Swin Cash: On and Off The Court
Swintayla Marie Cash, or “Swin” was born on September 22 in a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In high school, Swin participated in several activities, including cheerleading, track and school plays. However, it was her skills on the court that would lead her to the University of Connecticut, and then the WNBA. She was named a WBCA All American and WBCA All Star MVP before taking her talents to Storrs, Connecticut. She helped the UCONN Huskies win two NCAA national titles, including a 39-0 run en route to the 2002 NCAA title. Cash graduated from UCONN as an All-American, a two-time NCAA Champion and the 2002 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
WNBA
At the 2002 WNBA draft, Swin was selected second overall by the Detroit Shock (now the Dallas Wings). In her rookie season, Detroit started 0-10 before Bill Laimbeer was brought on as Head Coach. The team went 9-23, finishing last in the standings. “Bad Boy” Bill of Detroit Pistons fame was vocal about his plans to turn the team around. One of those changes included making Swin Cash a pivotal player.
Swin Cash and the Detroit Shock celebrate after winning the WNBA title Credit: Gregory Shamus/WNBAE/Getty Images
Detroit went from worst to first, winning the 2003 WNBA title, becoming the first expansion team to do so. Laimbeer leaned on Cash’s championship pedigree and leadership to see his team to its first championship in 2003. Three years later, the Shock won a second WNBA title and the third in 2008. However, Cash was traded to the Seattle Storm prior to the 2008 title. Laimbeer and Cash struggled to maintain a healthy working relationship, and Cash was dealing with an injury and health issues, that she later revealed in her 2013 book Humble Journey: More Precious Than Gold.
As it turned out, in addition to a herniated disk, Cash was dealing with a cancer diagnosis. “We had physicals for the beginning of the season and it really just was the doctor reading the MRI, saying, what’s this little thing over here?” It turns out, there were cancerous cells found in Swin’s kidneys that needed attention. Cash shared with Kenneth Best, UConn Communications. “It was a blessing from God. If my back was not bothering me, I would have had that tumor sitting there growing and manifesting. My kidneys were not bothering me.”
Cash was able to recover from illness and injury to become a 2009 WNBA All-Star, and the 2009 WNBA All-Star MVP. She set an All-Star record with her 22 points (10-of-16 shooting), leading the West to a 130-118 victory. Swin Cash Wins MVP Honors
Her third title would come with the Seattle Storm in 2010. In her final season with Seattle, Cash won her second All-Star MVP award, despite being on the losing team. She posting 21 points and 12 rebounds for the West.
At her retirement ceremony at Madison Square Garden on September 7th, many of her Storm teammates were in attendance. It was fitting, as her college roommate, teammate and good friend Sue Bird was in town for the final regular season matchup between the 3rd place New York Liberty and the 7th place Seattle Storm.
After a convincing 102-78 win by the Storm, attention turned to the celebration of Swin Cash. Along with Bird, 2010 Seattle teammates Camille Little, Tina Thompson, Tanisha Wright (current New York Liberty teammate) spoke at Swin’s retirement ceremony. Other speakers included Tina Charles, Bill Laimbeer, and Isiah Thomas of the New York Liberty, as well as WNBA President Lisa Borders.
The night dedicated to Swin Cash was, in her own eyes, less about her and more about what she’s been able to do because of others, and for others. The 15 year WNBA veteran had several words of thanks, as well as advice for current players. “It’s your responsibility to move this game forward, not just on the court, it’s really about off the court and globally. Cash learned such lessons from from former players like Sheryl Swoopes and Teresa “T-Spoon” Weatherspoon, who greatly influenced her decision to come to New York in 2014.
“It is very important that you honor the ones that came before you,” said Cash at her retirement ceremony, “the ones that taunted (fans) on the side and made them want to come back. The ones that kissed the floor because they loved … playing here. That, to me, is what it’s all about.”
