CLEVELAND, Miss. – Having played a major role in the growth and development of women's basketball in the United States, Delta State University's 1974-75, 1975-76 and 1976-77 Lady Statesmen squads were named the recipient of the 2017 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame's Trailblazer Award on Sunday, Feb. 12.
 
The Lady Statesmen and the six members of the 2017 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Induction class will be honored on June 9-10, 2017 in Knoxville, Tenn., at the Hall of Fame's annual Induction Weekend. Ticket information is available at WBHoF.com or by calling 1-865-633-9000.    
 
"We are delighted the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame has elected to honor our Delta State University Lady Statesmen teams from 1974-75, 1975-76 and 1976-77 as the 2017 Trailblazer Award recipient," director of athletics Ronnie Mayers said. "Under the tutelage of head coach Margaret Wade, the Lady Statesmen helped pave the way for the modern era of women's collegiate basketball and usher in one of America's greatest legacies."
 
No period in Mississippi women's basketball history has been more successful, as coach Margaret Wade and the Lady Statesmen went 93-4 on the hardwood, capturing three consecutive AIAW National Championships and cementing Delta State's place among the game's greatest programs.
 
Just one year after coach Wade was hired to revive the program, DSU's 1974-75 team went 28-0 and defeated Immaculata College, 90-81, at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. to claim its first national crown.
 
A year later, led by consensus All-American Lusia Harris, the Lady Statesmen went 33-1 in 1975-76 and once again downed the Mighty Macs of Immaculata, 69-64, for the AIAW title.
 
The 1976-77 season saw DSU post a 32-3 record and a 14-0 mark at Walter Sillers Coliseum. After a 73-72 loss at Ole Miss, the Lady Statesmen reeled-off 19 wins in a row to march to the national title. In a span of four days in Minneapolis, Minn., DSU defeated Minnesota (87-43), Southern Connecticut (75-49), Tennessee (62-58) and Louisiana State (68-55) for Wade and Delta State's third straight championship.
 
Delta State saw eight Lady Statesmen named All-American during this three-year stretch, including the entire starting "Fab Five" of Lusia Harris, Debbie Brock, Corneila Ward, Ramona Von Boeckman and Wanda Hairston in 1976-77. Wade was also named the Kellogg's National Coach of the Year following the 1976 and 1977 seasons.

Sunday's announcement adds to an ever-growing list of accolades for Delta State's tradition rich women's basketball program. Wade, who is referred to as the "Mother of Modern Women's Collegiate Basketball" by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, has the distinction of having the nation's top NCAA Division I player of the year award named in her honor. 

Wade was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985 and was followed in 1992 by her former standout and three-time All-American Lusia Harris-Stewart, who was also a member of the 1976 U.S. Olympic women's basketball team. Both were inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999.  

ABOUT THE TRAILBLAZER AWARD
The Trailblazer Award is voted on by the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame's Board of Directors to recognize teams and organizations that have paved the way for the game. In order to be considered as a Trailblazer, the team/organization must meet two requirements: (1.) Team or league has been a "first" in something, or led the way, set the bar; (2.) High winning percentage or winning streak over an extended period of time.

Previous Trailblazer Award recipients have included the 1976 and 1996 United States Olympic Basketball teams, Wayland Baptist University Flying Queens (1953-58), 1972-74 Immaculata Mighty Macs, Helms Foundation, All-American Red Heads, and Edmonton Grads. For more information on previous recipients, please click here.
 
ABOUT THE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME
The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame opened in June 1999 in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is the only facility of its kind dedicated to all levels of women's basketball. With the 2017 Induction, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame will celebrate its 19th Anniversary and add six new members to our prestigious Hall, honoring 157 inductees.
 
In addition to preserving the history of the game, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame is also the perfect location for special events, proms, wedding receptions, corporate meetings, birthday parties, and reunions, to name a few. So, whether you are looking for inspiration, education or just plain fun, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame is the place to find it!

2017 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS
In addition to the Trailblazer Award, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame announced the six members of the Class of 2017: Sally Bell (official), Christine Grant (Contributor), Rick Insell (Coach), Louise O'Neal (veteran), Sheryl Swoopes (player), and Kara Wolters (player).

Bell served a 33-year tenure as an official, working 15 NCAA Division I Women's Final Fours and the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Grant served as a consultant for the Civil Rights Title IX Task Force from 1973 through 2000, and was a founding member of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW). Insell coached Shelbyville High School and Middle Tennessee State University to more than 1,000 wins and was the 1992 WBCA High School National Coach of the Year.

O'Neal helped lead Southern Connecticut University to third-place finishes in the National Women's Collegiate Championships in 1971, 1973 and 1974, including eight straight appearances in the national championship tournament and was a 2004 WBCA Jostens-Berenson Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Swoopes was the 1993 WBCA Wade Trophy winner and Naismith Player of the Year, and was also a three-time Olympic Gold medalist. Wolters won gold in the 2000 Olympics and was the AP National College Player of the Year in 1997. Wolters was also named a WBCA Kodak All-American in 1977.

For more information, please visit www.WBHoF.com!