Honoring Lusia Harris: The Queen of Basketball

As March Madness heats up, we’re taking a time-out to honor a true trailblazer whose legacy defines the spirit of the game—Lusia “Lucy” Harris.

Before there were brackets, buzzer-beaters, or Cinderella stories on ESPN, there was Harris—dominating the court with grace, power, and history-making plays.

In the mid-1970s, she led Delta State University to three straight national championships, earning MVP honors each year. She was unstoppable—once dropping 47 points at Madison Square Garden. If March Madness existed in women’s college basketball back then, she was the madness.

Then in 1976, she made global history: scoring the first-ever points in women’s Olympic basketball at the Montreal Games and helping Team USA bring home silver.

But it didn’t stop there. In 1977, Lusia Harris became the first and only woman officially drafted by the NBA—selected by the New Orleans Jazz. Though she declined the offer, her very presence in that moment shattered expectations and opened doors for women in pro sports.

Her story was nearly lost to time—until the Oscar-winning short film The Queen of Basketball reminded the world of her greatness.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month and dive into March Madness, let’s remember the woman who redefined the game before the world was ready for her.

Photo credit: The New York Times, Blackpast.org, and justwomenssports.com