Off the Court
Cash has spent several WNBA postseasons as an NBA commentator Credit: Chuck Finder/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
While T-Spoon has one way of connecting with fans and the greater community, Cash has forged her own path. From her non-profit Cash for Kids, to her broadcasting roles with ESPN, and MSG Network, Swin has continued to be a trailblazer.
Last October, Swin’s foundation, Cash for Kids, celebrated 10 years of serving children in Western Pennsylvania. “I think it’s important for the kids here in Western Pa. to see me,” said Cash for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “think it’s important for young boys and especially young girls to see someone that has had the success that I’ve had but still [comes] back, no matter what.”
Cash for Kids Team Red and Team White pose at MSG with Swin Cash. Credit: Swin Cash/Facebook
Cash for Kids continues to use sports and cultural activities to motivate, educate and elevate kids through physical fitness, nutrition, education, cultural trips, and sports camps. Most recently, some of the Cash for Kids participants traveled to New York City and visited the American Museum of Natural History, the Intrepid Air & Space Museum, rode the BEAST speed boat and more, before taking in the New York Liberty v. Connecticut Sun game on Friday, September 9th. The children also had a Cash for Kids v. Cash for Kids game on the historic Madison Square Garden court.
Swin has been a great advocate in the greater basketball world.Cash has spent time in the off season as a broadcast for the NBA; her most recent work was with the MSG Network covering the Knicks. Whether on the court or on the set, Swin will be herself. That has sometimes meant making tough decisions regarding what she wore on-air. Swin wanted to share her colorful personality and style, but she was warned to dress conservatively, so that viewers were focused on what she was saying, rather than how she looked. Female broadcasters in the male dominated sports world often have to make decisions about how they dress, how they style their hair and other aesthetic logistics. However, for Swin, she was held by only one standard, and that was the one she created for herself. On an episode of the podcast Cashin’ in With Swin, she stated “I don’t wanna wear a suit jacket every time … I have to be me.”
At her retirement ceremony, Cash joked that people tease her about being a fashionable diva-type. Swin is known to walk into a room, if not late, than just in the nick of time, with a certain swagger. Swintayla, whose full name is Swahili for “astounding woman”, made no mystery about where her confident presence comes from, “I was raised by a strong black woman who told me that it was okay to be me.”
Swin on Social Justice
“In this game, a lot of times, people ask me, ‘Swin, what’s your most memorable moment?’” While Swin couldn’t deny that winning championships was important, and something undeniable. Surely, her two Olympic gold medals with Team USA rank up there. Or, perhaps the indelible mark she left on the UCONN women’s program would ultimately take the top spot. However, Cash ended her speech by giving respect to her greater WNBA sisterhood.
“And one of the proudest moments, if you wanna know; one of the proudest moments for me in the WNBA is the fact that over the month of July (and) into August, 144 women stood up and said, ‘We have a voice. We want to talk about issues, and if you don’t know, you better ask somebody.”
Swin Cash was referring to the stance she and other players took to highlight the issue of police violence in wake of the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. The lingering crowd cheered as Swin continued, “The WNBA players have a platform and we’re going to use it. And if you wanna know what I’m proudest of, that’s my proudest moment because each and every player understood that we’re gonna make you see us, we’re not invisible.”
And the players have continued to use their platform. Just yesterday, members of the Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever took a knee during the national anthem for the first WNBA postseason game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Phoenix will play New York on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in Round Two of the 2016 WNBA Playoffs.
Swin poses with some over her retirement gifts on September 7, 2016 Credit: Erica L. Ayala/MyWSports
Swin closed by saying, “I love the game, I respected this game, and now I’m giving it all back to you.”
We at MyWSports want to celebrate the contributions of Swin Cash on and off the court. She has propelled the role of women in basketball on the court, in the community and on the air waves. We agree with Coach Laimbeer, your best contributions to the game have yet to come.
Follow Erica Ayala on Twitter @elindsay08
