Delta State University dedicated a bronze statue of Margaret Wade outside Walter Sillers Coliseum, honoring her legacy.
On November 14, 2014, Delta State University dedicated a bronze statue of Margaret Wade, permanently installed outside the Walter Sillers Coliseum, the arena where her championship teams once played. This tribute stands as a lasting physical monument to her extraordinary contributions to the university and to women's basketball nationally.
The statue's unveiling took place nearly two decades after Wade's death in 1995, reflecting the enduring nature of her legacy and the university's desire to ensure future generations of students, athletes, and visitors would be reminded of her transformative impact. The Walter Sillers Coliseum, home to Delta State's storied women's basketball program, was a fitting location, as it was there that Wade coached her teams to three consecutive AIAW national championships in the 1970s.
This dedication ceremony brought together former players, university officials, and members of the basketball community to celebrate a coach and player whose career had bridged multiple eras of women's athletics, from the discriminatory cancellation of her playing days in 1932 to the establishment of a nationally prestigious individual award in her name in 1977.
The statue serves not only as a memorial but as an educational touchstone, prompting ongoing conversations about the history of women's sports and the barriers that pioneers like Wade overcame. It remains a point of pride for Delta State University and a pilgrimage site for those interested in the history of women's college basketball.