Houston Comets

Last updated
Houston Comets
HoustonComets.png
Conference Western
Leagues WNBA
Founded1997
Dissolved2008
HistoryHouston Comets
1997–2008
Arena Compaq Center
(1997–2003)
Toyota Center
(2004–2007)
Reliant Arena
(2008)
Location Houston, Texas
Team colorsFireball Red, Stardust Silver, White, Galaxy Blue
    
Championships4 (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000)
Conference titles3 (1998, 1999, 2000)

The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Houston. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. They are one of two teams in the WNBA that are undefeated in the WNBA Finals; the Seattle Storm are the other. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and are tied with the Minnesota Lynx and Seattle Storm for the most championships of any WNBA franchise. Despite all of their success, the team was folded and disbanded by the league in 2008 during the height of the Great Recession because new ownership could not be found. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

The Comets were known for courting great women's basketball stars. The team had among its members Cynthia Cooper (the WNBA's first MVP); college and national team standout Sheryl Swoopes; Kim Perrot, who succumbed to cancer in 1999; and college stars Michelle Snow and Tina Thompson.

Franchise history

Building the first dynasty of the WNBA (1997–2000)

The Comets were one of the founding teams in the WNBA. They capped off the league's inaugural season in 1997 with a win over the New York Liberty in the WNBA championship game to win the WNBA's first championship.

When the league expanded the next season, the Comets were moved from the Eastern Conference to the Western Conference. In 1998, they finished 27-3 – a .900 winning percentage, a WNBA record that still stands. They went on to repeat as champions, defeating the Phoenix Mercury in the first-ever WNBA Finals, which had become a three-game championship series.

In 1999, led by what was already known as the Big Three, (Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson), the Comets survived a stunning last-second, half-court, buzzer beater by the Liberty's Teresa Weatherspoon in Game 2 -- as it appeared the Comets were set to win the title -- to beat the Liberty in three games and win their third straight title, this one after the death of teammate Kim Perrot, who died of cancer.

In 2000, behind league MVP Sheryl Swoopes and eventual WNBA Finals MVP Cynthia Cooper, the Comets beat the Liberty again, this time in two games, to win their fourth straight title cementing themselves as the greatest WNBA team ever assembled. This was the Comets' last championship and last Finals appearance in franchise history.

The years of change and rebuilding (2001–2006)

After Cooper retired in 2001, Houston made the playoffs with a 19–13 record, but fell short of their 5th straight title, getting swept in the first round by the eventual champion Los Angeles Sparks. In 2002, with Swoopes out for the year with a torn ACL, the Comets still finished 24–8, but lost to the Utah Starzz in 3 games.

In 2003, they qualified to the playoffs for the 7th straight year, but they lost in the first round to the Sacramento Monarchs in 3 games. They missed the playoffs for the first time in franchise history with a record of 13–21 in 2004, but returned in 2005 with a 19–15 record, finishing 3rd. In the first round, the Comets knocked out the 2004 defending champion Seattle Storm in 3 games, but lost in the conference finals to the Sacramento Monarchs in a sweep, which Sacramento later became WNBA Champions in 2005. Houston would return to the playoffs with an 18–16 record, but lost to the 2005 defending champion Sacramento Monarchs in another sweep. 2006 was the last playoff appearance for the Houston Comets.

After the Comets' season ended in 2006, the team went through a major front-office changes during the off-season. In October 2006, team owner Leslie Alexander -- who also owned the Houston Rockets -- announced he was selling the Comets, and longtime head coach Van Chancellor resigned in January 2007.

New ownership and a new home (2007)

On January 31, 2007, the WNBA Board of Governors approved the sale of the team to Hilton Koch, a Houston-based mattress and furniture businessman. Two weeks later, Comets assistant coach Karleen Thompson was named to become the team's new head coach and general manager for the 2007 season.

For the 2007 season, they would miss the playoffs for the second time in franchise history after starting the season 0-10, resulting in a 13–21 record.

