
Low (1.0)
0.0
0.7
0.0
0.0
1.40
Limited independent Finals coverage was available. Jackson remained available as experienced frontcourt insurance while Houston relied heavily on its established playoff rotation.
WNBA Champion (1998)
TOTALS
—
205.9
—
69.4
40.1
16.6
12.4
340.41
Houston captured its second straight WNBA championship through elite star power, relentless defense and exceptional depth, with Cooper, Swoopes and Thompson consistently delivering in the biggest moments of the Finals.
