Tina Thompson on the Houston Comets Dynasty, Building the WNBA, & Her Signature Lipstick

YT DESCRIPTION: WNBA legend Tina Thompson joins Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady on Cousins to discuss her Hall of Fame career, the Houston Comets dynasty, and helping build the foundation of the WNBA.

Tina looks back on learning basketball alongside her older brother and how competing against older players built her confidence. She reflects on winning four championships with the Houston Comets, the WNBA’s early years, and why she waited until less than 48 hours before the draft to commit to the league. Tina also shares what it means to see the growth of the WNBA today.

Tina reveals why her first championship was the most memorable and why the Comets’ third title, dedicated to teammate Kim Perrot during her battle with cancer, remains closest to her heart. She also discusses Sheryl Swoopes, scouting for the Portland Trail Blazers, her relationship with Damian Lillard, and the story behind her signature red lipstick.

Plus, Tina weighs in on the 2026 WNBA championship and MVP conversations, including A’ja Wilson, Olivia Miles, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese. She reflects on Candace Parker entering the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, shares her thoughts on JuJu Watkins and Jazzy Davidson, and shows her excitement about seeing the Houston Comets return to the WNBA.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:22 Tina Thompson Joins Cousins

02:03 Tina Thompson’s Introduction To Basketball

08:49 Gaining Confidence Playing Against Older Guys

13:08 The Moment Her Brother Validated Her Game

14:58 The Houston Comets Dynasty

23:34 Building The WNBA From The Ground Up