ORANGEBURG, S.C.--Former South Carolina State All-American and Lady Bulldog Hall of Famer Roberta Williams was among approximately 100 players and coaches from the Women’s Professional Basketball League (WBL) recognized as “Trailblazers of the Game” during the 20th Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Saturday, June 9, in Knoxville, Tenn.

Williams and the other former WBL players and coaches in attendance were presented a commemorative pin during the induction of the 2018 Class, headlined by former Tennessee great Chamique Holdsclaw.

The WBL was the first professional women’s basketball league in the United States and spanned three seasons (1979-81). Williams, who was a two-time All-American at S.C. State during her playing days (1976-80), was the second-round pick of the San Francisco Pioneers and 19th overall selection in 1980.

She led the Lady Bulldogs to the AIAW (Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women) Division II National Championship in 1979 – winning tournament MVP honors -- after helping her team to a runner-up finish in 1978.

Williams, a Charleston, S.C. native, is the all-time leading scorer in women’s basketball history at S.C. State, having scored over 2,200 points, and she is the only basketball player -- man or woman -- to have had their jersey (No. 11) retired.

She was inducted into the South Carolina State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998 and was recognized as a member of the AIAW National Championship team by the prestigious hall in 2000.

Williams is also in the MEAC Hall of Fame, inducted in 1999.