Lusia Harris
Inducted:
1992
Lusia Harris, often called the "Queen of Basketball," was a towering figure who fundamentally changed the landscape of the sport. A dominant center at Delta State University, she led her team to three consecutive national championships in the mid-1970s. Harris gained international fame at the 1976 Summer Games, where she had the distinct honor of scoring the first-ever points in women's Olympic basketball history, eventually helping the United States secure a silver medal.
In a landmark moment in 1977, she became the first woman to be officially drafted by an NBA team when the New Orleans Jazz selected her in the seventh round. Although she chose not to play in the NBA, her selection remains a historic milestone for gender equality in professional sports. In recognition of her pioneering achievements, she was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992.
Harris's Awards and Records
- Olympic Silver Medalist (1976)
- 3× AIAW champion (1975–1977)
- 3× AIAW Tournament MVP (1975–1977)
- 3x Kodak All-American (1975–1977)
- Honda Sports Award for basketball (1977)
- Broderick Cup (1977)
- Played in the first Olympic women’s basketball tournament
- Historic NBA draft milestone
WNBA Teams
Houston Angels (1979–1980)
NBA Draft
1977: 7th round, 137th overall pick
New Orleans Jazz
NBA Stats
Games Played:
115
Total Points:
2,981
Points Per Game:
25.9
Total Rebounds:
1,662
Rebounds Per Game:
14.5
Field Goal Percentage:
63.3%