Name Teiko Nishi | Role Basketball Player | |
Teiko Nishi (born c. 1967) is an American former women's basketball player. She played for the UCLA Bruins each year from 1985 until 1988. In 1987, Nishi, from North Torrance, California, was the only Asian American woman playing Division I basketball in southern California.
Nishi was heavily active in the Japanese American basketball leagues in Southern California throughout her childhood, and became a starter at North Torrance High School. While at North High, Nishi led her squad to CIF playoffs in her senior year, losing to Cheryl Miller's Riverside Poly in the playoffs.
While playing AAU basketball during the off-season, Nishi was heavily recruited by major universities nationwide, finally choosing UCLA over USC. In her career at UCLA, Nishi played with Jackie Joyner-Kersee, defeating the Cheryl Miller-led USC dynasty twice in their 1984-85 season.
After graduating from UCLA Nishi coached girls' basketball in South Torrance, California.