LOS ANGELES, CA – Even though she is only in her second WNBA season, Los Angeles Sparks guard Te’a Cooper has quickly become one of the more popular players in the league.
In addition to making a name for herself as a talented basketball player, Cooper’s tremendous fashion taste or dance moves with teammate Erica Wheeler will usually get plenty of views and likes on her Instagram page.
Now her beautiful image can be found on a new Barbie doll that was recently created and designed by Tyren Redd. The doll was made with all of Cooper’s likeness when she’s suited up to play, from the yellow legging on the left leg only to her red hair tied in a bun, and of course her dawning a white Sparks uniform.
Cooper was extremely happy with how the image of the Barbie turned out.
“I think it looks just like me,” Cooper said with a brimming smile. “I was super excited. I’ve been trying to get my own Barbie doll for a while. I think seeing that was like ‘Ahh, it’s actually happening.’ I was pretty excited. I loved it. I think it looks just like me so I was excited.”
This isn’t just a Barbie doll made to look like Cooper; it runs deeper than that. This doll is a representation and a tribute to WNBA players and the league as a whole. It shows the progress and growth the WNBA is making when one of its players can have their likeness on one of the world’s most popular toys.
Maybe more female athletes in the WNBA or any professional sports league can see this doll as a sign of hope in creating more awareness and more importantly, a representation of their respective teams, leagues, and brands.
Young women of color can also view this doll as an image that represents and speaks to them on a more personal level. So while many could see this as just a Cooper Barbie doll, it certainly has a deeper impact and symbolic meaning for young women everywhere. Hopefully, this is just the beginning.
