Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, a WNBA legend, announced her retirement from collegiate coaching after her season ended at Texas Southern in March. But prior to her announcement of retirement, she was under a Title IX investigation. Per an article by The Athletic, Cooper-Dyke has been accused of abusive and demeaning behavior toward players.
In fact, for the second half of the season, she wasn’t allowed to have any in-person contact or communication with her players. The only time Cooper-Dyke could communicate with her team was during practice and games.
According to that report, Cooper-Dyke is alleged to have used “overt sexual language with her players, in ways that many found to be inappropriate, demeaning and degrading.”
Below details some of the explicit comments Cooper-Dyke made while at Texas Southern.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time she has been accused of abuse by her players. When she was at USC, Cooper-Dyke also was accused of similar behaviors.
“This is a woman who demeaned us, who talked to us like we were not human,” former USC player Thaddesia Southall said in THe Athletics’ article. “She made me hate basketball, and no one did anything to stop her.”
Cooper-Dyke has debunked these abuse allegations per The Athletic:
“Throughout my years as a coach, I’ve had countless interactions with players in my role as their coach, mentor and friend. I had positive relationships with the majority of players and staff, and my only intention was to maximize players’ potential and help them be their best. While these allegations are untrue, everyone deserves to work, play and learn in a respectful environment, and I deeply apologize for and regret any words used during the course of a spirited game or practice that offended or hurt someone.”
