Dog Street Journal staff columnist Amanda Vollrath hails Sheryl Swoopes as an icon whose courage might earn acceptance for gay athletes.

Such a well known and admired star who is also gay may help bring more acceptance of homosexuality in professional sports...

Hopefully, an openly gay female basketball superstar will pave the way for other athletes to come out. I know there will always be narrow-minded ignorant people out there who will never accept any gay person, but I like to think that there will soon be a time when players never feel the need to hide their sexuality or fear harassment and isolation for being gay.