Harris certainly deserves the "Queen of Basketball" title. But actually, Denise Long Rife, a high school star in Iowa who had two 100+ point games in her career, was the first woman drafted by an NBA team. She was drafted in the 13th round of the 1969 NBA draft by the San Francisco Warriors. But NBA Commissioner Walter Kennedy vetoed the pick because she was a woman. Long wound up playing on a team in the “Warrior Girls Basketball League” that the San Francisco Warriors ran for just a single year.
You can argue, however, that since the Warriors '69 13th round pick was voided and not officially entered by the NBA in their draft records, that Harris was the first "official" female draft pick. But those of us with advanced years will remember that Long Rife became quite the celebrity for a few weeks, with appearances on national TV (Carson, Today, etc.) and major press and TV news stories.
We should remember, too, that neither Harris or Long received any college scholarship offers in pre-Title IX America. The coach at Delta State had to wrangle a work-study program for Harris and convince her to agree to being the only black member of Delta State's women's basketball team.
Immaculata ruled the old AIAW for the 1st 3 years, followed by Delta State over the next 3 years. Tennessee made the AIAW Final 4 four times and was runner up twice, losing to Old Dominion and LA Tech. Those UT teams were among Pat's first teams. AIAW last tournament was in 1982.
Truly a huge huge loss. In the pioneering age of women's basketball she was the first super star, but you wouldn't know it because her humility, gratitude, and character towered over her considerable gifts as a player. Because of the times and how the game was played at that time it doesn't look like those ladies were good, but to the contrary they could hold their own today. Lusia Harris was the first women to score in the first Olympic Women's Basketball game, and was a teammate to our beloved Pat Summitt. Lusia was also the first women to inducted to the National Basketball Hall of Fame. She was the first and only women to be drafted by a NBA team, and it's crazy to think that no other woman has since been drafted with all the stars we have today, incredible. It's a terrible oversight that Lusia and other players of that era aren't mention and honored more by today's leaders and fans of women's basketball.
Be at Peace in God's Grace Lusia Harris, May Almighty strengthen and continue to Bless your family. You will be truly missed.
