Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame statement on passing of icon Nera D. White
Nera D. White, the first woman to be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (Class of 1992), passed away at the age of 80 on Wednesday. She was a native of Lafayette, Tennessee. A memorial service is scheduled for April 30 at 2 p.m. CT at Macon County High School gymnasium in Lafayette.
“Nera White was a true pioneer and trailblazer of the women’s game, ” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “Her skill and athleticism was undoubtedly ahead of her time and she paved the way for the generations of tremendous female athletes that have followed in her footsteps.”
Nera White was one of the most complete female athletes in history, with her overall ability far exceeding other players of her era. Named an AAU All-America player 15 years in a row, White led the U.S. to the World Basketball Championship in Rio de Janeiro in 1957-58 where she earned MVP honors. From 1955 to 1969, she led a team sponsored by the Nashville Business College (NBC) to 10 AAU national championships and was named the tournament MVP 10 times. White is also a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
- Basketball icon, Tennessee native Nera White dies (The Tennessean)
- Nera White’s Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Bio