On December 12, 2007, team owner Hilton Koch announced that the Comets would be moving from the Toyota Center to Reliant Arena for the 2008 WNBA season. [5] This resulted in a loss of fans. The Toyota Center drew 13,000 fans, but the Reliant Arena could only house 7,200. In 2008, the Comets' final year, they only drew an average 6,000 fans per game and sold out four games. [6]

End of the era (2008)

In 2008, Koch put the team up for sale, with an asking price of $10 million. No investors stepped up. The WNBA took over management of the Comets and disbanded the team in December 2008. [7] They stated that they would only be suspending operations in 2009, which some people saw as a sign that the franchise could be revived if an investor came in. Comets players were sent off to other teams in a dispersal draft. [8]

League president Donna Orender said that the collapse of the Comets was not a sign that the WNBA was in trouble. Cynthia Cooper said that the loss of the Comets was "disturbing news" and that the Comets were integral to the WNBA. [6]

The Comets played their final home game on September 15, 2008 at the Strahan Coliseum on the campus of Texas State due to Hurricane Ike. They defeated the Sacramento Monarchs 90–81. They finished the season 17-17 and missed the playoffs for the third time in their history. [6]

Season-by-season records

SeasonTeamConferenceRegular season Playoff Results Head coach
WLPCT
Houston Comets
1997 1997 East 1st1810.643Won WNBA Semifinal (Charlotte, 70–54)
Won WNBA Championship (New York, 65–51)		 Van Chancellor
1998 1998 West 1st273.900Won WNBA Semifinals (Charlotte, 2–0)
Won WNBA Finals (Phoenix, 2–1)		 Van Chancellor
1999 1999 West 1st266.813Won Conference Finals (Los Angeles, 2–1)
Won WNBA Finals (New York, 2–1)		 Van Chancellor
2000 2000 West 2nd275.844Won Conference Semifinals (Sacramento, 2–0)
Won Conference Finals (Los Angeles, 2–0)
Won WNBA Finals (New York, 2–0)		 Van Chancellor
2001 2001 West 4th1913.594Lost Conference Semifinals (Los Angeles, 0–2) Van Chancellor
2002 2002 West 2nd248.750Lost Conference Semifinals (Utah, 1–2) Van Chancellor
2003 2003 West 2nd2014.588Lost Conference Semifinals (Sacramento, 1–2) Van Chancellor
2004 2004 West 6th1321.382 Van Chancellor
2005 2005 West 3rd1915.559Won Conference Semifinals (Seattle, 2–1)
Lost Conference Finals (Sacramento, 0–2)		 Van Chancellor
2006 2006 West 3rd1816.529Lost Conference Semifinals (Sacramento, 0–2) Van Chancellor
2007 2007 West 5th1321.382 Karleen Thompson
2008 2008 West 5th1717.500 Karleen Thompson
Regular Season241149.6184 Conference Championships
Playoffs2014.5884 WNBA Championships

Team owners

Players of note

Final roster

Houston Comets roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
G 1 Flag of the United States.svg Ajavon, Matee 5' 10" (1.78m)160 lb (73kg) Rutgers
G/F 00 Flag of the United States.svg Byears, Latasha 5' 11" (1.8m)206 lb (93kg) DePaul
G 20 Flag of the United States.svg Dixon, Tamecka 5' 9" (1.75m)148 lb (67kg) Kansas
G 15 Flag of the United States.svg Hodges, Roneeka 5' 11" (1.8m)165 lb (75kg) Florida State
G/F 17 Flag of the United States.svg Holmes, Sequoia 6' 1" (1.85m)155 lb (70kg) UNLV
G 41 Flag of the United States.svg Johnson, Shannon 5' 7" (1.7m)152 lb (69kg) South Carolina
F 21 Flag of Spain.svg Lyttle, Sancho 6' 4" (1.93m)175 lb (79kg) Houston
G 4 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Mabika, Mwadi 5' 11" (1.8m)165 lb (75kg) Democratic Republic of the Congo
G/F 99 Flag of Mali.svg Maïga-Ba, Hamchétou 6' 1" (1.85m)160 lb (73kg) Old Dominion
C 2 Flag of the United States.svg Snow, Michelle 6' 5" (1.96m)158 lb (72kg) Tennessee
F 7 Flag of the United States.svg Thompson, Tina 6' 2" (1.88m)178 lb (81kg) USC
G 5 Flag of the United States.svg White, Erica 5' 3" (1.6m)135 lb (61kg) LSU
F 8 Flag of the United States.svg Williams, Mistie 6' 3" (1.91m)184 lb (83kg) Duke
Head coach
  • Flag of the United States.svg Karleen Thompson (USC)
Assistant coaches
Athletic trainer
  • Flag of the United States.svg Courtney Watson
Strength and conditioning coach
  • Flag of the United States.svg Virgil Campbell
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Retired numbers

