Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw, and the entire 1996 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame later this year. The announcement was made during halftime of the women’s Final Four game between UConn and South Carolina, where Parker, Holdsclaw, and members of the 1996 Olympic team were present.
Joining them in the 2026 Hall of Fame class are NBA figures Amar’e Stoudemire, longtime NBA referee Joey Crawford, NBA coach Doc Rivers, and Gonzaga men’s basketball coach Mark Few.
Candace Parker’s Career Highlights
Parker is a three-time WNBA champion, winning titles with the Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky, and Las Vegas Aces. She is the only player in WNBA history to earn both MVP and Rookie of the Year awards in the same season. During her college career at Tennessee under Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt, Parker won two national titles. She also secured two Olympic gold medals with Team USA and earned two WNBA MVP awards.
Elena Delle Donne and Chamique Holdsclaw Achievements
Elena Delle Donne is a two-time WNBA MVP, winning in 2015 and 2019, the latter while leading the Washington Mystics to their first championship. Delle Donne was the first WNBA player to maintain shooting percentages exceeding 50% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 90% from the free-throw line during a season.
Chamique Holdsclaw won three consecutive NCAA championships with Tennessee from 1996 to 1998, the first team to achieve this feat. The 1998 squad finished with an undefeated 39–0 record, setting an NCAA wins record for a season. Holdsclaw had an 11-year career in the WNBA following her collegiate success.
Other Inductees and Ceremony Details
Among the male inductees, Amar’e Stoudemire was the 2003 NBA Rookie of the Year and a six-time All-Star, primarily with the Phoenix Suns where he played under coach Mike D’Antoni, also being inducted. Doc Rivers ranks sixth all-time in NBA coaching victories with 1,192 wins and led the Boston Celtics to the 2008 NBA championship. Mark Few has coached Gonzaga to over 770 wins and holds the NCAA Division I record for most wins in the first three years of a coaching career. Joey Crawford officiated over 2,500 NBA games, including 50 Finals games during his 39-year career, retiring in 2016.
The Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony is scheduled for August 2026 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Why it matters
This class recognizes pivotal contributors to women’s and men’s basketball, celebrating historic achievements in collegiate, professional, and international competition. The induction of the 1996 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team honors a landmark group whose success helped elevate women’s basketball globally. Highlighting players like Parker and Delle Donne underscores the growing prominence and recognition of WNBA athletes in basketball history.
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