Hall of Fame inducts 2026 class featuring Parker, Delle Donne and Olympic team
Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne headlined a class that also included the 1996 US Olympic women’s basketball team, Amar’e Stoudemire, and coaching legends Doc Rivers and Mike D’Antoni.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inducted its 2026 class in Springfield, Massachusetts, recognising a cohort that spans decades of influence on the sport. The ceremony honoured WNBA stars Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne, the 1996 US Olympic women’s basketball team, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Chamique Holdsclaw, alongside coaching and officiating figures Doc Rivers, Mike D’Antoni, Mark Few, and Joey Crawford.
Parker, a first-ballot inductee, delivered an emotional address describing her relationship with the game as a "love story" that began 27 years prior. Carrying a basketball to the podium, she reflected on her career highlights, including three WNBA titles, two MVP awards, and becoming the first woman to grace the cover of NBA 2K, before breaking down while closing her speech.
Elena Delle Donne, who won MVP awards in 2015 and 2019 and led the Washington Mystics to their sole WNBA championship, dedicated her remarks to her older sister, Lizzie, who is blind and deaf. Delle Donne acknowledged the perspective her sister provided throughout her career, noting that while Lizzie never experienced the spotlight of professional sport, she remained the strongest person she knew. Delle Donne also thanked actor Larry David, whom she was introduced to by Rivers before the ceremony.
The 1996 US Olympic women’s basketball team was inducted as a collective unit, marking the start of a 30-year period of Olympic dominance that has seen the Americans win eight consecutive gold medals. Holdsclaw, who helped Tennessee win three straight national titles from 1996 to 1998, paid tribute to her late coach Pat Summitt, who died in 2016. Holdsclaw noted that Summitt allowed her to grow as both a player and a person during her tenure at the university.
In the coaching and officiating categories, Rivers spoke emotionally about his brother Grady, who inspired his playing career, while noting his 1,194 regular-season wins as a coach. D’Antoni’s development in Italy and his fast-paced style with the Phoenix Suns were highlighted, as was Few’s reflection on his upbringing in a small town of 1,500 people. Crawford concluded the recognitions by detailing his 39-year officiating career, which included 50 NBA Finals games.
