Tina Thompson Siblings: A Look at the Former WNBA Player’s Family
Former WNBA player Tina Thompson PHOTO/Fan Side
Tina Marie Thompson, born on February 10, 1975, in Los Angeles, California, is a legendary figure in women’s basketball.
She was the first overall pick in the inaugural WNBA draft in 1997, selected by the Houston Comets, and went on to become one of the league’s all-time greats.
Beyond her athletic achievements, Thompson’s personal story is deeply tied to her family, particularly her siblings, who played a role in shaping her early love for basketball.
After retiring from playing in 2013, she transitioned into coaching, most notably serving as the head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers women’s basketball team from 2018 to 2022.
Siblings
Tina grew up in a family of five siblings in Los Angeles, California, consisting of two brothers and two sisters.
One sibling stands out as a significant influence in her life: her older brother, Tommy Thompson Jr., often referred to as TJ.
TJ was instrumental in introducing Tina to basketball when she was just nine years old.
Career
Thompson’s journey began at Morningside High School in Inglewood, California, where she excelled in both basketball and volleyball, amassing over 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds.
She continued her rise at the University of Southern California (USC), where she played from 1993 to 1997, leading the Trojans to a 77-37 record and three NCAA Tournament appearances.
Graduating with a degree in sociology and a minor in psychology, Thompson was a second-team All-American in her senior year.
In 1997, Thompson made history as the first college draft pick in WNBA history, selected by the Houston Comets.
She quickly established herself as a cornerstone of the team, forming a formidable trio with Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes.
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Together, they led the Comets to four consecutive WNBA championships from 1997 to 2000.
Over her 17-year WNBA career, Thompson played for the Comets (1997–2008), the Los Angeles Sparks (2009–2011), and the Seattle Storm (2012–2013).
She retired in 2013 as the league’s all-time leading scorer with 7,488 points, a record later surpassed by Diana Taurasi in 2017, and remains third on the list as of 2025.
Thompson also competed internationally, winning two Olympic gold medals with Team USA in 2004 (Athens) and 2008 (Beijing).
After retiring, Thompson transitioned into coaching.
She began as an assistant coach at the University of Texas from 2015 to 2018, working under Karen Aston and helping develop standout players like Imani Boyette.
In 2018, she was named head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers women’s basketball team, a position she held until 2022, finishing with a 30-63 record.
Accolades
Thompson’s accolades include four WNBA Championships (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000) with the Houston Comets, two Olympic Gold Medals (2004, 2008) as a member of Team USA, and nine WNBA All-Star appearances (1999–2000, 2001–2007, 2013), with the 2000 All-Star Game MVP award.
She earned eight All-WNBA Team selections (three First Team, five Second Team) and was the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer at retirement with 7,488 points, a mark that now ranks her third all-time.
Thompson was the first player to reach 7,000 points and 3,000 rebounds in WNBA history.
Her legacy was further cemented with her induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018 and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in the same year.
She was also named to the WNBA Top 20@20 in 2016, recognizing her as one of the league’s 20 greatest players in its 20th anniversary celebration, and she holds the distinction of being the first overall pick in the inaugural 1997 WNBA Draft.