Parker and Delle Donne Headline 2026 Hall of Fame Class in Springfield

Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne were enshrined in the 2026 Hall of Fame class on Saturday night in Springfield, Massachusetts.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne headlined the 2026 Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony on Saturday night, joining a class that featured NBA coach Doc Rivers, who ranks sixth in league history with 1,194 regular-season victories. Parker entered the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a three-time WNBA champion, two-time league MVP, and two-time Olympic gold medalist. During her speech, she carried a basketball to the podium, noting her status as the first woman to appear on the cover of the NBA2K video game and her history of dunking on UConn while playing for Tennessee. Parker finished her collegiate career with two national championships under Pat Summitt.

Elena Delle Donne, a two-time MVP in 2015 and 2019, was honored for a career that included leading the Washington Mystics to their only WNBA title. She holds the distinction of being the first player in league history to record a 50-40-90 shooting season, hitting over 50% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 90% from the free-throw line. Delle Donne opened her remarks by addressing actor Larry David in the crowd, referencing his "pretty, pretty, pretty good" catchphrase after being introduced to him by Rivers earlier in the evening. She credited her sister Lizzie, who is blind and deaf, as the source of her strength throughout her professional journey.

NBA Icons and Coaching Legends Honored

Doc Rivers was inducted alongside fellow coach Mike D'Antoni and former Phoenix Suns star Amar'e Stoudemire. Rivers became emotional while discussing his brother Grady, who served as his inspiration to improve as a player. D'Antoni was recognized for his transition from a player and coach in Italy to developing a high-tempo offensive system in the NBA. Stoudemire was a central figure in that fast-paced Phoenix style. Joining them was Joey Crawford, an official who worked 39 years in the NBA, totaling more than 2,500 regular-season games and nearly 400 postseason assignments, including 50 appearances in the NBA Finals.

Mark Few, the head coach at Gonzaga since 1999, also received enshrinement. Few has guided the Bulldogs to the NCAA tournament every year of his tenure, securing two appearances in the national championship game and multiple West Coast Conference titles. He reflected on his journey from a childhood home in a town of 1,500 people with a single stoplight to the podium in Springfield.

Women's Basketball Pioneers and Undefeated Seasons

Chamique Holdsclaw was inducted for a career highlighted by three consecutive national championships at Tennessee from 1996 to 1998. Her 1998 squad achieved the program's first undefeated season, finishing 39-0, which established an NCAA record for the most wins in a single season at that time. Holdsclaw, who played 11 seasons in the WNBA, requested the late Pat Summitt as her presenter; Summitt passed away in 2016 following a battle with Alzheimer's.

The 1996 U.S. Olympic women's basketball team was also enshrined as a group. This roster is credited with initiating a 30-year period of American dominance that has resulted in eight consecutive Olympic gold medals. Holdsclaw noted that she grew up with posters of these players on her walls during high school. The ceremony concluded a weekend celebrating these luminaries across the professional, collegiate, and international levels of the sport.