Two-time WNBA championship coach Michael Cooper of the Dream has early stage tongue cancer and will be treated this week in Atlanta. A full recovery is expected, team officials said Monday.
He will miss at least two weeks after a surgical procedure at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, and assistant coach Karleen Thompson will coach the WNBA team in his absence.
“The doctors and staff at Emory have been tremendous, and I know I’m in good hands,” Cooper said in a news release. “I’m fortunate that my condition was diagnosed early, and this episode illustrates the importance of screening and early detection. I know the team will be in good hands with Coach Thompson at the helm during my absence, and I look forward to returning to the court soon.”
The Dream are 15-6 and hold first place in the Eastern Conference in Cooper’s first season. They hold a five-game lead with 13 games left remaining. The news comes after he coached the East to a 125-124 overtime victory on Saturday in the WNBA All-Star game.
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