Nikki McCray

1971-

American basketball player

Power guard and forward Nikki McCray has played basketball with the WNBA's Washington Mystics and Indiana Fever, and the ABL's Columbus Quest. Earning multiple MVP awards, starter for the WNBA East All-Star team, and gold medals in two Olympics with the women's basketball team, "Nikki Mac" has been called a professional and a role model. With a desire to serve her community as well as her basketball teams, McCray has worked with the Boys & Girls Club and was named to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

Just Want to Play Basketball

Nikki McCray began playing basketball at age 11 after her grandmother persuaded Nikki's male cousins to

let her play ball with them. She enjoyed the special attention, but she also proved her worth on the court. Although she also participated in track in high school, it was her performance on the school's basketball team that earned her the number ten spot on the National Federation of State High School Associations' list of all-time high school scorers. She worked hard to improve both her defensive and offensive skills.

McCray's high school performance attracted the attention of coach Pat Summitt of the Lady Volunteers women's basketball team at the University of Tennessee, who recruited the young hot-shot. McCray attended the university from 1991 to 1995, eventually earning a degree in sports marketing and education.

It was with the Lady Vols that the 5'11" McCray began a long string of accolades. During her four years at Tennessee, she compiled a 122-11 record. In her junior year alone, she led the team in scoring, averaging 16.3 points per game. Overall, she helped the team to win four consecutive SEC Championships and attend four NCAA Tournaments. McCray was named Best Defensive Player for Tennessee for the four years between 1992 and 1995, Lady Vols Scholar-Athlete for 1993, SEC Player of the Year for 1994 and 1995, collegiate All-American for those same years, MVP of the NCAA Mideast Regionals in 1995, and was a Coach's Award recipient. In addition, she was a nominee for the 1994 Honda-Broderick Award and a runner up for the Naismith Player of the Year for 1994 and 1995.

McCray signed a one-year contract with the American Basketball League in its 1996 inaugural season, joining the now-defunct Columbus Quest team for a reported salary of $150,000. During McCray's tenure, the team attended the 1997 ABL Championship, its first. She was named the ABL's Most Valuable Player for the 1996-97 season, and closed the season averaging 19.9 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game, and 2.7 assists per game.

National and Olympic Teams

McCray joined the historic 1995-96 USA Basketball Women's National teams that compiled a combined 60-0 record and were named the 1996 US Olympic Committee and USA Basketball Team of the Year. She progressed to the US Olympic women's basketball team that won the gold medal in the 1996 Atlanta games, and repeated that success at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. McCray listed her 1996 Olympic teammate Teresa Edwards as one of her role models.

In 1997, she decided to forego the current ABL season and transferred to the Women's National Basketball Association. She saw some of the world when she served on the 1997 and 1998 All-Star team that toured Brazil and Europe. During this time, she was named one of three finalists for the 1997 Women's Pro Basketball ESPY awards. She also played on the gold medal-winning US National Team at the 1998 FIBA international basketball association Women's World Championship in Germany.

Marvelous with the Washington Mystics

On January 27, 1998, McCray signed on with the WNBA and was the first player selected for the floundering Washington Mystics. The phenomenal forward and guard helped to turn the team around. In her first year, she led in scoring, 3-point percentage, and assists, and ranked second in 3-pointers made, and was third in steals. The Mystics soon led the league in game attendance with an average of 16,000 fans per game and two sell-out crowds of 20,000, the largest number ever to watch US professional women's basketball.

McCray finished the 1999 WNBA season ranked fourth in the league for scoring, was named a starter for the 2000 WNBA All-Star Game, and was leading vote getter among all guards in the Eastern Conference.

In 2001, McCray was traded in the WNBA draft to Indiana Fever for the Fever's first round and third round picks. Her performance with the Mystics ranked her first with 13 consecutive games with a 3-point field goal, second in scoring average, and first in 3-point field goals attempted. In a game against Indiana in July 2001, she scored a season-high 25 points and hit 10 field goals. She has become the sixth leading scorer in WNBA history with 1,921 points and an average 15.8 points per game.

Chronology

Awards and Accomplishments

Committed to Community Service

A powerhouse off the court as well, McCray is noted as much for her community service and excellent singing voice as well as phenomenal basketball playing. She helps in her community by donating time to Boys and Girls Clubs where she talks to kids about sports and nutrition. She has even worked at the Abe's Table soup kitchen sponsored by Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin. McCray is spokesperson for the Wizards and Mystics Pick & Roll reading incentive program that enrolls 3,500 area students.

As captain of the WNBA Mystics, McCray delivered the 1999 Women's History Month keynote address at the Library of Congress. At the presentation, she was lauded as a "wonderful role model for young people" by the Federal Women's Program manager. In 2000, McCray was also named to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, which advises the President and Secretary of Health and Human Services on improving American's participation in sports and physical activity. The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame named McCray Female Professional Athlete of the Year in 2001.

Possessing a fine singing voice, McCray sang the national anthem at an NBA game. Wowing them in her hometown of Collierville, Tennessee, as well, a park was recently named for her. McCray is married to Thomas Penson, who proposed to her in the middle of the basketball court after a game.

Career Statistics

Ever since playing basketball with her cousins when she was in grade school, Nikki McCray has proven that girls can be as good as boys. Helping the Washington Mystics host a Girl Power! night on the Web, McCray said, "This is a great time to be a girl. Just look around at all the things that you can achieve—from playing in the WNBA to being an astronaut to being President. Find something that you like to do, whether it is a sport, school, music, or something else, give it your best effort, and you will succeed—that's Girl Power!"

FURTHER INFORMATION

Periodicals

"Nikki McCray: In Another League" Sport 88 (December 1997): 22.

"WNBA's Nikki McCray Named to President's Council on Fitness" Jet 97 (February 28, 2000): 50.

Other

African American Publications, http://www.aftricanpubs.com/Apps/bios/0424McCrayNikki.asp?pic=none (December 15, 2002).

All Sport, http://www.allsports.com/cgi-bin/showstory.cgi?story_id=18636 (December 15, 2002).

Girl Power!, http://www.girlpower.gov/girlarea/gpguests/mccray.htm (December 15, 2002).

Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/1999/99-028.html (December 15, 2002).

USA Basketball, http://www.usabasketball.com/bioswomen/nikki_mccray_bio.html (December 15, 2002).

Women's National Basketball Association, http://www.wnba.com/playerfile/nikki_mccray (December 15, 2002).

Women's Sports Network, http://www.wsnsports.com/brochuresite/athletes_nikkimccray.html (December 15, 2002).

Sketch by Lorraine Savage