Months after her passing, Hollywood honours Lusia Harris with a best short subject documentary award for The Queen of Basketball, a film that recounts the life and legacy of the first and only woman ever drafted into the NBA.
The 2022 Academy Awards was a big night for sports; Will Smith won best actor for his portrayal of Robert King’s journey raising and coaching two of tennis’ most iconic stars, Serena and Venus Williams.
The Shaquille O'Neal and Stephen Curry-produced The Queen of Basketball sheds light on the life of the first woman drafted.
Much like O’Neal himself, who admits he was unfamiliar with Harris’ story before joining the project, many are not aware of Harris’ unique legacy and impact on women’s basketball. Here, we look at some of her milestone achievements, both on and off-court.
During his acceptance speech, director Ben Proudfoot reminded the audience that the world of women’s sports is inspirational beyond its value as pure entertainment. "If there's anyone out there that still doubts whether there's an audience for female athletes, let this Academy Award be the answer," he said.
She made Olympic history
While men first competed in basketball at the Olympics in 1936, it wouldn’t be for another four decades before women played on that same stage. Harris was the first person to score points at the event’s debut in Montreal in 1976; she went on to win silver with Team USA that same year.
The first and only woman drafted into the NBA
Following her Olympic triumph, Harris became the first and only woman ever officially drafted by the NBA in 1977 when she became the 137th pick of the New Orleans Jazz. However, she declined the tryouts and instead focused on motherhood as it was revealed she was pregnant at the time of the draft.
She’s a lifelong educator
With degrees in health, physical education and a master's degree in Education from Delta State University, Harris not only coached basketball at Texas Southern University but also taught physical education. She spent her later years teaching and coaching at several schools in Mississippi, including her alma mater Amanda Elzy High School.
Hall of Fame
Her name sits among some of the greatest legends in the game at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Along with being the first and only woman ever drafted into the NBA, she was the first African-American woman to be inducted into the hall of fame in 1992.
