Basketball Legend Sheryl Swoopes Is Now an Honorary Member of Sigma Gamma Rho

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. has welcomed a new sister into its distinguished ranks — basketball icon Sheryl Swoopes. The trailblazing athlete, known for breaking barriers on and off the court, was inducted as an honorary member as part of the sorority’s “Essence of Sisterhood Honorary Membership Class.”

Sigma Gamma Rho made the announcement on Saturday morning through its official social media channels, sparking excitement across the Black Greek and sports communities. Swoopes joins a historic lineage of women celebrated not only for their professional achievements but also for their commitment to service, leadership, and empowerment.

Sheryl Swoopes’ legacy is one of excellence and impact. Swoopes made history as the first player ever signed to the WNBA. Over the course of her storied career, she became a three-time WNBA MVP and earned a place among the league’s Top 15 Players of All Time at the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game. Her remarkable list of accomplishments includes three Olympic gold medals, a WNBA championship, a FIBA World Cup gold, and an NCAA Championship — an elite combination achieved by only eleven women’s basketball players. In recognition of her contributions to the sport, Swoopes was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.

Swoopes was not the only distinguished woman honored during this induction. Joining her as honorary members of Sigma Gamma Rho are Dr. Kimberlyn Leary, noted for her work in psychology and health equity; gospel singer and Tasha Page Lockhart; and Maui Bigelow, a prominent writer, speaker, and advocate forBlack women’s empowerment.

The addition of Swoopes and her honorary line reflects Sigma Gamma Rho’s ongoing commitment to honoring women who exemplify the sorority’s values of sisterhood, scholarship, and service.

We at Watch The Yard would love to give Sheryl Swoops a warm welcome to Black greekdom.