Candace Parker Heads 2026 Basketball Hall Of Fame Class

PHOENIX — Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw and nan 1996 U.S. Olympic women’s hoops squad will beryllium enshrined successful nan Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame later this year.

Parker, Holdsclaw and members of nan 1996 Olympic squad were each successful attendance Friday astatine halftime of nan UConn-South Carolina crippled during nan women’s NCAA Final Four, wherever nan selections were announced, arsenic was Amar’e Stoudemire and Mike D’Antoni.

They will beryllium joined by longtime NBA charismatic Joey Crawford, NBA coach Doc Rivers and Gonzaga coach Mark Few successful nan Hall of Fame.

Parker won 3 titles successful nan WNBA pinch 3 different teams: Los Angeles, Chicago and Las Vegas. She is nan only subordinate successful convention history to triumph some nan MVP and Rookie of nan Year successful nan aforesaid season.

She besides won 2 titles while playing successful assemblage for Tennessee nether Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt, positive 2 Olympic golden medals and 2 WNBA MVP awards.

Delle Donne won 2 convention MVP awards successful 2015 and 2019, nan 2nd of which came erstwhile she led nan Washington Mystics to their lone WNBA championship. Delle Donne became nan first subordinate successful convention history to sprout much than 50% from nan field, 40% from three-point scope and 90% from nan free-throw line.

Holdsclaw won 3 consecutive titles astatine Tennessee from 1996-98, nan first squad to execute that. The 1998 title was Tennessee’s first undefeated play astatine 39–0 and nan Vols besides group an NCAA grounds for nan astir wins successful a season. Holdsclaw went connected to person an 11-year WNBA career.

Stoudemire, who was nan only NBA subordinate successful this year’s class, was Rookie of nan Year successful 2003 and became six-time All-Star. He spent nan first 8 years of his profession pinch nan Phoenix Suns, wherever he teamed pinch D’Antoni.

Rivers has astir 1,200 victories connected his resume, which puts him eighth connected nan all-time wins list. He led nan Boston Celtics to nan NBA title successful 2008 and besides was successful complaint of nan Los Angeles Clippers during their Lob City era.

Few has won much than 770 games astatine Gonzaga successful his profession astatine nan school. He group nan NCAA Division I men’s coaching grounds by winning 81 games successful his first 3 years astatine nan school.

Crawford officiated 2,561 regular-season NBA games and 50 Finals games complete his 39-year career. He retired successful 2016.

The enshrinement ceremonial will return spot successful August astatine nan Hall of Fame successful Springfield, Mass.