From being known in her childhood as just “tall and that’s all,”  many reasoned it would be natural for her to become the first and only woman successfully drafted by an NBA team when she was selected by the New Orleans Jazz in 1977. This was Lusia Harris who sadly passed away on January 18th , 2022.

Harris was a strong, American woman known as a pioneer in women’s basketball. She played for Delta State University, winning three consecutive AIAW, and even a silver medal in the 1976 Olympic Games.

She went through many obstacles to get to this place, specifically anti-feminist times where women wouldn’t be even slightly considered to play professional sports. She changed this and motivated girls that if basketball, or whatever sport your into , you can make it into a career. She was humble in this action. Making this historical movement wasn’t intentional, but it was because she was inspired into doing something she loved.

Only 66 , her cause of death has not been released so the family could cope privately. Harris will live on as an inspiration for the women’s movement in sports. Her legacy contributed to Delta’s States Hall of Fame in 1983. Most importantly , she will always be remembered as a person who did what it took to follow her passion, the queen of basketball.