Swin Cash
A powerhouse forward whose clutch performances and leadership delivered three WNBA championships and two Olympic golds.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American basketball player·Birthday: September 22·Generation X
Biography
Swin Cash didn't just play basketball; she played winning basketball. At UConn, she was the fiery heart of an undefeated national championship team. That winning mentality became her professional signature. In the WNBA, she was the essential piece for dynasties, bringing a combination of athletic slashes to the rim, tenacious rebounding, and an unshakable competitive fire to Detroit, Seattle, and Chicago. Off the court, her voice grew just as powerful, advocating tirelessly for players' rights and social justice. After retiring, she seamlessly transitioned into a front-office role, shaping the New Orleans Pelicans. Cash's legacy is that of a quintessential winner who elevated every team she touched and then worked to build a better league.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Swin was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Swin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Swin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won three WNBA championships (with the Detroit Shock in 2003 and 2006, and the Seattle Storm in 2010).
- Earned two Olympic gold medals as a member of the U.S. women's basketball team in 2004 and 2012.
- Named a WNBA All-Star four times and was the MVP of the 2009 All-Star Game.
- Inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022.
- Served as Vice President of Basketball Operations for the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans.
Did You Know?
She was part of the legendary 2002 University of Connecticut team that went 39-0 and won the NCAA title.
She is a published author, having written a children's book titled 'Hoopfuls'.
She won an NCAA title, a WNBA title, and an Olympic gold medal all within a span of 15 months from 2002 to 2003.
Her first name, Swintayla, was created by her mother.
“I've always been someone who wanted to leave the game better than I found it.”
