Vickie Johnson to lead Natchitoches Christmas Festival parade

NATCHITOCHES, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — Former WNBA star, coach, and recent Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inductee Vickie Johnson will serve as Grand Marshal of the 99th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights Parade.

Johnson, a native of Coushatta, was one of the most highly recruited players in the nation when she concluded her high school career.

At Louisiana Tech, she earned All-American honors twice and led the Lady Techsters to the 1994 NCAA national championship game.

Johnson was one of the original 32 players in the WNBA, having been drafted 12th by the New York Liberty in the inaugural WNBA Elite Draft in 1997.

In her 13-year WNBA career, she earned two All-Star selections, received the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award in 2008, and was the first Liberty player to reach 2,000 career points.

She departed New York and played four seasons with the San Antonio Silver Stars to conclude her WNBA career. Along the way, she played 15 seasons overseas in France, Israel, Italy, Hungary, and Turkey.

After her playing career, Johnson transitioned to coaching, serving as an assistant coach for the Silver Stars from 2011 to 2016, the Las Vegas Aces from 2018 to 2020, and the Atlanta Dream from 2023 to 2024.

She also served as head coach for the Silver Stars in 2017 and the Dallas Wings in 2021 and 2022.

Johnson was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame this year in Natchitoches, and now she is eager to return to lead this year’s parade.

She said, “I am honored to serve as Grand Marshal of the Natchitoches Christmas Festival Parade. Louisiana has always been home for me, and to celebrate this incredible tradition in such a historic and welcoming community is truly special.”

Sandra Dickens, Natchitoches Historic District Business Association President, said, “We are honored to welcome Vickie Johnson as our Grand Marshal.”

“Her leadership, excellence, and Louisiana pride perfectly reflect the spirit of the Natchitoches Christmas Festival and our celebration of homegrown achievement.”

Johnson will greet thousands of visitors gathered along the Natchitoches riverbank as the Grand Marshall and participate in special events throughout the weekend.