Sheryl Swoopes Under Investigation at Loyola After Most Players Leave Team

Sheryl Swoopes, a multi-time WNBA MVP and champion and Olympic gold medalist, was elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame last month. Since 2013, she has been the head coach of the Loyola’s women’s basketball team. Per the Chicago Tribune, 10 of 12 players on the team who were still under scholarship either transferred or requested their release, and five players transferred after last season.

Loyola has announced that Swoopes’ conduct is now under internal investigation.

“Any time there are allegations of student-athlete mistreatment, it is more than concerning,” an athletic department staffer said in a statement. “The welfare of our student-athletes is paramount. Thus, the Loyola University Chicago Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has asked for an independent and comprehensive University investigation into the women’s basketball program … Coach Swoopes is aware of, and will fully cooperate with, the investigation. We look forward to learning how we can resolve these allegations and improve the student-athlete experience within the women’s basketball program.”

This past week, the Loyola Phoenix, the school’s student newspaper cited an anonymous source who indicated that Swoopes “has a tendency to ‘cross the line’ when dealing with members of the program in regards to their performances and personal lives,” and that communication with the Athletic Department would get back to the coach. In a follow-up report, a source (it’s unclear whether it’s the same one) accused Swoopes of mocking players’ injuries and playing form.

According to the Phoenix, the Ramblers’ two leading scorers, Taylor Johnson and Taylor Manuel, are among those who plan to leave the team. The team went 14-16 this past season.