Class of 2009 – Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

Ora Washington

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)

Coached at Illinois State for 28 seasons, earning 428 wins and guiding ISU to three NCAA tournaments and six WNIT appearances
First president of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association in 1982; became a three-time President of the Association
Received the Carol Eckman Award from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association in 1992
For 21 consecutive semesters, Hutchison’s team held a GPA of 3.0 and had a 100% graduation rate for players completing eligibility
Three-time Rawlings Missouri Valley Coach of the Year
Chaired the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s five-year planning committee as well as the basketball rules committee
Testified at the United States Congressional Hearings on Title IX
Head coach of the gold medalist 1983 USA World University Games Team and 1978 USA COPABA Junior Tournament Team
Director of the first AIAW National Basketball Championship in 1972

Coached and promoted the game of women’s basketball for over 30 years.
Started the Louisiana Tech women’s basketball program and led the Lady Techsters to the last AIAW title (1981) and the first NCAA title (1982)
Is credited with giving Louisiana Tech the nickname “Lady Techsters”
As head coach at Baylor, saw an increase in attendance to Lday Bears games from 623 to 3,118 fans per game and set a single game attendance record of 10,057 in the Ferrell Center
In 17 years of collegiate coaching and 3 years of high school coaching, compiled a cumulative record of 464-163
Recipient of the 2004 Naismith Women’s Outstanding Contribution to Basketball Award
Inducted into the Louisiana Tech Athletic Hall of Fame and member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2009

Member of the 1988 Gold Medal Olympic team
Tallied a career record of 103-23 at Ole Miss, while appearing in four NCAA tournaments, including two Sweet Sixteens and two Elite Eights
Earned the 1985 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year award
1986 SEC Female Athlete of the Year
Played seven seasons in the WNBA and was awarded the 2002 WNBA Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award
Averaged 13.4 ppg and 4.5 rpg during her WNBA career, member of the 1999 WNBA All-Star Team
The sports complex at Ole Miss is named “Gillom Sports Center” after Jennifer and her sister, Peggy
Inducted into Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2008
Currently is the head coach of the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx

Two-time Olympian (gold in 1988, bronze in 1992) and two-time National Champion at University of Southern California (1983, 1984)
Four-time WNBA Champion with the Houston Comets (1997-2000); four-time WNBA finals MVP and two-time WNBA MVP (1997 and 1998)
1998, 1999, 2000 Women’s Professional Basketball ESPY Award Winner
Tallied an overall record of 114-15 in her four seasons at USC
The first WNBA player to reach 500, 1000, 2000, and 2500 points
1998 Team Sportswoman of the Year by the Women’s Sports Foundation
Named to the WNBA All-Decade Team
Legends of Basketball (NBA Retired Players Association) WNBA Player of the Decade in 2006
Currently the head coach of Prairie View A&M University

Olympic Gold Medalist in 1996
Played on 13 USA Basketball teams and compiled a record of 114-14 with those teams; two-time World Champion
All-American guard at Stanford, is the program’s all-time three-point shooter and holds Stanford’s record for assists in a game, recording 16 against BYU in 1987-88
Compiled a 101-23 record while at Stanford, and led the Cardinal to the 1990 National Championship; was the youngest Inductee ever into the Stanford Hall of Fame
Was awarded the 1990 Wade Trophy and was named Naismith Player of the Year in 1990
Won two Pacific-10 Championships and was named PAC-10 Player of the Year in the 1988-1989 season and the 1989-1990 season
One of the original players of the ABL, started for the San Jose Lasers and appeared in all three all-star games (1996, 1997, 1998)
Played five seasons in the WNBA, Detroit Shock (1999), Utah Starzz (2000-2002), and San Antonio Silver Stars (2002-2003); is the All-Time WNBA leader in 3-point field goal percentage