Two WNBA Legends Headlined the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame's 2026 Induction Class
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced its 2026 induction class, and it's a star-studded lineup. Among the 21 finalists, two WNBA legends, Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne, are leading the way. The women's committee selected four women and one women's team for the final cut, including Chamique Holdsclaw, Jennifer Azzi, and the 1996 United States women's national team. Molly Bolin-Kazmer was also chosen by the women's veteran committee.
The men's finalists include basketball icons like Blake Griffin, Doc Rivers, and Amar'e Stoudemire. The list also features Kevin Johnson, Buck Williams, and renowned coaches Mark Few, Gary McKnight, Dick Motta, Kelvin Sampson, and Jerry Welsh. The international committee selected Dušan Ivković as a finalist, while the contributors committee chose Mike D'Antoni and Tal Brody. Marques Johnson was selected by the veterans committee.
Parker and Delle Donne: WNBA Legends with Impressive Careers
Candace Parker is widely regarded as one of the greatest women's basketball players ever. She was a three-time All-American at the University of Tennessee, helping the Volunteers win back-to-back national championships in 2007 and 2008. In 2008, she was named the Naismith Player of the Year and the AP Female Athlete of the Year. The Los Angeles Sparks drafted Parker first in the 2008 WNBA draft, and her professional career was nothing short of stellar. She was a two-time WNBA MVP (2008, 2013), a seven-time All-Star, and a first-team All-WNBA selection seven times, with two second-team selections. Parker's accolades include three WNBA titles, with the Sparks in 2016, the Chicago Sky in 2021, and the Las Vegas Aces in 2023.
Parker also won Olympic gold medals with Team USA in 2008 and 2012. Her achievements make her a strong candidate for induction this year.
Elena Delle Donne, another outstanding college player, followed in Parker's footsteps. She was a two-time AP first-team All-American at the University of Delaware and was drafted second in the 2013 WNBA draft by the Chicago Sky. As a professional, Delle Donne was a two-time MVP, a seven-time All-Star, and a first-team All-WNBA selection four times, with one second-team selection. She led the Washington Mystics to the 2019 WNBA title, achieving the rare 50-40-90 club status that year. Only nine men in NBA history had accomplished this feat.
Delle Donne faced challenges with recurring back injuries from 2019 to 2023 and battled Lyme disease, which led to her decision not to play in the 2020 'bubble' season. Despite these setbacks, her career is almost certain to be honored this year.
