Nikki Kesangane McCray-Penson, a former American basketball player and coach has died. McCray was born on December 17, 1971, and died on July 7, 2023, at the age of 51.
McCray was a member of the Washington Mystics, the Indiana Fever, the Phoenix Mercury, the San Antonio Silver Stars, and the Chicago Sky.
She was named to three WNBA All-Star teams (in 1999, 2000, and 2001).
Before joining the WNBA in 1998, she was a star in the now-defunct American Basketball League. While playing in the American Basketball League, McCray was named Most Valuable Player for the 1996–97 season.
McCray also played basketball at the international level, winning gold medals at the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics. She was also a part of America’s 1998 FIBA World Championship team.
She made a name for herself in women’s basketball as a world-class defender by shutting down a number of the world’s best players.
McCray began her basketball career in 1996 and retired in 2006 after which she became a coach.
Below are the teams she coached:
- 2006–2008 Western Kentucky (assistant)
- 2008–2017 South Carolina (assistant)
- 2017–2020 Old Dominion
- 2020–2021 Mississippi State
- 2022–2023 Rutgers (assistant)
In addition to her career on the court, McCray also created a name for herself in the realm of community service. She was selected by President Bill Clinton to be made a member of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports in the year 2000.
She is survived by her husband Thomas Penson and their 10-year-old son.