Nikki McCray facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Nikki McCray-Penson

Personal information
Born	(1971-12-17)December 17, 1971 Collierville, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	July 7, 2023(2023-07-07) (aged 51)
High school	Collierville (Collierville, Tennessee)
Listed height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Listed weight	158 lb (72 kg)
Career information
College	Tennessee (1991–1995)
Pro career	1996–2006
Coaching career	2006–2023
Career history
As player:
1996–1997	Columbus Quest
1998–2001	Washington Mystics
2002–2003	Indiana Fever
2004	Phoenix Mercury
2005	San Antonio Stars
2006	Chicago Sky
As coach:
2006–2008	Western Kentucky (assistant)
2008–2017	South Carolina (assistant)
2017–2020	Old Dominion
2020–2021	Mississippi State
2022–2023	Rutgers (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
As coach: C-USA Coach of the Year (2020) As player: 3x WNBA All-Star (1999–2001) ABL MVP (1997) 2x SEC Player of the Year (1994, 1995) 2x Kodak All-American (1994, 1995)
Medals Women's basketball Representing  United States Olympic Games Gold 1996 Atlanta Team competition Gold 2000 Sydney Team competition World Championship Gold 1998 Germany Team competition

Nikki Kesangane McCray-Penson (December 17, 1971 – July 7, 2023) was an American basketball player and coach. She was the head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs women's basketball team from 2020 to 2021 and a professional basketball player from 1996 to 2006. She played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for eight seasons. In 2008 after leaving the WNBA, McCray joined the coaching staff as an assistant coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks. McCray-Penson was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.

Playing career

A 5-foot-11-inch (1.80 m) guard from the University of Tennessee, McCray was a member of the Washington Mystics, the Indiana Fever, the Phoenix Mercury, the San Antonio Silver Stars, and the Chicago Sky. She was named to three WNBA All-Star teams (in 1999, 2000, and 2001) and scored 2,550 career points. Prior to joining the WNBA in 1998, she was a star in the now-defunct American Basketball League. While playing in the American Basketball League, McCray was named Most Valuable Player for the 1996–97 season.

McCray also played basketball at the international level. She won gold medals at the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics, and she participated on America's 1998 FIBA World Championship team. She made a name for herself in women's basketball as a world class defender by shutting down a number of the world's best players.

In 2000, she was named a member of the President's Fitness Council, and was also chosen for the 2000 USA Olympic basketball team.

Coaching career

McCray was an assistant coach at University of South Carolina. She made a new home for herself at the University of South Carolina with a former teammate as head coach, Dawn Staley. Staley said about McCray: "Nikki is hungry for success, and that comes from playing at Tennessee where the coach never settles for anything less than being number one at whatever she's doing. That mentality is instilled in Nikki, and I want people around me like that. She is energetic, confident and engaging – all qualities that you need when you're coaching and recruiting. We spent two Olympic Games together and have shared being successful in the very best arena there is to test yourself." She resigned as head coach at Mississippi State in October, 2021 citing health reasons.

Other work

In addition to her career on the court, McCray also created a name for herself in the realm of community service. In the year 2000 Nikki McCray was hand-picked by President Bill Clinton to be made a member of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

In 1999 The Library of Congress selected McCray to be the keynote speaker for the Women's History Month Address. "We are pleased to have Ms. McCray with us to kick-off our month long celebration of women's history," said Federal Women's Program Manager Jean Parker. "As an employee of the first women's professional basketball team in the nation's capital and through her community service, Ms. McCray is a wonderful role model for young people."

Personal life

McCray was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013 while on the staff at South Carolina. She went into remission later that year.

McCray died on July 7, 2023, while serving as an assistant coach for Rutgers. She was 51.

Tennessee statistics

Source

Head coaching record

See also

In Spanish: Nikki McCray para niños