Cindy Brown played basketball at Long Beach State. As a senior she set NCAA records for most points in a season (974) and in a single game, scoring 60 against San Jose State. Brown played in the 1987 Final Four and was first-team All-American in 1986 and 1987. After college Brown went overseas, as there was no US women’s league in that era. She played for Sidis Ancona (Italy) from 1987-88, Toshiba Yana Gi Cho (Japan) from 1988-92, Faenza Errieti Club (Italy) from 1992-94, and Elizur Holon (Israel) from 1994-96.
In 1996 Brown was drafted by the Seattle Reign of the new American Basketball League (ABL), and made second-team All-ABL that year. She then switched to the WNBA, playing with the Detroit Shock and Utah Starzz from 1996-99, retiring after the 1998/99 season. Internationally, in addition to her 1988 Olympic gold medal, Brown won gold at the 1987 Pan American Games, and a silver at the 1985 Universiade.
United States