Swoopes’ European Basketball Stay Is Short, and She Returns to Texas

In the space of two weeks last season, Texas Tech’s Sheryl Swoopes became probably the biggest name in women’s basketball since Cheryl Miller led USC to NCAA titles in 1983 and ’84.

In five playoff games last spring, Swoopes scored 30, 33, 36, 31 and then a stunning 47-point show in her team’s title game victory over Ohio State.

Next stop: Europe, for pro basketball. She signed with an Italian team in early August, played two months . . . and is back in her home town, Brownfield, Tex.

“Her team didn’t come through on some things they’d agreed upon, and Sheryl just came home,” a Texas Tech spokesman said.

“She wants to coach, so she’ll enroll in school again in January and get her degree. She’ll also do some radio broadcast work for our games.”