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Swin Cash honored at MSG for extraordinary career

Photo Credit: Steven Ryan

The Seattle Storm may have defeated the New York Liberty 102-78 at Madison Square Garden last night. It was still a celebration at the Garden as after the game, the Liberty acknowledged the great career of Swin Cash.

An Olympic gold medalist, 4-time All-Star, and 3-time WNBA champion, she has certainly left her mark on the WNBA.

Among those who attended was WNBA president Lisa Borders:

“You have cut the path for this league, it’s 20 years and you have been here for three quarters of that time. Leadership is passion turned into action, you have passion for this game to a whole new level.”

–Lisa Borders

Also speaking was Sue Bird, a collegiate roommate of Cash at UConn.


“When we talk about Swin’s career, we’re going to be talking about a winner and you can’t argue that. For me I’m happy to be here because you helped me become that. In a lot of ways, we became sisters.”

–Sue Bird

Tina Thompson, Isaiah Thomas, and Bill Laimbeer were also among the many WNBA luminaries in attendance.

Cash herself began her remarks by thanking the litany of people she had come in contact with throughout her career—from her husband, to those that helped her with the Cash For Kids foundation, to both the WNBA and NBA as a whole. (Link to full retirement speech courtesy of MSG Networks)

She had a message for those that now represent the present and future of the league that they can continue to raise the standard set by herself, Tamika Catchings, Penny Taylor, and others.

“As I’m retiring, as Catch is retiring, as Penny’s retiring, we once were given a torch that we had to uphold from women like Tina Thompson. From women like Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes. And we tried to run with that bad boy, and it wasn’t easy. We had the highs and the lows, but it’s your responsibility to move this game forward—not just on the court. It’s really about off the court and globally.”

–Swin Cash

She also took time to acknowledge the friendships she has made throughout her career as well as thanking the fans that have supported the WNBA. Cash also took time to mention how influential Teresa Witherspoon was in her making a decision to play for the New York Liberty given the history of New York basketball and Madison Square Garden.

Cash also mentioned that one of the proudest moments of her career came a few months ago—when WNBA players took a stand on social issues, such as the Black Lives Matter movement.


“One hundred and forty-four 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. The WNBA players have a platform and we’re going to use it.”

As this season nears its end, so does her playing career—a playing career deserving of a place in Springfield, MA at the Basketball Hall of Fame. But as her time on the court may be coming to a close, we are certainly looking forward to see how Cash uses her platform as an ambassador for the league as well as the sport as a whole.



By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)

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