SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - UNCW women's basketball coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke was formally inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame during its annual enshrinement ceremony Friday night at the Symphony Hall.

A member of the largest induction class in Hall-of-Fame history, Cooper-Dyke becomes the first player to be inducted based primarily on her WNBA career. She was part of an enshrinement class that included Karl Malone and Scottie Pippen, longtime LA Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss, St. Anthony's (N.J.) high-school coach Bob Hurley, Sr., as well as former players Dennis Johnson, Gus Johnson and international star Maciel "Ubiratan" Pereira, all of whom were honored posthumously. Also included in the enshrinement ceremony were the 1960 and 1992 US Men's Olympic teams.

During her acceptance speech, Cooper-Dyke took the crowd on what she called "a little journey" of her career, beginning with her state championship at Locke High School, to the University of Southern California, where she helped the Women of Troy capture two NCAA National Championships (1983, 1984) and make a third Final Four appearance (1986) under the guidance of both Linda Sharp and Fred Williams.

From there, Cooper-Dyke remarked on her time overseas, where she played playing 10 seasons in Italy and Spain, before bringing her talents back to the United States to play for the Houston Comets in the newly-formed Women's National Basketball Association.

Cooper-Dyke then talked about her time with the Comets, where she helped form the league's first dynasty as she guided the franchise win four consecutive WNBA championships and was named WNBA Finals MVP in each of those championship seasons. She expressed the joy of playing in front of her mother, her friends and the American public and also thanked the Comets management and coach Van Chancellor for giving her the opportunity to return to home and showcase her talents.

She then touched on her coaching career, first with the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA and then at Prairie View A&M before talking about the desire to "re-invent" herself with a move to the East Coast and her new position as head coach at UNC Wilmington. She then thanked Athletic Director Kelly Mehrtens and Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo for the opportunity and for them "taking a chance" on her.

After completing the journey through her career, Cooper-Dyke stressed the importance of believing in oneself and thanked her husband, Brian, and her kids, Brian and Cyan, for their love and support. She also recognized her team and coaching staff at UNCW.   

She closed her speech by giving thanks to her mother, Mary Cooper, "one special person who is my hero," was well as her aunt and her mother-in-law.   

Be sure to check back with UNCWsports.com for more from tonight's enshrinement ceremony.