Although the name Nera White is now relatively unknown in the sports world, this Tennessean is perhaps the greatest woman basketball player to ever be involved in the game. Her career at Nashville Business College (NBC) in the 1950s and 1960s is legendary, and her accomplishments astounding. She was an All-America selection an amazing fifteen times, and she lead NBC to eleven national championships before her retirement in 1969. Her teammates were in awe of her abilities. “The thing that set Nera apart,” said fellow cager Sue Gunter, “was that, number one, she had great speed. I’ve never seen a female who was that quick. And the second thing was her strength… and ability to penetrate. It was almost impossible to defend her.” Not just a star in the U.S., White also became an international sensation. In 1958 NBC furnished the nucleus of a team that beat Russia in international competition. White was named MVP of the tournament. In today’s game, where individual distinction so often comes before team achievement, it can be difficult to remember a time when players took pride in just the opposite. Said teammate Doris Rogers: “I never saw [White] do anything that I felt was for self-glory, and I think it’s all rooted in the team concept. She’s the most unselfish player I’ve ever seen.” Of all the honors and awards Nera White received during her remarkable career, perhaps none meant more to her than these sentiments from a proud teammate.
