Although born in Chicago, Illinois, Cooper grew up in South Central Los Angeles, California.Cooper is the daughter of Mary and Kenny Cooper. Her father left the family when she was only six years old, leaving her mother to raise eight children. She was married to Brian Dyke in 2000. Cynthia is a mother to twins, a son, Brian Jr., and a daughter, Cyan, born June 15, 2002. In 2000, she published her autobiography, entitled She Got Game: My Personal Odyssey, which covered her childhood, her basketball career up to that time, and her mother's battle with breast cancer.