Sheryl became the first women's basketball player to have a Nike shoe named after her: the "Air Swoopes". In 1993 Swoopes won the NCAA women's basketball title with Texas Tech during her senior season. Her jersey was retired by the school the following year.

Swoopes was recruited by the Houston Comets of the WNBA during the inaugural season. As a member of the Houston Comets, she has accumulated over 2,000 career points, 500 career rebounds, 300 career assists and 200 career steals. Her scoring and defensive ability have helped her become the first three-time WNBA MVP (2000, 2002, 2005) and the first three-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2000, 2002, 2003). Swoopes is a four-time WNBA champion (1997 - 2000).

Swoopes's contributions to women's basketball as well as her tough play through injury have her generally considered to be one of the best female basketball players of all time. Swoopes is the second player in WNBA history to win both the regular season MVP award and the All-Star Game MVP award in the same season. The first player to accomplish this was Lisa Leslie. Swoopes is also the first to record a playoff triple-double in WNBA history. 

In March of 2008, Swoopes signed with the Seattle Storm, ending her eleven year career with the Comets. Swoopes sat out the 2010 season, but an annoucement from the Tulsa Shock in 2011 affirmed her comeback in the WNBA.

Swoopes has also been a part of three Olympic Gold Medal winning U.S. National Teams.