Houston Comets retired numbers
No.PlayerPositionTenure
10 Kim Perrot G 1997–98
14 Cynthia Cooper G 1997–2000, 2003

Former Comets

FIBA Hall of Fame

Houston Comets Hall of Famers
Players
No.PlayerPositionTenureInducted
9 Janeth Arcain G 1997–2003, 20052019

Coaches and others

Head coaches:

General managers

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Angeles Sparks</span> Womens basketball team

The Los Angeles Sparks are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Sparks compete in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as a member club of the league's Western Conference. The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began. Like some other WNBA teams, the Sparks have the distinction of not being affiliated with an NBA counterpart, even though the market is shared with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sacramento Monarchs</span> Basketball team in Sacramento, California

The Sacramento Monarchs were a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009. They played their home games at ARCO Arena.

The WNBA Finals are the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the conclusion of the league's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002. Starting 2016 Verizon is the official sponsor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cynthia Cooper-Dyke</span> American basketball coach and former player

Cynthia Lynne Cooper-Dyke is an American basketball coach and former player who has won championships in college, in the Olympics, and in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She is considered by many as one of the greatest female basketball players ever. In 2011, Cooper-Dyke was voted by fans as one of the Top 15 players in WNBA history. Upon the league's formation, she played for the Houston Comets from 1997 to 2000, being named the Most Valuable Player of the WNBA Finals in all four seasons, and returned to play again in 2003. Cooper-Dyke still holds the record for most Finals MVPs with four. On April 30, 2019, she was introduced as the head coach for the Texas Southern Lady Tigers basketball team, a position she held in the 2012–13 season. She has also coached at USC, UNC Wilmington, Prairie View A&M, and, professionally, for the Phoenix Mercury. Cooper-Dyke was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheryl Swoopes</span> American basketball player

Sheryl Denise Swoopes is an American former professional basketball player. She was the first player to be signed in the WNBA, is a three-time WNBA MVP, and was named one of the league's Top 15 Players of All Time at the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game. Swoopes has won three Olympic gold medals and is one of eleven women's basketball players to have won an Olympic gold medal, an NCAA Championship, a Fiba world cup gold, and a WNBA title. She was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. In 2017, she was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tina Thompson</span> Basketball player

Tina Marie Thompson is an American former WNBA professional basketball player and coach. Most recently, she served as the head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers women's basketball team from 2018 to 2022. Thompson was inducted into both the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van Chancellor</span> American basketball player and coach

Van Winston Chancellor is an American former college and professional basketball coach. He coached University of Mississippi women's basketball, Louisiana State University women's basketball, and the professional Houston Comets. He was named head coach of the Lady Tigers on April 11, 2007, replacing Pokey Chatman. In 2001, Chancellor was elected to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was enshrined as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September 2007. Chancellor currently serves as an analyst for Southland Conference games on ESPN3.

The following are the basketball events of the year 2005 throughout the world.

The following are the basketball events of the year 2000 throughout the world.

The following are the basketball events of the year 1999 throughout the world.

The Women's National Basketball Association's All-Decade Team were chosen in 2006 on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the WNBA from amongst 30 nominees compiled by the league by fan, media, coach, and player voting. The team was to comprise the 10 best and most influential players of the first decade of the WNBA, with consideration also accorded to sportsmanship, community service, leadership, and contribution to the growth of women's basketball; only players to have competed in the WNBA were eligible, but extra-league achievements were considered.

The 1997 WNBA Season was the Women's National Basketball Association's inaugural season. It started off with 8 franchises: Charlotte Sting, Cleveland Rockers, Houston Comets, Los Angeles Sparks, New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury, Sacramento Monarchs, and the Utah Starzz. It featured an inaugural game between the New York Liberty and the Los Angeles Sparks. The Sparks lost to the New York Liberty, 67–57. The attendance at the Forum was 14,284. The season ended with the Comets defeating the Liberty in a one-game series 65–51. Cynthia Cooper was named MVP of the game.

The 2004 WNBA Season was the Women's National Basketball Association's eighth season. The league had one fewer team than in 2003 as the Cleveland Rockers folded after the 2003 season. The season ended with the Seattle Storm winning their first WNBA Championship, as their head coach Anne Donovan became the first female coach to win a WNBA championship.

