Gail Marquis Inducted in 2009
Gail Marquis
Gail Annette Marquis a New York City native became a star while playing at Queens College for legendary coach Lucille Kyvallos. In 1975, the Queens College team was the first women's basketball game held at Madison Square Garden.
Marquis was named to the USA Basketball National Team to represent the US at the 1976 Olympics, the first year that women's basketball would be played at the Olympics. The USA team ended with a record of 3–2, losing to the eventual gold medal champion USSR in the semifinal game, and winning the final game against Czechoslovakia to take home the silver medal
Marquis remained on the National team the next year as the team competed in the 1977 World University Games. After winning the opening game against Germany, Marquis had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds to help the USA team defeat Mexico. Marquis scored 16 points in a close game against Romania, which the USA team won 76–73. The USSR team was too strong for the USA team, winning twice against the USA team, including the gold medal game. The USA team captured the silver medal. Marquis was the third leading scorer on the team, averaging 12.0 points per game, and the second leading rebounder, with 7.0 per game.
Marquis played for the French Federation of Basketball and in the U.S. for the New York Stars and later the New Jersey Gems of the Women’s Basketball League (W.B.L). She was on the Stars when they won a championship in 1980. In 2009, Marquis became the first woman of color inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2023 Marquis and her teammates, from the 1976 United States women’s Olympics national team were inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fall.
Marquis was named to the USA Basketball National Team to represent the US at the 1976 Olympics, the first year that women's basketball would be played at the Olympics. The USA team ended with a record of 3–2, losing to the eventual gold medal champion USSR in the semifinal game, and winning the final game against Czechoslovakia to take home the silver medal
Marquis remained on the National team the next year as the team competed in the 1977 World University Games. After winning the opening game against Germany, Marquis had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds to help the USA team defeat Mexico. Marquis scored 16 points in a close game against Romania, which the USA team won 76–73. The USSR team was too strong for the USA team, winning twice against the USA team, including the gold medal game. The USA team captured the silver medal. Marquis was the third leading scorer on the team, averaging 12.0 points per game, and the second leading rebounder, with 7.0 per game.
Marquis played for the French Federation of Basketball and in the U.S. for the New York Stars and later the New Jersey Gems of the Women’s Basketball League (W.B.L). She was on the Stars when they won a championship in 1980. In 2009, Marquis became the first woman of color inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2023 Marquis and her teammates, from the 1976 United States women’s Olympics national team were inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fall.