Swin Cash - Professional Career

Professional Career

Cash was selected by the Detroit Shock in the 2002 WNBA Draft, second overall. After leading the Shock's resurgence in the second half of her rookie season, she then led the Detroit Shock to their first WNBA Championship title in 2003. She played in the 2003 WNBA All-Star Game and won the gold medal with the U.S. women's basketball team at the 2004 Olympic Games.

In the off-season, Cash has appeared as a studio analyst on ESPN's NBA Fastbreak (according to ESPN.com) and during the 2008 Beijing Olympic games, she alternated with Teresa Edwards in presenting in-game commentary for NBC's presentation of the women's basketball tournament from the network's New York broadcast studios. Swin appeared (as herself) in the movie Bring It On: All or Nothing.

Cash received the Dapper Dan Sportswoman of the Year award in April 2007. This is an award given to someone who shows excellence to the Pittsburgh area. She was also honored with Sidney Crosby and Dan Rooney.

Cash left Detroit for the 2008 season after "struggling to build a consistent relationship with Detroit Shock head coach Bill Laimbeer". On February 19, 2008 Cash was traded to the Seattle Storm for the draft rights of No. 4 pick in the 2008 WNBA draft. The Shock selected Alexis Hornbuckle with their draft pick. Cash helped the Storm win their second championship in 2010. On January 2, 2012, in perhaps the WNBA's biggest blockbuster trade news thus far, Cash was traded, along with Le'Coe Willingham, to the Chicago Sky joining All- Star Sylvia Fowles.

Cash has been suffering from a herniated disk for more than two years, an injury suffered while helping the Detroit Shock win the WNBA championship in 2006. In 2009 she came back to Connecticut to lead the Western Conference over the Eastern Conference at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. She led all scorers with an All-Star record of 22 points in a 130-118 win. The previous high was 20 by Cash's former Detroit teammate, Deanna Nolan, in 2005.

Cash was invited to the USA Basketball Women's National Team training camp in the fall of 2009. The team selected to play for the 2010 FIBA World Championship and the 2012 Olympics is usually chosen from these participants. At the conclusion of the training camp, the team will travel to Ekaterinburg, Russia, where they compete in the 2009 UMMC Ekaterinburg International Invitational.

Cash was one of twenty players named to the national team pool. Twelve of this group will be chosen to represent the USA in the 2010 World Championships and the 2012 Olympics.

Cash was named as one of the National team members to represent the USA Basketball team in the WNBA versus USA Basketball. This game replaces the normal WNBA All-Star game with WNBA All-Stars versus USA Basketball, as part of the preparation for the FIBA World Championship for Women to be held in the Czech Republic during September and October 2010.

Cash was one of 21 finalists for the U.S. Women’s Olympic Basketball Team Roster. The 20 professional women's basketball payers, plus one collegiate player (Brittney Griner), were selected by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee to compete for the final roster which will represent the USA at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Washington and Jefferson College awarded Cash with an honorary degree in Doctorate of Public Service at their commencement ceremonies in May 2011 to honor her charity work. Cash is the founder of the Pennsylvania based Cash for Kids charitable organization.