“Pulled him out the air, so he missed the dunk” - Three-time WNBA MVP left with a unique souvenir after playing one-on-one with Jordan
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Michael Jordan was not just determined to showcase his superiority against the best NBA players; he also aimed to prove his dominance against pro golfers on the golf course and even WNBA MVPs. His Airness left no stone unturned in demonstrating his supreme skills, and three-time WNBA MVP Sheryl Swoopes witnessed this trait firsthand at his basketball camp.
Although Swoopes did all she could do not to let MJ impose his will and end their one-on-one matchup with a rim-rocking dunk, she still managed to leave the camp with a one-of-a-kind souvenir that perhaps she could cherish for the rest of her life.
Swoopes played a one-on-one game with Jordan
Die-hard women’s basketball fans would be well aware of the havoc Sheryl created during his 10-year stint with the Houston Comets. Within a span of five years, she earned three MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors. Moreover, in her first four seasons, she won two championships consecutively; all while getting selected in the All-WNBA First Team since her sophomore year.
However, the 6-foot guard made her presence felt on the basketball map much before that. In 1993, she led Texas Tech to an NCAA Championship, averaging 28.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.4 steals per game.
Shortly after her NCAA Championship triumph, the Texas native received an invite to attend Mike’s basketball camp. At the end of the day’s session, the Chicago Bulls shooting guard praised Swoopes for her abilities before challenging her to a one-on-one matchup. In a Players’ Tribune piece, Sheryl revealed her feelings at that moment.
"I can't say no," Swoopes said. "First of all, it's Michael Jordan, and second of all, it's his camp, right?"
Despite the nervousness and the daunting task of facing the face of the NBA, Swoopes maintained her composure and got off to a 4-3 lead. As impressive as her showings were, it didn’t take long for the six-time Finals MVP to impose his will in that duel and take complete charge.
Being just one point away from victory, Jordan had plans to conclude the game with an exclamation point - a thunderous dunk. However, despite being on the verge of defeat, Sheryl was fixated on Mike on having his highlight-reel moment. As the six-time NBA Champ prepared to take flight, Swoopes showcased her strength and pulled him down mid-air.
"I grabbed him from behind, and I just pulled him out of the air. I still have some pride, right? I'm like, 'I can't let you dunk in front of me,'" Swoopes recalled. "Long story short, pulled him out the air, so he missed the dunk. He won the game."
That said, as astonishing as it seemed, not only did Sheryl give the greatest NBA player a tough competition, but she also had the pace and athleticism to bring down Mike - a feat that even the greatest defenders in the Association failed to match.
Swoopes went with a unique souvenir
Lastly, while the former Comet may have lost that one-on-one duel, she secured a souvenir that she admitted she would cherish for the rest of her life.
"I got makeup, lipstick, everything on this North Carolina T-shirt of his," Sheryl concluded. "He ended up having to give me the shirt because he couldn’t take the shirt with him with all the makeup on it. To this day, that’s one of my favorite T-shirts that I have."
That being said, one could only imagine the kind of head waves that would arise in the media circuits if a modern-day WNBA star like Caitlin Clark or Angel Reese were to stand their ground as similar to that of Swoopes against an NBA star.