Lusia Harris, Hall of Famer and only woman drafted by NBA, dies at 66

The basketball world lost a titan on Tuesday as Lusia Harris, who trailblazed the sport for women, died at 66, per reports. A cause of death was not given.

“We are deeply saddened to share the news that our angel, matriarch, sister, mother, grandmother, Olympic medalist, The Queen of Basketball, Lusia Harris has passed away unexpectedly today in Mississippi,” the family said in a statement. “The recent months brought Ms. Harris great joy, including the news of the upcoming wedding of her youngest son and the outpouring of recognition received by a recent documentary that brought worldwide attention to her story.”

Harris became the first Black woman to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992, and remains the only female player ever drafted by an NBA team. The New Orleans Jazz selected her in the seventh round of the 1977 Draft, though she didn't end up trying out for the team as she was pregnant at the time.

At Delta State, Harris was a three-time All-American and led her school to three national championships in 1975, 1976 and 1977. She later made history on the international stage, scoring the first points in women's basketball history at the Olympics in 1976. She and her United States teammates went on to win the silver medal.