Dan Fleser Proclaims Nikki McCray-Penson's Status as One of the Finest Lady Vols

Nikki McCray-Penson, former Lady Vol basketball player, passes away.

In my Lady Vols library, you won't find the traditional shelves and books. Instead, it's filled with boxes of manila folders overflowing with newspaper clippings. These folders hold the three decades' worth of women's basketball coverage that I, as the team's beat writer, and my colleagues from the Knoxville News Sentinel have meticulously collected. Despite the lack of physical space, the library's significance is immeasurable.

Late one Friday night, I found myself delving into the archives of my library. The reason for my late-night browsing was heartbreaking. Nikki McCray-Penson, a former Lady Vol, had tragically passed away. Her death sent shockwaves through her former teammates, colleagues, and anyone fortunate enough to have known her. As I sat down to write something in her memory, I knew I had to first immerse myself in her story.

The folders dedicated to Nikki McCray-Penson's four seasons at Tennessee are filled with remarkable achievements. She earned SEC Player of the Year twice, paving the way for her success on two gold medal-winning U.S. basketball teams and her prominent place in two professional leagues. McCray's remarkable career led to her induction into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

Within those folders, I stumbled upon a column by John Adams that captured McCray's exceptional performance against the then No. 2-ranked Stanford in her final season. Adams highlighted her resilience, particularly when she returned to the game after a hard fall that injured her right hand. It was later revealed that she had suffered a fractured finger.

"It hurt," she admitted. "But I didn't focus on the hand. I focused on the team."

Adams' column served as a reminder that McCray's journey was far from easy. She arrived at Tennessee as a Proposition 48 student, facing academic challenges. Although she eventually regained a lost year of eligibility due to a retroactive ruling, she also endured a torn anterior cruciate knee ligament. Despite these setbacks, McCray's determination propelled her to greatness.

During her time at UT, McCray formed a special bond with Judy Dooley, who worked in the College of Education. Judy, who initially felt like a girlfriend to Nikki, eventually became a proud mother figure. McCray's resilience and growth were evident as she overcame her injuries and academic hurdles. She not only earned a degree in Sports Management but also pursued graduate school while continuing her basketball career.

In one of my previous stories about McCray and her teammate Dana Johnson, I came across a sentence that seemed to encapsulate her journey at Tennessee: "I have good intentions." It took some searching, but when I found those words, I could almost hear McCray's voice and see her infectious smile as she uttered them.

Regardless of the challenges she faced, McCray's good intentions always shone through. Her impact on all of us who had the privilege of knowing her is immeasurable.

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Dan Fleser, a proud 1980 graduate of the University of Missouri, has been covering University of Tennessee athletics since 1988. His extensive contributions to sports journalism led to his induction into the Tennessee Sportswriters Hall of Fame in 2022. You can reach him at [email protected].

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