Just like Their longtime Los Angeles Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant did four years ago in another category, Shaquille O'Neal and Stephen Curry can now add an Oscar statue as their trophy next to their many NBA accolades. Both players were among the executive producers and top promoters of the winning film "The Queen of Basketball.
The 22-minute film put a spotlight on the relatively unknown trailblazer and pioneer of women’s basketball, the late Lusia Harris, as the only Black player on the Delta State University Women’s Basketball team, Harris led her teammates to three consecutive Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women National Championships from 1975-77.
Then in 1976, in the Olympic debut of women’s basketball in Montreal, Harris solidified her place in the history books, becoming the first woman to score a basket in the games. she was She then led Team USA to take home a silver medal.
The following year, the New Orleans Jazz drafted the 6'3" center in the seventh round of picks, then was chosen again but was unable to participate due to her pregnancy. The only woman ever officially drafted by the NBA. She never went on to play for the Jazz or any other men's professional team. She only plays for the Houston Angels as part of the Women's Professional Basketball League from 1979-80.
Lusia Harris, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992, has been a name unfamiliar to many. Even the producer O'neal himself admitted not knowing her story before getting involved in the film and its promotion.
Curry was spotted earlier this month, wearing a sweatshirt and shoes emblazoned with the phrase "Queen Lucy" on them, as he paid tribute to Harris and the strides she made for women's basketball.
The documentary was directed by Canadian filmmaker Ben Proudfoot, and his win came as Women’s History Month neared its close.
The Associated Press contributed to this story
