Nikki McCray-Penson dead at 51: Women's basketball world pays tribute to Hall of Famer

Author Photo
Nikki McCray-Penson
Getty Images

Nikki McCray-Penson, a former All-America college basketball player, WNBA All-Star and collegiate coach, has died, according to several reports. She was 51 years old.

McCray-Penson had been diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2013 while on the coaching staff at South Carolina. However, her cause of death has not been released.

She is survived by her husband, Thomas Penson, and their 10-year-old son, Thomas Jr.

Born and raised in Collierville, Tenn., she met stardom while playing for legendary coach Pat Summitt's Tennessee teams in the mid 1990s, earning back-to-back SEC Player of the Year and All-America honors in 1994 and 1995. 

After college, she spent a year with the Columbus Quest in the American Basketball League, taking MVP honors in the 1996-97 season.

She joined the WNBA in 1998, the league's second season, and spent three years with the Washington Mystics, where she earned an All-Star title each season. She was also a member of the Indiana Fever, Phoenix Mercury, Chicago Sky and San Antonio Silver Stars (now in Las Vegas as the Aces).

McCray-Penson also had an international stint, earning gold medals as part of Team USA at the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics.

Her time as a point guard ended in 2006, as she switched to life on the other side of the sideline. She coached for Western Kentucky, South Carolina, Old Dominion, Mississippi State and Rutgers in 17 years. 

McCray-Penson was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. The hoops community sent numerous tributes to her following the news of her death:

Tributes to Nikki McCray-Penson

Author(s)
Author Photo
Sara Tidwell is an editorial intern with The Sporting News.
LATEST VIDEOS