Houston Comets forward Sheryl Swoopes is opening up about being a lesbian, telling a magazine that she’s “tired of having to hide my feelings about the person I care about.”

Swoopes, honored last month as the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player, told ESPN The Magazine for a story on newsstands Wednesday that she didn’t always know she was gay and fears that coming out could jeopardize her status as a role model.

“Do I think I was born this way? No,” Swoopes said. “And that’s probably confusing to some, because I know a lot of people believe that you are.”

Swoopes, who was married and has an 8-year-old son, said her 1999 divorce “wasn’t because I’m gay.”

She said her reason for coming out now is merely because she wants to be honest.

“It’s not something that I want to throw in people’s faces. I’m just at a point in my life where I’m tired of having to pretend to be somebody I’m not,” the 34-year-old Swoopes said. “I’m tired of having to hide my feelings about the person I care about. About the person I love.”

A release from ESPN The Magazine about the story did not disclose the identity of Swoopes’ partner.

A five-time All-Star and three-time Olympic gold medalist, Swoopes is the WNBA’s only three-time MVP. She played for the Comets during their run of four championships from 1997-2000, but missed the 2001 season with a knee injury.

She said her biggest worry about her revelation is that people will be afraid to look up to her.

“I don’t want that to happen,” she said. “Being gay has nothing to do with the three gold medals or the three MVPs or the four championships I’ve won. I’m still the same person. I’m Sheryl.”

Swoopes led the WNBA in scoring last year, averaging 18.6 points. She also averaged 4.3 assists and 2.65 steals while making 85 percent of her free throws and playing a league-high 37.1 minutes a game.

She said it “irritates” her that no one talks about gays playing in men’s sports, but that it’s become an issue in the WNBA.

“Sexuality and gender don’t change anyone’s performance on the court,” she said. “Women play just as hard as guys do. We’re just as competitive.”

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Indiana Pacers players Ron Artest, Jermaine O’Neal and Stephen Jackson were sentenced to a year’s probation Friday, plus 60 hours of community service and $250 fines for their roles in one of the worst brawls in U.S. sports history.

The three — all of whom entered pleas of no contest — were also ordered to undergo anger management counseling, although Oakland County assistant prosecutor John Pietrofesa said Artest had already completed the counseling as part of his NBA suspension.

“We’re very satisfied with the resolution today,” Pietrofesa said. “They decided to take responsibility and to move forward, and that’s probably the best thing for everyone involved.”

The brawl took place Nov. 19, during a game against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Before sentencing, Judge Julie Nicholson reminded the players that whether they like it or not, they are seen as role models and owe it to their fans to behave appropriately.

O’Neal said he was looking forward to putting the brawl behind him and moving on, and that the community service would not be difficult because he already enjoys volunteering.

Jackson did not respond to questions from reporters as he left the court; Artest said only, “I just want to go home.”

A no-contest plea in Michigan is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing purposes.