Rita Gail Easterling (born July 26, 1955) is an American former basketball player. Called 'Queen of the Floor Burns', she played college basketball for Mississippi College where she was named Kodak All-American in 1977.^[1] She later played professionally for the Chicago Hustle in the Women's Professional Basketball League from 1978 to 1981 and was named the leagues MVP and All-Star MVP in 1979.^[2]

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Rita Easterling

Personal information
Born	(1955-07-26) July 26, 1955 (age 68)
Listed height	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Career information
High school	Morton (Morton, Mississippi)
College	Mississippi College (1974–1977)
WBL draft	1978: 1st round
Selected by the Chicago Hustle
Career history
As player:
1978–1981	Chicago Hustle
As coach:
1977–1978	Mississippi College (assistant)
1981–1983	Mississippi College (assistant)
1983–1990	Mississippi College
Career highlights and awards
As player: WBL MVP (1979) WBL All-Star MVP (1979) 2× WBL All Pro (1979, 1980) WBL Assist leader (1979) First team Kodak All-American (1977) Mississippi Miss Basketball (1973)
Medals Women's Basketball Representing the  United States Pan American Games 1975 Mexico City National team World University Games 1977 Sofia National team

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Prior to college, Easterling played basketball at Morton High School and in 1973 she was named Mississippi Miss Basketball.^[3]

In 2011, Easterling was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.^[4]

Easterling served as an assistant coach with the Mississippi College women's basketball team after graduation. Following her professional career, she returned to Mississippi, first as an assistant coach but took over as head coach in 1983.^[5]