Exclusive: Cynthia Cooper-Dyke Says This WNBA Season Could Be One of The Best Ever

Cynthia Cooper-Dyke’s name is synonymous with basketball greatness. In her illustrious career, she has earned every conceivable accolade. She won NCAA championships at USC (1983, 1984), an Olympic gold medal (1988), a FIBA World Championship (1990), and four consecutive WNBA titles with the Houston Comets (1997–2000).

Although she entered the WNBA at age 34, Cooper-Dyke dominated the league’s early years, winning the first two league MVP awards and becoming the only player to be named WNBA Finals MVP in four straight seasons. In 2009, Cooper-Dyke was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Now, Cooper-Dyke is ready for her next adventure, joining Prime Video’s broadcasting roster as a rotating game and studio analyst.

​The Root spoke with Cooper-Dyke about her new role as an analyst, the return of the Houston Comets to the WNBA, her top 5 guards of all time, and the storylines she can’t wait to cover this upcoming season.

After her successful career with the Houston Comets, the city has been without a WNBA team since 2008. In March, the Connecticut Sun announced it will relocate to Houston to become the new Houston Comets, starting in the 2027 season, following a record $300 million sale to Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta. Cooper-Dyke expressed her excitement about the return of her old team.

​”I was disappointed that we didn’t get an expansion team. Then I was like, “Oh gosh, now we’re going to have to wait year after year. And then, when I heard the inklings that we might purchase a team, it took forever because of the CBA negotiations,” she recalled. “But when it happened, I was overjoyed.”

​With a landmark new CBA deal in place and the “W” in its 30th season, Cooper-Dyke spoke about the importance of the deal as evidence of the league’s undeniable momentum.

​“The new CBA deal was incredible, and it blew me away. I thought it was great, not just for the players, but for the growth of women’s basketball overall. They even thought about the veterans and the pioneers with the one-time payment payout,” Cooper-Dyke said. “It was so fitting for the 30th season of the WNBA. It teaches the new players about the pioneers of the game and what we sacrificed to make sure we now have a healthy and successful “W.”

​“The other thing was, I didn’t want them to miss a season. I wanted to keep that momentum going,” Cooper-Dyke continued. “I wanted the women to be paid close to what they’re worth. But it was also equally important to have a season.”

​As a member of the inaugural broadcast team for Prime Video’s coverage of the WNBA, Cooper-Dyke will be a part of an all-star squad that features Candice Parker, Swin Cash, Ty Young, LaChina Robinson, Kara Lawson, Teresa Weatherspoon, Lindsey Harding, and Ty Young. She shared how she joined the team.

​“I love Prime’s coverage of the NBA. I love the innovation from the production and the technology. I love the fact that you can go on vacation with your family to Italy, and you can stream the games on Prime Video, and you can see it in over 200 countries,” she said. “People across the world can now watch WNBA right there in their living room.”

​”When I had that first Zoom call with Amina Hussein, the head of U.S. Sports On-Air Talent and Development at Prime Video, I was trying to sell myself to them because I wanted to be a part of what Prime was doing to grow the sport of women’s basketball,” she continued. “Now we get a chance to bring the coverage and the storytelling to Amazon Prime. I was super excited when they told me, ‘Hey, we want you, Coop.’I was like, ‘Thank you for wanting me.”

According to Cooper-Dyke, this WNBA season has the potential to be one of the best because there are so many intriguing storylines. With stars being traded, lots of free agent moves, and the ultra-talented 2026 rookie class, the “W” is poised to give basketball fans all the excitement and drama they can handle. Cooper-Dyke shared some of the storylines that she’s looking forward to covering.

​“One of the storylines is a healthy Caitlin Clark returning with Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston will be incredible. She’s had her experience with USA basketball, and I think she has something to prove returning from an injury. I like a Caitlin Clark with something to prove,” said Cooper-Dyke. “I also want to see what Angel Reese does in the ATL. I think she’s going to be fantastic.”

​“The New York Liberty has made some moves. They’re not just standing still, treading water. They want to win another championship,” she added. “Rickea Jackson is now on the Chicago Sky, and I think she has something to say. We can go with Paige Beckers, Aziz Fudd, AC Fudd of Lauren Betts. I  think the level of talent in the “W” this year is incredible.”

When about her top 5 WNBA guards were, Cooper-Dyke didn’t hesitate to name an impressive roster of legends.

​”Along with myself, the first person I thought of was Diana Tarasi. Then, I’m going to go with one of my buddies on USA Basketball, Theresa Edwards, because we gotta have somebody play defense,” Cooper-Dyke explained. “Also, I’m going to say my teammates Sheryl Swoopes and Maya Moore.”