Quotes By Sheryl Swoopes

There was the misconception out there that I retired after the 2008 season, but that was never the case. I wasn't done with basketball yet, and I'm still not done.

There is nothing I've been through in my life that I regret, or that I would go back and change. I feel like everything that happened - personally and professionally - I went through for a reason, and I learned from those things.

Discovering I'm gay just sort of happened much later in life.

I'm at a place in my life right now where I'm very happy, very content. I'm finally OK with the idea of who I love, who I want to be with.

As a result of Title IX, and a new generation of parents who want their daughters to have the opportunities they never had, women's sports have arrived.

Being gay has nothing to do with the three gold medals or the three MVPs or the four championships I've won. I'm still the same person. I'm Sheryl.

I didn't grow up thinking, 'Oh, maybe someday I'm going to have a shoe named after me.'

There are so many women out there relying on me to represent them.

I don't want to have to hide from the world anymore.

I've accomplished everything a person can accomplish on a basketball court, but I never thought about the future when I was younger. I never made plans for the next stage in my life.

Everybody wants to win.

I have accomplished everything I set out to accomplish when I started playing the sport at 7. And probably even more.

I had never made any plans beyond basketball.

I like to see people doubt me.

Dream big work hard.

Every level that I have ever competed on, I have risen to the top.

I never really officially retired from the WNBA, I just left the doors open.

TV is what sells your product.

I'm finally OK with the idea of who I love, who I want to be with.

I've always been a firm believer in mind over matter. If you don't believe you can achieve, your body will start to believe this and you'll be stuck.

Some people might say my coming out after just winning the MVP award is heroic, and I understand that.

You have to be positive, and I'm not just talking about athletics, this also applies to life.

Players don't really ask for much or want much. But the things that they do need are important.

Women play just as hard as guys do. We're just as competitive.

I always believe someone somewhere is working harder than me and that motivates me to work harder, give 100%.

I was very bitter, frustrated, hurt, angry - I went through all types of emotions when I first was out of the WNBA.

Sexuality and gender don't change anyone's performance on the court.

It didn't matter how good I was. It was always, 'You're a girl. You can't play with the guys.' It's always been motivation for me.

To me, the most important thing is happiness.

I never thought a basketball shoe would be named after a woman, let alone me.