The 2000 Houston Comets were led by Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes, whose scoring, playmaking, and defensive contributions formed the foundation of the team’s success. Tina Thompson added a consistent frontcourt scoring and rebounding presence, while Janeth Arcain supplied efficient perimeter offense. Houston combined balanced scoring, strong ball movement, aggressive defense, and solid rebounding, with an experienced core contributing effectively on both ends of the floor.
Houston increasingly ran through Swoopes on both ends, trusting her to attack elite defenders while anchoring the perimeter defensively. Her complete two-way season earned league-wide praise, with opponents regularly identifying her versatility as the Comets’ biggest matchup problem. (Wikipedia)
WNBA MVP (2000); WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2000); All-WNBA First Team (2000); WNBA All-Star (2000); WNBA Champion (2000)
Cynthia Cooper
Starter/Star
35.0
High
17.7
2.7
5.0
1.5
70.75
Cooper remained Houston’s late-game shot creator, frequently taking over close contests despite sharing offensive responsibility with Swoopes. During the playoffs she reminded everyone why she was the league’s premier closer, delivering decisive scoring against Los Angeles and New York. (ESPN)
WNBA Finals MVP (2000); Best WNBA Player ESPY (2000); All-WNBA First Team (2000); WNBA Champion (2000)
Tina Thompson
Starter/Star
34.0
Medium
16.9
7.7
1.5
2.3
68.21
Thompson quietly gave Houston frontcourt balance with reliable scoring, rebounding and floor spacing. Her willingness to defend multiple frontcourt matchups allowed the Comets to keep their veteran core together in nearly every important situation throughout the season. (Texas State Historical Association)
All-WNBA Second Team (2000); WNBA All-Star (2000); WNBA Champion (2000)
Janeth Arcain
Starter/Star
30.5
Medium
8.4
3.7
1.9
1.4
37.27
Arcain settled into a full-time starting role, providing steady secondary scoring without demanding possessions. Coaches valued her movement away from the ball and dependable perimeter defense, making her an ideal complementary piece beside Houston’s stars.
WNBA Champion (2000)
Tiffani Johnson
Starter/Star
22.2
Low
4.2
4.7
0.3
0.8
22.00
Johnson supplied physical interior play that rarely showed up in headlines but consistently helped Houston control the paint. She accepted a low-usage role, focusing on screens, rebounding and defending opposing post players.
WNBA Champion (2000)
Tammy Jackson
Bench
11.7
Low
2.6
2.1
0.4
0.7
11.60
Jackson brought energy and toughness whenever Houston needed additional size. Her minutes fluctuated, yet she remained a trusted reserve capable of protecting the rim and competing on the glass.
WNBA Champion (2000)
Elena Shakirova
Bench
10.7
Low
4.1
2.2
0.3
0.5
14.20
Shakirova offered useful frontcourt depth with efficient finishing around the basket and dependable free-throw shooting. Limited independent coverage was available, but she filled situational minutes in Houston’s deep rotation.
WNBA Champion (2000)
Jennifer Rizzotti
Key Contributor
13.7
Low
1.9
1.1
1.4
0.6
10.50
Rizzotti handled backup point guard duties with an emphasis on ball movement and tempo control rather than scoring. Her experience allowed Houston to keep its offensive structure intact whenever Cooper rested.
WNBA Champion (2000)
Amaya Valdemoro
Bench
7.8
Low
2.6
1.0
0.6
0.6
9.60
Valdemoro continued developing behind one of the league’s deepest veteran rosters. Independent reporting on her season was limited, though coaches viewed her as an athletic long-term contributor rather than an immediate rotation fixture.
WNBA Champion (2000)
Monica Lamb
Bench
10.8
Low
2.0
2.0
0.2
0.5
9.40
Lamb supplied dependable frontcourt depth in spot appearances. Limited independent coverage was available, but she provided veteran minutes whenever Houston adjusted its rotation because of injuries or foul trouble.
WNBA Champion (2000)
Coquese Washington
Bench
9.4
Low
1.7
0.8
1.0
0.6
8.20
Washington’s primary assignment was defensive pressure and steady reserve ball handling. She embraced a low-usage role, helping preserve Houston’s pace and defensive intensity off the bench.
