Nikki McCray was an amazing basketball player who became famous for playing professional women’s basketball. She played in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) for eight seasons. After she stopped playing, she became a coach for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks.
In 2012, Nikki McCray-Penson was honored and inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. She was a guard, which means she played a specific position on the basketball court. She was 5 feet 11 inches tall and went to the University of Tennessee. During her career, she played for different teams like the Chicago Sky, Indiana Fever, Phoenix Mercury, San Antonio Silver Stars, and Washington Mystics. Nikki McCray scored an impressive total of 2,550 points in her career and was even selected to three WNBA All-Star teams. Before joining the WNBA, she played in the American Basketball League.
Unfortunately, Nikki McCray received some sad news in 2013 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. However, she was able to overcome the illness and went into remission later that year. But on July 7, 2023, while working as an assistant coach for Rutgers, she passed away. This was a very sad day for all of her fans and the basketball community.
Nikki McCray was an exceptional player and won the Most Valuable Player award in the American Basketball League in 1996-97. This article is about her passing away and sharing information about her life.
Nikki McCray-Penson, who was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, was a coach for Old Dominion and Mississippi State after working as an assistant coach at South Carolina for nine seasons. Sadly, she passed away on a Thursday night. We don’t know the exact cause of her death, but she was 51 years old at the time.
On Friday, Robert Penson, who is Nikki McCray’s cousin, shared the news of her passing with The State. Many fans were heartbroken when they heard about Nikki McCray’s death.
Nikki McCray had battled breast cancer in 2013 while working at the University of South Carolina. She fought bravely and went into remission, but her passing came as a shock while she was working as an assistant coach for Rutgers on July 7, 2023.
According to Maria Cornelius of 247Sports, it is believed that complications from a second breast cancer diagnosis might have caused her death.
For more than ten years, Nikki McCray-Penson was a constant presence on the sidelines as South Carolina’s basketball team became very successful. She was a part of the coaching staff when they won their first national championship in 2017.
McCray-Penson also helped recruit talented players to the team, like A’ja Wilson, who became a big star. The Gamecocks had a historic 2014 recruiting class, and Nikki McCray was a big part of that success.
Nikki McCray was not just a great basketball player, but she also did a lot of good outside of basketball. She was very involved in her community and helped many people. In 2000, she was chosen by President Bill Clinton to join the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. In 1999, the Library of Congress asked Nikki McCray to give a special speech for Women’s History Month. She was a role model for young people and inspired others with her hard work and dedication.
Nikki McCray made a big impact, not just in basketball but also in the lives of many people. She will always be remembered for her skills on the court and her contributions to her community. Her legacy will live on, and she will continue to inspire others for years to come.