Obit McCray-Penson Basketball FILE - Old Dominion women's basketball coach Nikki McCray-Penson smiles in Norfolk, Va. May 31, 2017. Two-time Olympic gold medalist and former ABL MVP Nikki McCray-Penson has died. She was 51. McCray-Penson was an assistant women's basketball coach at Rutgers last season and the school confirmed her death, although the cause of her passing was not immediately known. (Steve Earley/The Virginian-Pilot, File via AP)
Steve Earley/The Virginian-Pilot, File via AP
Obit Nikki McCray-Person Basketball FILE - South Carolina assistant coach Nikki McCray high-fives South Carolina guard Khadijah Sessions (5) during practice at the NCAA women's college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 22, 2014, in Seattle. Two-time Olympic gold medalist and former ABL MVP Nikki McCray-Penson has died. She was 51. McCray-Penson was an assistant women's basketball coach at Rutgers last season and the school confirmed her death, although the cause of her passing was not immediately known. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File
Obit McCray-Penson FILE - Nikki McCray models a Women's National Basketball Association jersey with WNBA President Val Ackerman at the league's headquarters in New York Tuesday, Sept. 16, 1997. Two-time Olympic gold medalist and former ABL MVP Nikki McCray-Penson has died. She was 51. McCray-Penson was an assistant women's basketball coach at Rutgers last season and the school confirmed her death, although the cause of her passing was not immediately known. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
AP Photo/Richard Drew, File
Obit McCray-Penson FILE - Washington Mystics' Nikki McCray, right, is defended by New York Liberty's Teresa Weatherspoon during the first half Saturday, June 16, 2001 in New York. Two-time Olympic gold medalist and former ABL MVP Nikki McCray-Penson has died. She was 51. McCray-Penson was an assistant women's basketball coach at Rutgers last season and the school confirmed her death, although the cause of her passing was not immediately known. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File
NCAA Womens Final Four 1995 Tennessee's Pashen Thompson (44) and Nikki McCray, right, leave the court in dejection after their 70-64 loss to Connecticut, April 2, 1995, in the NCAA Women's Final Four in Minneapolis. McCray, an All-American, scored only seven points. (AP Photo/Bob Child)
AP Photo/Bob Child
OLYMPICS USA RUS The United State's Nikki McCray, left, and Russia's Irina Routkovskaia tangle during their game at the Dome during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2000. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
Nikki McCray FILE- In this March 22, 2014, file photo, South Carolina assistant coach Nikki McCray, high-fives South Carolina guard Khadijah Sessions during practice at the NCAA women's college basketball tournament in Seattle. McCray was part of the 1996 U.S. women's basketball team. Their success has had a lasting impact on the game in many levels, sparking the launch of two professional leagues and inspiring players at the college and high school levels. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File
Dawn Staley, Nikki McCray South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, left, leaves the court with assistant coach Nikki McCray after defeating Tennessee 64-60 in an NCAA college basketball game on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
AP Photo/Wade Payne
Nikki McCray-Penson Mississippi State coach Nikki McCray-Penson lowers her mask as she calls to players during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against South Carolina in Starkville, Miss., Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. South Carolina won 75-52. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis
Obit McCray-Penson FILE - Washington Mystics' Nikki McCray, right, is defended by New York Liberty's Teresa Weatherspoon during the first half Saturday, June 16, 2001 in New York. Two-time Olympic gold medalist and former ABL MVP Nikki McCray-Penson has died. She was 51. McCray-Penson was an assistant women's basketball coach at Rutgers last season and the school confirmed her death, although the cause of her passing was not immediately known. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File
Obit McCray-Penson FILE - Nikki McCray models a Women's National Basketball Association jersey with WNBA President Val Ackerman at the league's headquarters in New York Tuesday, Sept. 16, 1997. Two-time Olympic gold medalist and former ABL MVP Nikki McCray-Penson has died. She was 51. McCray-Penson was an assistant women's basketball coach at Rutgers last season and the school confirmed her death, although the cause of her passing was not immediately known. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
AP Photo/Richard Drew, File
Obit Nikki McCray-Person Basketball FILE - South Carolina assistant coach Nikki McCray high-fives South Carolina guard Khadijah Sessions (5) during practice at the NCAA women's college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 22, 2014, in Seattle. Two-time Olympic gold medalist and former ABL MVP Nikki McCray-Penson has died. She was 51. McCray-Penson was an assistant women's basketball coach at Rutgers last season and the school confirmed her death, although the cause of her passing was not immediately known. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
Two-time Olympic gold-medalist and former Tennessee star Nikki McCray-Penson has died. She was 51.
McCray-Penson was an assistant women’s basketball coach at Rutgers last season and the school on Friday confirmed her death. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013.
She joined coach Dawn Staley as an assistant at South Carolina from 2008-17. She was part of the Gamecocks’ first national championship in 2017. They were gold-medal teammates at the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympics.
“It’s hard to think about Nikki’s passing because all I can see is how fully she lived,” Staley said in a statement. “From her days as a brash rookie in USA Basketball to becoming my friend and colleague to the way she mentored young players, Nikki did everything with her whole heart. … she had such light, such positive energy inside her no matter what was going on. I am heartbroken that cancer has taken that light from us, but I know that she would want us to be the ones to carry it on in her absence.”
McCray-Penson played at Tennessee from 1991-95 under Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt. The point guard was a two-time SEC Player of the Year and a two-time Kodak All-America standout during her junior and senior seasons for the Lady Vols. The team reached the Final Four in 1995, losing in the championship game to undefeated Connecticut.
The 1996 U.S. Olympic team sparked the formation of the WNBA and ABL (American Basketball League 1996-98). She won MVP honors in 1997 while leading the ABL’s Columbus Quest to a championship before heading over to the WNBA. McCray-Penson was a three-time All-Star in that league while playing for the Washington Mystics.
She played until 2006 when she retired, with a stop in San Antonio along the way.
“She’s a competitor,” said New York Liberty coach Sandy Brondello, who coached her in San Antonio and played against her on the Australian Olympic team. “She just got out there and did it to the best of her ability. That’s really sad and tragic. Prayers go out to her family.”
McCray-Penson began her 16-year coaching career as an assistant at Western Kentucky for three seasons from 2006-2008. After South Carolina won the NCAA title, she became the head coach at Old Dominion in 2017, going 24-6 in 2020.
She spent one year at Mississippi State before stepping down for health reasons and returned as an assistant under coach Coquese Washington at Rutgers last season.
“Nikki had a big smile and an even bigger heart,” Washington said. “She was full of life, energy, and was so much fun to be around. Nikki touched the lives of many because she made it her mission to uplift others and help them achieve whatever dreams and goals they expressed.”
McCray-Penson was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. She is survived by her husband Thomas and son Thomas Jr.
