Players from first all-Black All-American women’s basketball team reflect on making history in 1984

1984 was packed with many firsts in women’s basketball. It was a year with a glimpse into the future of the game’s evolution, a year filled with special recognition.

West Virginia center Georgeann Wells became the first woman to dunk a basketball in a collegiate game, the year Bertha Teague, Margaret Wade and Senda Berenson Abbott became the first women inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. The USA women’s Olympic team won its first gold medal. A rule change in the NCAA reduced the basketball’s diameter by one inch (to 28.5-29 inches) and made it two ounces lighter than the previous ball, and 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter smaller than the one used by men.

More than a decade before the WNBA in 1996, the Women’s American Basketball Association debuted, but it was short-lived like so many other women’s pro basketball leagues. And USC women’s team became the first to win its second consecutive NCAA championship.

But the face — or faces — of women’s college basketball also changed 40 years ago, when the Kodak All-America team was announced. For the first time since the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association started selections in 1975, all 10 players on the 1984 squad were Black. An all-Black All-America team would not happen again for 22 years. It has only happened four times (1984, 2006, 2007, 2008).

Five of the women on the 1984 team were inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, and one into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Three won gold medals for Team USA in the 1984 Olympics, and one All-American played for a historically Black university.

Here’s an oral history from the women who were members of that All-America team’s historic moment in women’s basketball.

Cheryl Miller, sophomore, forward, USC

Cheryl Miller still remains among the sport’s greatest players. She averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds in 1983-84 and helped lead the Trojans to its second-straight NCAA title. A member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Miller scored 3,018 career points, was a four-time All-American and three-time college player of the year.

At the time, that subject [about the racial makeup of the team] never came up. The only thing that really stands out is how much we had in common outside of basketball, and we were no longer adversaries. It gave us a chance to bond and develop some type of friendship with one another.

Realizing that we were the first is shocking because I can think of a few other times it could’ve happened. But it’s astonishing to me to learn about a 22-year gap before the next all-Black All-America team. It’s astonishing because when you think about all of the great Black women who played, like Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker . . . I just believe that gap would’ve been closer. And there’s no disrespect to the white players who were selected, I’m just surprised it took another 22 years for the second time.

Pam McGee, senior, center/forward, USC

Pam McGee averaged nearly a double-double (17 points, 9 rebounds) and shot 59% from the field in a senior year that included back-to-back titles for USC. She won an Olympic gold medal, was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and was a first-round pick in the WNBA draft.

This says we were trailblazers, and we were about knocking down barriers. It was important because we were some of the first women and African American women to get full-ride scholarships because of Title IX. And it was another example of what I like about sports and how it transcends race. If you’re a baller, you’re a baller. It’s about who can get it in between those black lines . . . That’s why we didn’t get caught up in us being an all-Black team. We just knew we had been acclimated as a baller being an All-American.

Tresa Brown, senior, forward, North Carolina

Forty years ago, Brown became North Carolina’s first Kodak All-American and ACC Player of the Year. She averaged 20 points in leading the Tar Heels to the NCAA tournament. She remains in the school’s top 10 in all-time scoring and field-goal percentage.

We first noticed [the team was all-Black] when we all got together for the team photo. I was thinking hey, wait a minute, we’re all Black women. But we didn’t get together, sit down and talk about it. It could’ve been the era we were in at that time to not really talk about it, but maybe we didn’t talk about it because everything going on that week was all new and exciting.

I wish we could have some sort of reunion so we can all spend time catching up with each other and get a better understanding of the history that we created at that time. Janice Lawrence was my roommate during that week, and I’ve been in contact with her over the past year . . . It’s hard to believe it’s been 40 years.

Janet Harris, junior, forward, Georgia

After a season where she averaged 17.8 points and 8.5 rebounds, Janet Harris averaged a double-double (20 points and 10 rebounds) during her collegiate career. She is No. 3 in NCAA history with 78 career double-doubles. Harris, a three-time Kodak All-American, was the first women’s basketball player in NCAA history to score 2,500 points and collect 1,250 rebounds. She was the first player in league history named first-team All-SEC four times. Harris was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.

I have the team picture in my phone, and I’ll look at it from time to time. That team, wow. We had so much fun that week in Los Angeles. When we dressed up and took pictures we were like, OK, because we noticed the whole team was Black, but we didn’t comprehend the magnitude of it or realize we were the first. I actually didn’t know we were the first all-Black All-America team until [Georgia teammate Teresa Edwards] told me a few days ago.

That was one of the greatest All-America teams. We had three Olympians [Cheryl Miller, Pam McGee and Janice Lawrence]. Everybody had height and could play multiple positions, unlike many of today’s players. Everyone was versatile. We played. We’d go at it.

Annette Smith, junior, center, Texas

The 5-foot-11 Annette Smith averaged 24.9 points and 7.6 rebounds and was still named an All-American despite a season-ending knee injury that spring. After a year off, Smith returned to lead Texas to the 1986 NCAA title. She was Southwest Conference Player of the Year in 1983 and 1984. Smith is the Longhorns’ all-time leading scorer in men’s and women’s basketball (2,523). She’s a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Due to health problems, Smith was unavailable for comment. Texas teammate Fran Harris spoke on her behalf.

That was an amazing team and I do remember talking with Annette about being the smallest post player in that group. But when it comes to the makeup of the All-America team, it was significant, because my guess is that those choosing the team were not all Black, and for them to say these are the best players regardless of race may have been a very difficult decision. The second thing I thought, was it obvious the team had to be all-Black. I’d like to think it was a fair shake and these were the best players.

