An Iconic Triumph: Phyllis Wheatley Waters’ Historic Achievement in U-M’s Basketball Legacy
Amid enthusiastic cheers and applause, Barbour Gymnasium buzzed with excitement as spectators gathered to witness a pivotal moment in U-M’s basketball history. The freshman and junior women’s teams competed fiercely for the class basketball championship, but it was the freshman team, led by the remarkable Phyllis Wheatley Waters, that triumphed in a 14-7 victory.
Phyllis Wheatley Waters, celebrated as the first known Black athlete to play organized basketball at the University of Michigan, dazzled the audience with her stellar performance. Her journey to excellence began in the halls of Ann Arbor High School during the 1910s, where she not only excelled academically but also showcased her athletic prowess in basketball, tennis, and swimming.
Her determination and skill did not go unnoticed. In 1914, The Freeman, an Indianapolis newspaper, reported, “Undaunted by tradition, custom, or opposing counsel, Miss Waters [ . . . ] made her fight for the basketball team of the university, and was elected by an overwhelming majority.” The same article lauded the championship game as “the most sensational and daring game that had ever been seen in the Barbour Gymnasium.”
Following in the footsteps of her father, Philip Waters, a former U-M student and accomplished athlete, Phyllis faced significant challenges. As one of the few Black women at the university, she encountered “prejudices that exist in more or less virulent form among certain elements,” as stated in The Freeman’s 1914 article. The Michigan Daily noted in 1915 that her sophomore year was marred by a nervous breakdown, reflective of the struggles she endured.
Despite these obstacles, she not only became the captain of her class basketball team but also the first Black woman to earn a letter from the Women’s Athletic Association at U-M. In 1917, she graduated with both a bachelor’s degree and a teacher’s diploma.
Phyllis Wheatley Waters’ legacy extended beyond the basketball court. She carved out a distinguished career in Indianapolis as a teacher, local politician, and philanthropist. Additionally, she left her mark on the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority by designing its crest. Her lifetime of achievements was recognized by U-M in 1973 with an Outstanding Achievement Award. Waters passed away on December 30, 1973, at the age of 75.
— By Madeleine Bradford, the Bentley Historical Library. This article originally appeared in the Bentley’s spring 2026 edition of “Collections” magazine.
