Sheryl Swoopes Before Stardom - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

We all know the Sheryl Swoopes that has won four WNBA titles and currently leads the WNBA in scoring. We all know the Sheryl Swoopes who led Texas Tech's Lady Raiders to their first and only national title in 1993 by scoring a title game record of 47 points.

What about the girl who led Brownfield High School to a state title in 1988? What about the girl who grew from small town Brownfield into the woman and basketball goddess we all know now? For those answers, we returned to where it all started and talked with those who knew her before her rise to basketball stardom. Tina Terry, formerly Tina Cosper, remembers growing up with Sheryl in Brownfield.

"We had a blast. It was so much fun, all through school being in sports with her. She's a comedian. She always made us laugh. We always were laughing when we were together. She's just goofy, at least she used to be. She might have matured out of that, but I hope not. She used to make everybody laugh all the time," says Terry.

There was nothing funny about Sheryl's game while at Brownfield. Terry competed both on the Brownfield basketball and track teams with Swoopes, but she knew that it was the hardwood that Swoopes would grow up to dominate.

"We always knew that she was going to do something with basketball. That became evident when we went to the regional track meet her senior year. She ended up going to play at the Junior Olympics in basketball instead of going to the regional tournament with us, which was kind of a bummer. But that was when I really knew," says Terry.

She also says that the competitiveness that drove Sheryl through Texas Tech, two sets of Olympics, and the WNBA is something she developed during her days at Brownfield.

"She liked to win. She hated to lose. I can remember that we'd go to track meets, and if she didn't win, she didn't want the silver medal or the bronze medal. All she wanted was the gold. So I guess from way back then, you could tell that she wanted to win," says Terry.

That winning attitude has taken Sheryl very far in life, and it may take her even further. No matter how far it does take her, one thing will never change: the city of Brownfield will always be able to call Sheryl Swoopes their native daughter.