A black and white photo of a woman smiling.

Ora Washington

Categories: Class of 2009
  • Legendary African American athlete from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Played center for the Philadelphia Tribune for 18 years, losing only six games, all of which were to men’s teams
  • Considered the greatest African American athlete of her generation and the finest black female basketball player of the pre-World War II era.
  • Washington was considered one of the most valuable players on the team and was often its top scorer
  • Inducted into the Black Athletes Hall of Fame in 1975
  • Inducted into Temple University’s Sports Hall of Fame in the mid-80s.
  • Also a star tennis player, went undefeated in 12 years of play in the all-black American Tennis Association (1934-1936), won eight ATA national crowns in women’s singles (1929-1937)
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