Harris, Lusia (1955-2022), also known by the name Lucy, was an American professional basketball player. Harris stood 6 feet 3 inches (190 centimeters) tall. She played center. Harris was the first woman officially drafted to the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1977. She became the first Black woman inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, in 1992.
Lusia Mae Harris was born on Feb. 10, 1955, in Minter City, in northwestern Mississippi. Her parents were sharecroppers. Sharecroppers are often poor farmers who work rented land, paying the rent with a share of their crop. Harris played basketball at Amanda Elzy High School in Greenwood, Mississippi. In 1973, she was recruited to play at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi. Harris led Delta State University to three Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) national championships. She was named an All-American three times and the most valuable player (MVP) of the AIAW tournament in 1975, 1976, and 1977.
Harris starred on the 1976 United States Olympic women’s basketball team, the year women’s basketball debuted at the Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada. Harris was the leading scorer and leading rebounder on the team. The team won the silver medal.
In 1977, Delta State University defeated Louisiana State University in the AIAW National Championship. Harris scored 23 points in the championship game. That same year, Harris graduated with a bachelor’s degree in health, physical education, and recreation. At that time, she held 15 of the university’s single-game and career records, including the career record for points (2,981) and rebounds (1,662).
After college, Harris married George Stewart on Feb. 4, 1977. That year, the New Orleans Jazz (now the Utah Jazz) drafted Harris in the seventh round. However, she chose not to pursue playing in the NBA. Harris later played for the Houston Angels in the Women’s Professional Basketball League from 1979 to 1980.
Harris returned to Delta State University to study special education, earning her master’s degree in 1984. While there, she worked as an admissions counselor and served as the assistant coach for the women’s basketball team. From 1984 to 1986, Harris coached the women’s basketball team at Texas Southern University. She returned to Amanda Elzy High School to coach from 1986 to 1989. She later taught and coached basketball at other high schools in Mississippi.
Harris was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999. Harris starred in The Queen of Basketball (2021), a documentary about her career. Harris died on Jan. 18, 2022.
