Broken-down WNBA Considerable individual, Girl Vols Hooper Nikki McCray-Penson Ineffective At 51

Broken-down WNBA huge title and ex-Tennessee Girl Volunteers hooper Nikki McCray-Penson has tragically handed away at 51 years worn.

The heartbreaking info became as soon as confirmed to The Tennesean on Friday by Rutgers College, the put McCray-Penson had been working as an assistant coach for the ladies’s basketball team.

The college didn’t provide a motive within the attend of death … nonetheless Univ. of Tenn. reporter Maria Cornelius acknowledged McCray-Penson handed away after struggling with breast most cancers for a 2nd time.

The primitive guard starred at Tennessee within the 1990s … a hit SEC Player of the 300 and sixty five days twice (1994, 1995) — as effectively as incomes Kodak All-American honors twice.

Following her stint with the Vols, she went on to change into a three-time WNBA All-Considerable individual … whereas playing eight seasons for the Mystics, Fever, Mercury, Silver Stars and Sky.

She also won two gold Olympic medals with Team USA in her profession … and became as soon as inducted into the Ladies’s Basketball Corridor of Reputation in 2012.

Her coaching tenure started in 2006 … when she became as soon as hired to be an assistant on Western Kentucky’s workers. She later grew to change into a head coach for Extinct Dominion, the put she won C-USA Coach of the 300 and sixty five days in 2019-2020. She then had a stint as Mississippi Assert’s head coach … sooner than she started her profession at Rutgers in 2022.

McCray-Penson also had a well-known influence off the court docket … she became as soon as chosen by Bill Clinton to be a member of the President’s Council on Physical Smartly being and Sports activities. She became as soon as also picked by the Library of Congress as a speaker for the Ladies’s Historic past Month Tackle in 1999.

News of the death has rocked the basketball world … with many stars remembering her fondly after discovering out of her passing.

“Nikki McCray : Sweet individual and funky hooper!,” ex-NBA huge title Chris Webber wrote. “Leisure in Peace.”

Added Dick Vitale, “I’m so heartbroken hearing this info a jiffy ago about Nikki McCray – Penson . Cherished all the things about Nikki – she became as soon as a Corridor of Famer as a participant & as a individual . Would possibly possibly possibly honest Nikki RIP.”

Girl Vols senior Rickea Jackson, who performed beneath McCray-Penson at Mississippi St., also tweeted her condolences to the McCray-Penson household.

“Regarded as one of many most vivid souls I’ve ever met,” Jackson acknowledged. “The one who surely went out their manner to achieve me after I became as soon as so misunderstood. The one who became as soon as the least bit times there.”

“You fought goodbye and laborious and I’m grateful to possess identified you. I admire you. Leisure easy.”

RIP