WNBA Champion (2000)
Kelley Gibson
Bench
4.5
Low
1.4
0.7
0.1
0.1
4.60
Limited contemporary independent reporting was available. Gibson appeared only briefly as Houston relied heavily on its experienced championship rotation throughout the season.
WNBA Champion (2000)
Houston Comets Totals
246.7
87.2
34.3
17.0
16.5
Houston completed the WNBA’s first four-peat behind the league’s dominant veteran core, finishing an undefeated playoff run and cementing its status as the league’s original dynasty.
Houston leaned on Cooper whenever possessions tightened, and she again embraced the role of playoff closer. Although her shooting percentage dipped, Associated Press coverage highlighted her knack for delivering the defining baskets, including the game-tying three that forced overtime in the title-clinching win over New York. (ESPN Australia)
WNBA Finals MVP (2000); All-WNBA First Team (2000); WNBA Champion (2000)
Sheryl Swoopes
Starter/Star
36.7
High
18.8
5.7
3.2
2.8
80.26
Swoopes played with the freedom of a league MVP, attacking from the wing while setting the defensive tone. Her playoff intensity drew praise throughout Houston’s run, and she finished the Finals with a career-best 31-point performance to close out the championship. (CBS News)
WNBA MVP (2000); WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2000); All-WNBA First Team (2000); WNBA All-Star (2000); WNBA Champion (2000)
Tina Thompson
Starter/Star
38.8
Medium
12.7
8.0
1.7
1.6
57.02
Thompson gave Houston its interior stability, stretching defenses with her jumper while battling on the glass against larger frontcourts. Her rebounding consistently balanced the Comets whenever Cooper and Swoopes carried the offensive workload. (Basketball Reference)
All-WNBA Second Team (2000); WNBA All-Star (2000); WNBA Champion (2000)
Janeth Arcain
Starter/Star
33.5
Medium
8.3
4.5
2.0
1.7
39.45
Arcain fit naturally beside Houston’s stars by moving without the ball and defending multiple perimeter assignments. Independent coverage often pointed to her unselfish play as one reason the Comets’ starting lineup functioned so smoothly.
WNBA Champion (2000)
Tiffani Johnson
Starter/Star
22.5
Low
3.7
4.8
0.2
0.8
20.46
Johnson accepted a low-usage interior role built around screens, rebounding and physical post defense. Her willingness to absorb contact allowed Houston’s perimeter stars to play aggressively on both ends.
WNBA Champion (2000)
Tammy Jackson
Bench
15.7
Low
2.7
2.8
0.0
1.4
13.80
Jackson brought toughness off the bench, supplying energetic rebounding and shot blocking in short stretches. Her role rarely required touches, but Houston trusted her to protect the paint when the rotation expanded.
WNBA Champion (2000)
Coquese Washington
Bench
15.3
Low
2.3
1.8
1.0
1.0
12.20
Washington’s playoff minutes centered on defensive pressure and steady ball handling. She rarely forced offense, instead helping Houston maintain its tempo whenever the veteran guards needed rest.
WNBA Champion (2000)
Amaya Valdemoro
Bench
5.3
Low
3.0
1.3
0.0
0.3
9.20
Limited contemporary independent playoff reporting was available. Valdemoro remained a developmental reserve whose athletic upside was valued more than her immediate postseason role in Houston’s veteran rotation.
WNBA Champion (2000)
Kelley Gibson
Bench
3.0
Low
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.00
Limited contemporary independent playoff coverage was available. Gibson appeared only briefly as Houston relied almost exclusively on its established championship core during meaningful minutes.
WNBA Champion (2000)
Jennifer Rizzotti
Bench
3.0
Low
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.00
Limited contemporary independent playoff coverage was available. Rizzotti provided experienced backcourt insurance, but Houston shortened its rotation throughout the Finals.
WNBA Champion (2000)
Houston Comets Totals
218.8
74.2
29.8
12.1
11.3
Houston completed an undefeated postseason and secured a historic fourth consecutive WNBA championship behind the championship-tested core of Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson, repeatedly raising its level against elite playoff opponents.
