Nikki McCray, an American Basketball Coach & Player, was born on 17-12-1971 in Collierville in the state of Tennessee, United States as Nikki Kesangane McCray. She played basketball as a Point guard for the WNBA’s teams from 1998 to 2006 before becoming the coach. She died at the age of 51 on 07-07-2023.

Quick Info
Name | Nikki McCray |
Other Names | Nikki Kesangane McCray, Nikki Kesangane McCray-Penson, Nikki McCray-Penson |
Profession | Basketball Player, Basketball Coach |
Birthday | 17-12-1971 (Friday) |
Birth Place | Collierville, Tennessee, United States |
Age | 51 Years Old (at the time of death on 07-07-2023) |
Zodiac | Sagittarius |
Debut | As a Player – ABL’s team Columbus Quest in 1996 As a Player – WNBA’s team Washington Mystics in 1998 As a Coach – Western Kentucky Lady Toppers Basketball team in 2006 |
Best Known as | Most Valuable Player of the 1996–97 Season |
Jersey Number | #15 |
Playing Position | Point Guard |
She made her debut in the 1996-1997 season for ABL’s team Columbus Quest and became the most valuable player for the season after winning the gold medal. She joined WNBA in 1998. She was s associated with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights women’s Basketball team since 2022 as an assistant coach. Before that, she served as an assistant coach for Western Kentucky & South Carolina. She also served as a head coach for Old Dominion, and Mississippi State.
Educational Qualification
She did her studies at Collierville High School in Collierville, TN. She received a graduate degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. She also played for the university’s team “Tennessee Lady Volunteers Basketball” from 1991 to 1995 as a Point guard.
School | Collierville High School, Collierville, TN |
College | University of Tennessee, Knoxville |
Qualification | Graduate |
Body Measurement/Physical Appearance
Height | in Feet Inches: 5’ 11” in centimeters: 180 cm in meters: 1.80 m |
Weight | 72 Kgs (158 lbs) |
Body Figure | 34-28-36 |
Eye Colour | Black |
Hair Colour | Black |
Bio/Wiki/Facts
- She played basketball for her college team “Tennessee Lady Volunteers Basketball” at the University of Tennessee as a point guard from 1991 to 1995.
- She was one of the American basketball players who played for ABL and WNBA from 1996 to 2006.
- She won the gold medal in her national debut for ABL’s team Columbus Quest in the 1996-1997 season and was declared the Most Valuable Player by ABL.

- She made her international debut for WNBA’s team Washington Mystics in 1998.
- She held 2550 career points in WNBA and was selected for the Washington Mystics All-Star games for regular three seasons in 1999, 2000 & 2001.
- She retired from basketball as a player in 2006 and joined the Western Kentucky Lady Toppers basketball team in the same year as an assistant coach.
- In 2012, She was honored with the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame for her contribution to the sport of women’s basketball.
- She also served as a head coach from 2017 to 2021.
- She was a member of the WNBA’s teams ChicagoSky, SanAntonioSilverStars, PhoenixMercury, IndianaFever, and WashingtonMystics.
- She was also a member of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition (PCSFN).
- She suffered from breast cancer since 2013 and died due to the disease’s complications on 07-07-2023 during her serving period at the Rutgers Scarlet Knights as an assistant coach.
- She was born on 17-12-1971 on the day of FRIDAY and it was also FRIDAY when she died on 07-07-2023.
Death
Death Date | 07-07-2023 (Friday) |
Death Place | Piscataway, New Jersey, United States |
Death Cause | Breast Cancer |
She died at the age of 51 on 07-07-2023 in Piscataway in the state of New Jersey, United States. She was suffering from breast cancer and died due to the complications of the disease. At the time of death, she was serving as an assistant coach of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights Women’s Basketball team.
Family
Father | Name Not Known |
Mother | Sally Coleman (Died on 15-07-2018) |
Siblings | Not Known |
Affair | Thomas Penson |
Husband | Thomas Penson |
Marriage Date | 30-03-2002 (Saturday) |
Son | Thomas Nikson Penson |
Daughter | None |
She was born to her parents on 17-12-1971 in Collierville, TN. Her mother’s name is Sally Coleman. She married Thomas Penson on 30-03-2002 and together they had a son named Thomas Nikson Penson. She never revealed more about her family, so we are unable to provide information like her father’s name & her siblings. Her mother passed away on 15-07-2018.


Affair
She dated Thomas Penson before marriage with him.
Personal Info & Favorite Things
Home Town | Collierville, Tennessee, U.S. |
Residence | Piscataway, New Jersey, United States |
Nationality | American |
Religion | Christianity |
Hobbies | Spending Time with Family |
Nikki McCray’s Social Media Accounts
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088081064449
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikkiMccray15
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikkimccray15
YouTube: Not Available