Nikki McCray-Penson, ex-WNBA star, dead at 51

Nikki McCray-Penson, a former WNBA star and women’s basketball Hall-of-Famer, has died at 51.

McCray-Penson, who spent nine years in the WNBA and led the U.S. Olympic Team to a gold medal in 1996, spent last year as an assistant coach at Rutgers, which confirmed her death to The Post on Friday.

“Today is deeply sad and emotional day for everyone who knew and loved Nikki,” head coach Coquese Washington said said in a statement. “Nikki had a big smile and an even bigger heart. She was full of life, energy, and was so much fun to be around. Nikki touched the lives of many because she made it her mission to uplift others and help them achieve whatever dreams and goals they expressed.

“She was so devoted to her husband and son, and still gave all of herself to everyone in the program. We will miss her dearly but will keep Nikki’s memory alive in our hearts.” 

The cause of death is currently unknown, though McCray-Penson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, when she was a member of Dawn Staley’s coaching staff at the University of South Carolina.

McCray-Penson stepped down from her post as head coach at Mississippi State before the season in 2021 to focus on her health, returning to coaching this past season in an assistant role under Coquese Washington at Rutgers.

“Heart hurts like crazy over this one!” A’ja Wilson, who won a national championship with McCray-Penson at South Carolina in 2017, wrote on Twitter, her message indicating that her former coach had been suffering before her passing.

“Such a fighter and a warrior with the sweetest gentle soul! Coach McCray you’ve helped me in many many ways and you were a true gift from God! Truly will be missed! No more suffering no more pain! God got a good one”

A native of Collierville, Tennessee, McCray-Penson was a two-time SEC Player of the Year at the University of Tennessee.

She led the Lady Vols to three SEC regular-season championships, two SEC tournament titles, and a National Championship appearance in 1995.

Following her collegiate career in Tennessee, she was named to the U.S. National Team, whose gold-medal performance in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games helped pave the way for the launch of the WNBA in 1997.

She won a gold medal in the 2000 Olympics as well, continuing the nation’s run of seven consecutive gold medals.

After her WNBA career, which included stints in Washington, Indiana, Phoenix, San Antonio and Chicago, McCray-Penson embarked on a lengthy coaching career.

She took over as the head coach for Old Dominion after coaching with Staley in South Carolina, and after consecutive 20-win seasons, she was tapped to take over at Mississippi State.

“Thank you my little sister, my friend, my foxhole partner, my teammate, my fast food snacker, my basketball junkie, my fellow Olympian, my gold medalist and now my angel,” Staley wrote on Twitter. “God’s got you now….suffer no more Nik Nik.”

McCray-Penson was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.

Condolences poured in from across the women’s basketball world on Friday.

“We are heartbroken to hear of the passing of former Mystics player Nikki McCray-Penson,” the Washington Mystics wrote on Twitter. “A 2x Olympian, Nikki lit up every room she walked in. We send our deepest condolences to her family.”

“Our program, our sport and most importantly her family lost an amazing woman – mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, coach, mentor – today,” the University of South Carolina said. “Nikki McCray-Penson was part of our foundation and made us the program we are, one personal relationship at a time.”

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