Trailblazing athlete Lusia Harris spotlighted in Difference Makers book series

More than 20 years before the creation of the Women’s National Basketball Association, basketball star Lusia Harris made history as the first and only woman ever drafted by the National Basketball Association.

Her groundbreaking career is now highlighted in the Difference Makers book series, which spotlights Black historical figures whose achievements helped shape American history. One of the series’ featured titles, “Lusia Harris: Star Basketball Player” by Nancy Loewen, introduces readers to Harris’ remarkable journey from a Mississippi cotton farm to the international stage of women’s basketball.

Harris is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished players in women’s basketball history. Over the course of her career, she was inducted into five halls of fame, including the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Born Feb. 10, 1955, in Mississippi, Harris grew up with 10 siblings on a cotton farm where the family worked long hours together. In her spare time, she developed a love for basketball by watching games on television and studying the strategies used by players.

When she joined her high school team, Harris quickly stood out. At 6-foot-3, she was often bullied by classmates for her height, but she refused to let that discourage her. Instead, she used her size and skill to dominate on the court.

Harris became the team captain and led her school to a state championship. She was named the team’s most valuable player for three consecutive years and once scored 46 points in a single game, setting a school record.

Her success continued at Delta State University, where she played college basketball and was the only Black woman on the team. Harris helped transform the program into a national powerhouse.

In 1976, she was named the national tournament’s Most Valuable Player as Delta State won the championship. By the time she graduated, the team had compiled a remarkable 109–6 record during her college career.

Harris also gained international recognition. In 1975, she competed in the Pan American Games, where the U.S. team finished undefeated.

The following year brought another historic moment. The 1976 Summer Olympics marked the first time women’s basketball was included as an Olympic sport. Harris earned a spot on the U.S. roster and made history by scoring the first basket in Olympic women’s basketball competition. The team went on to win the silver medal.

After graduating from college, Harris reached another milestone when she was drafted by the NBA. Although she ultimately declined the opportunity, the moment marked a historic breakthrough for women in sports.

Harris later married George E. Stewart, whom she had dated since high school, and the couple raised four children: Crystal, Christopher, Christina and Eddie. All four went on to become athletes themselves.

Although family became her priority, Harris remained connected to the sport. She played professionally for the Houston Angels during the 1979–1980 season before the team eventually disbanded.

She later returned to Delta State as an assistant basketball coach and admissions counselor. Harris also earned a master’s degree in special education and eventually returned to her alma mater, Amanda Elzy High School, where she taught special education and coached the basketball team.

The position brought her full circle to the place where her basketball dreams first began.

Throughout her life, Harris remained humble about her accomplishments. She often said she never set out to break barriers, she simply followed her passion for the game.

Seven months before her death, a documentary about her life premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 10, 2021. The film, “The Queen of Basketball,” tells the story of Harris’ extraordinary career and legacy. The documentary later won both an Academy Award and the Critics’ Choice Documentary Award.

Harris’ achievements came decades before the formation of the WNBA, making her impact on the sport even more significant. Today, her story continues to inspire generations of athletes, especially young women who dream of competing at the highest levels of basketball.

Readers interested in learning more about Harris’ life and accomplishments can explore Loewen’s book, which introduces a new generation to one of the sport’s earliest pioneers.

Alex Nellis is a recent communication graduate who grew up in Saint Cloud, Minnesota.  He is passionate about social justice and has completed graduate certificates in gender studies and cultural diversity.