The 2007 WNBA Season was the Women's National Basketball Association's 11th season. On January 3, 2007 The Charlotte Sting folded. Three months later on April 4, the WNBA held their annual draft in Cleveland, Ohio. Lindsey Harding of Duke University was selected number one by the Phoenix Mercury. The Duke point guard was traded later to the Minnesota Lynx for Tangela Smith. The San Antonio Silver Stars selected Ohio State University center, Jessica Davenport. Davenport was traded to the New York Liberty for Becky Hammon. The season kicked off on May 19, with a rematch of the 2006 WNBA Finals between the Sacramento Monarchs and the Detroit Shock. The Shock defeated the Monarchs 75-68. On July 15 The All Star Game was played at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. The Eastern All Stars defeated the Western All Stars 103-99. Detroit Shock center, Cheryl Ford won the MVP of the game. Playing 27 minutes contributing 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists for the Eastern All Stars victory. The 2007 WNBA regular season ended on August 19. Lauren Jackson of the Seattle Storm was named league MVP. Dan Hughes of the San Antonio Silver Stars was named Coach of the Year. Armintie Price of the Chicago Sky was named Rookie of The Year. The 2007 WNBA season officially ended on September 16 when the Phoenix Mercury won the season WNBA Championship. The Mercury defeated the Detroit Shock 3 games to 2. Mercury guard Cappie Pondexter was named Finals MVP.

The 2008 WNBA season was the 12th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. It was the first WNBA season with a franchise in Atlanta as the Dream were announced in late 2007.

The 1999 WNBA season was the third season for the Houston Comets. The Comets won their third WNBA Finals.

The 2000 WNBA season was the fourth season for the Houston Comets. The Comets won their fourth WNBA Finals and their last title in franchise history before disbanding in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1998 WNBA Championship</span> Review of the playoffs

The 1998 WNBA Championship was the championship series of the 1998 WNBA season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Houston Comets, top-seeded team of the league, defeated the Phoenix Mercury, third-seeded team of the league, two games to one in a best-of-three series. This was Houston's second straight title.

The USC Trojans women's basketball team, or the Women of Troy, is the collegiate women's basketball team that represents the University of Southern California, in the Pac-12 Conference. The team rose to prominence in 1976, at which time scholarships became available to female basketball players. They were the first Division I team to give these scholarships.

Karleen M. Thompson is the associate head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers women's basketball team since 2018. Before joining the Cavaliers, Thompson was a WNBA head coach for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2004 and the Houston Comets from 2007 to 2008. Additionally, Thompson was an assistant coach for the Clemson Tigers women's basketball team from 2010 to 2013 and the Atlanta Dream from 2013 to 2017.

References

  1. ↑ Holmes, Baxter (December 30, 2009). "This time around, sports aren't recession-proof". The Los Angeles Times.
  2. ↑ Sandomir, Richard (2008-12-03). "W.N.B.A. Folds Its Houston Team Over Finances". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  3. ↑ Sandomir, Richard; Belson, Ken (2009-03-21). "In Economic Downturn, Corporate Ties Put Bind on Sports". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  4. ↑ Riper, Tom Van. "How The Economy Is Squeezing Sports". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  5. ↑ Comets moving to Reliant from Houston Chronicle
  6. 1 2 3 Dial, Jenny. The Houston Chronicle. "WNBA TO SHUT DOWN COMETS :DISPERSAL DRAFT PLANNED FOR NEXT WEEK." Seattle Post-Intelligencer 2 Dec. 2008, E.2.
  7. ↑ Altavilla, John. "LEAGUE LOOKS AHEAD AFTER COMETS' DEMISE :WNBA." Hartford Courant [Hartford, Conn.] 5 Dec. 2008, B.3.
  8. ↑ Tim Lemke, THE WASHINGTON TIMES. "Comets just flamed out :Economic troubles cause WNBA team to close shop." Washington Times [Washington, D.C.] 3 Dec. 2008, C.2
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Inaugural Champions
 WNBA Champions
1997 (First title)
1998 (Second title)
1999 (Third title)
2000 (Fourth title)		Succeeded by
WNBA Western Conference Champions
1998 (First title)
Co-Champions with Phoenix Mercury
1999 (Second title)
2000 (Third title)
Preceded by
Inaugural Champions
 WNBA Eastern Conference Champions
1997 (First title)
Co-Champions with New York Liberty 		Succeeded by
No Championship Awarded
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.