Becky Jackson, senior, center, Auburn

Becky Jackson is third all-time in NCAA field-goal percentage (66.2%) and she remains among the career leaders at Auburn in free throws, rebounds, field goals made and is second in scoring. During her four-year reign (1980-84), she was four-time All-SEC and the tournament MVP in her sophomore year. In 1984, Jackson became the school’s second woman to make All-America. She averaged 17.9 points and 9.1 rebounds that season.

I remember how we all got along and had fun that week. It was filled with events and time at an amusement park. I knew some of the players already, but it was great to meet some of the other players for the first time. We all noticed in terms of the makeup of the team. We were like, ‘Girl, look at us, we’re all Black.’ I was proud to see our picture in Jet magazine. Being the first all-Black All-America team meant that we got recognized as players and that it felt good to be on that All-American team with all Black women.

Yolanda Laney, senior, point/shooting guard, Cheyney State

Yolanda Laney is the only player from a historically Black university to make the All-America team. With Laney, Cheyney State is the only HBCU to play in the Final Four (two in three years) and championship game. Forty years ago, she was named Most Outstanding Player in the East Regional of the NCAA tournament. She averaged 21.5 points and 11.3 rebounds that season. Laney is ranked third all-time for most field goals attempted in a women’s Final Four game (27).

The first thing I thought was that this team is all-Black, and then I thought how this is a really tough All-American class, especially because Janice Lawrence was on the team. I watched film and I was really impressed with her because she was a tough competitor, and she shot the ball off the backboard like my favorite player George Gervin.

I also knew it was a historical moment because it was a first in being all-Black. Funny thing is, even when we were sitting at dinner or having lunch, it didn’t really dawn on me until we took that picture. While they were taking pictures, I turned to Marilyn [Stephens] and asked if she realized the team was all-Black. Everyone started looking around nodding like, ‘you’re right.’

The right players were selected because of the talent that was assembled, and it was something politics didn’t play a part in as in other times when politics can play an ugly part in something. Looking at the stats and what each player accomplished individually, and for what they did for their respective schools that year, meant we were well deserving of being named All-American.

Janice Lawrence, center, senior, Louisiana Tech

Janice Lawrence helped lead her school to consecutive national championships (AIAW and NCAA) in 1981 and 1982. As a sophomore, she led the NCAA tournament in scoring and was named tournament MVP in 1982. Lawrence shot 61.9% from the field and averaged 21.3 points in the 1983-84 season. In 1984, she won the Wade Trophy as the player of the year and gold with the U.S. Olympic team. She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

Tresa [Brown] and I have been friends forever. We were recently talking about [1984 All-America team] and how we weren’t thinking about history or how it was a big deal. I remember bits and pieces of the experience, but I don’t remember the details as she does. When I look at the picture, I feel good to be a part of that because all of those girls were superstars. To have that collective group of women who didn’t even know that they were making history but was a part of it is a great thing.

That would be fantastic if we all could get back together. I played with Janet Harris and Becky Jackson in Italy. Getting us all back together would be fun. Now if we could get us and all of the other all Black All-America teams together, now that would be fantastic.

Marilyn Stephens, forward, senior, Temple

Marilyn Stephens is the only Temple women’s basketball first team All-American. She’s the school’s all-time leader in rebounds and blocked shots, and is second in scoring. She averaged 18.8 points and 13 rebounds in her career. Stephens was a two-time Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Year, and named Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year twice. Stephens is a member of the Big 5 Hall of Fame and Temple Athletics Hall of Fame. She was also named an Inaugural A-10 Women’s Basketball Legend in 2013.

When we were all arriving in the hotel lobby and gathering together for the photo shoot in our uniforms, we all just looked at each other. We all had that same look of excitement, like, ‘I can’t believe this.’ We had the top 10 players in the country and we’re all Black girls. And we were all 6 feet and over. We were a big squad.

The All-America team means it wasn’t a race thing for the voters. It was about talent, and I’m happy we are all considered pioneers in being the first. 

Being a member of that All-America team was special because I was sitting right next to my buddy Yolanda, and we were representing Philadelphia. All of us being African American was also special.

I teach at a high school, and our All-America picture was on display for Black History Month.

Joyce Walker, guard, senior, LSU

Joyce Walker averaged 26 points in 1984. She holds the all-time NCAA women’s career record of 1,259 field-goals. She’s the only player in school history listed in the top 10 in scoring, rebounding, steals, assists and blocked shots. She’s No. 3 in all-time scoring in the SEC, averaging 27.6 points per game. Walker was a three-time All-American. She was the third woman to join the Harlem Globetrotters.

What I immediately noticed was that everyone looked like me. All of us were women of color and that struck me, even as a young woman. My previous recollection of the All-American team was a mix of white and Black athletes, but this time, we were all of the same hue.

I didn’t understand the importance of it until later on, but at the time it was like, ‘wow, has this ever happened?’ And I didn’t think about it again until someone brought it to my attention years later and they reminded me that it never happened before.

When I’ve run into different members of that team over the years, we talked about how competitive that team was. We felt we could’ve held our own very well . . . But I didn’t know the impact until years later when people started sending me pictures and when things started to come up during Black History [Month] posted somewhere, and then I’d say, ‘Yep, it holds some significance.’