Te’a Cooper Eyes WNBA Comeback After 4-Yr Hiatus—’I Wanted to Get Back in Form’

Te’a Cooper, a former Los Angeles Sparks guard, is ready to reclaim her place within the WNBA after nearly 4 years out of the league. On the same be aware, Angel McCoughtry additionally assured her WNBA comeback, stating that “age is just a number.”

Cooper, who performed her final season professionally within the United States in 2021, has been making her manner again whereas enjoying professionally overseas for Tarbes Gespe Bigorre within the French Women’s Basketball League.

Now, she’s leveraging her time overseas to point out the world that she nonetheless has a spot on the prime.

From WNBA to Entrepreneurship and Motherhood

Cooper earned herself a reputation and popularity within the courtroom together with her playmaking expertise and protection capabilities for the Sparks in 2020 and 2021. Yet she broke from the league to run her hair firm enterprise and take care of her daughter, Stori, shared with NFL’s Alvin Kamara, TMZ Sports reviews.

Though her personal priorities modified, her ardour for basketball by no means disappeared. After having fun with time away from the courtroom, Cooper felt she wanted to be again on the sport—however not earlier than she rehabilitated her sport, honed her expertise, and regained her elite-level physique to make a real bid for a WNBA roster spot.

Why Playing Overseas Is Key to Cooper’s Comeback

Knowing that movie and up to date sport expertise are important to drawing WNBA curiosity, Cooper signed with Tarbes Gespe Bigorre in France to point out she nonetheless has it.

“I needed film,” Cooper mentioned. “I needed to get on a team again, I needed to get back in shape. I needed all the things.”

Playing abroad has been a stepping stone for WNBA aspirants and veterans searching for to reboot their careers for years. Numerous prime gamers, akin to Breanna Stewart and Brittney Griner, have spent off-seasons enjoying overseas to hone their craft.

Cooper is hoping that her stint in France will expose her expertise and preparedness for a return to the WNBA.

Speaking of abroad basketball, Gabby Williams left the WNBA after she slammed WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert about wage discrepancies. He later moved to Turkey and signed with Fenerbahce.

Does Te’a Cooper Have a Path Back to the WNBA?

The journey again to the WNBA won’t be easy. The league is now extra aggressive than it has ever been, with few roster spots obtainable and contemporary younger expertise pouring in yearly. But Cooper’s expertise, athleticism, and excessive basketball IQ may make her an interesting candidate to groups in search of depth at guard.

A couple of groups may be a very good match for her, particularly, the groups which can be in search of defensive guards who can push the ball upcourt and generate scoring possibilities. If she does properly in France, WNBA scouts and normal managers will certainly take discover.

Outside his WNBA plans, Cooper threw a cryptic message on social media.

“When u think of all the ppl you’ve messed with, do yall think any of them is truly your soulmate?” the publish learn.

While she didn’t point out any identify, followers speculate that it is about both her former associate Dwight Howard or Kamara, Marca reviews.