Women Dominate the 2026 Basketball Hall of Fame

Written and Photos

By: Bill Allen

It has been a hot summer and not just because of the temperatures.

The 2026 basketball season has brought renewed attention to the sport, fueled by new television and radio contracts, increased interest in the WNBA and packed arenas across the country. The league’s rookie class has generated plenty of excitement, but Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles has emerged as one of the season’s most talked-about young stars.

Former WNBA player and coach Cheryl Miller has dubbed Miles “The Show.”

The NBA is also preparing for a major transition as LeBron James heads to Philadelphia for what could be the final season of his legendary career.

And as the basketball world celebrates its current stars, it is also preparing to honor some of the game's greatest figures.

On Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, welcomed a new class of basketball legends, including players, coaches and officials whose careers have helped shape the sport.

A Star-Studded Class

Among the honorees is Candace Parker, who spent 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks, two seasons with the Chicago Sky and one season with the Las Vegas Aces. Parker won WNBA championships with all three teams and established herself as one of the most accomplished players in women's basketball.

Former NBA All-Star Amar'e Stoudemire is also part of the class. Best known for his years with the Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks, Stoudemire also played for the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat. His career extended beyond the NBA, including international basketball and ownership of Hapoel Jerusalem.

Elena Delle Donne joins the class after a decorated WNBA career with the Chicago Sky and Washington Mystics. She helped lead Washington to the 2019 WNBA championship and was named the league's MVP that same year.

Another women's basketball pioneer, Chamique Holdsclaw, will also be honored. Holdsclaw was the WNBA Rookie of the Year in 1999 and a six-time All-Star who played for the Los Angeles Sparks and other WNBA teams.

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From the Court to the Sidelines

The Hall of Fame class also recognizes individuals whose contributions came from coaching and officiating.

Longtime NBA referee Joey Crawford will be honored for a career that spanned nearly four decades, from 1977 to 2016. Crawford officiated numerous NBA playoff and Finals games and became one of the league's most recognizable officials.

Mike D'Antoni, whose basketball career included playing in the American Basketball Association and NBA, went on to become a respected NBA coach. His coaching career included stops with the Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets.

Mark Few, the longtime men's basketball coach at Gonzaga University, has built one of the most successful programs in college basketball. Few is a two-time Associated Press Coach of the Year and two-time Naismith Coach of the Year, with multiple NCAA Final Four appearances.

Doc Rivers also joins the class after a career that has included success as both a player and coach. Rivers played 14 NBA seasons with teams including the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. He later won NBA Coach of the Year with the Orlando Magic and led the Boston Celtics to the 2008 NBA championship. His coaching career has also included the Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers. Rivers is currently the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Honoring a Historic Olympic Team

One of the most significant honors of the weekend will be the enshrinement of the 1996 United States Women's Olympic Basketball Team, which competed at the Atlanta Games.

Often regarded as one of the greatest women's basketball teams ever assembled, the team featured future Hall of Famers and WNBA stars including Jennifer Azzi, Ruthie Bolton, Teresa Edwards, Venus Lacy, Lisa Leslie, Rebecca Lobo, Katrina McClain, Nikki McCray, Carla McGhee, Dawn Staley, Katy Steding and Sheryl Swoopes.

The team was coached by Tara VanDerveer, herself a Basketball Hall of Fame member.

The 1996 Olympic squad was more than a collection of talented players. It represented a turning point for women's basketball. Many of its players went on to become foundational figures in the WNBA, which was launched the following year.

Six members of the team are already individually enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame: Edwards, McClain, Staley, Leslie, Swoopes and Lobo.

A Legacy Still Being Written

From the rise of the WNBA to the final chapters of LeBron James' career, basketball continues to evolve while honoring the players and coaches who built its foundation.

The 2026 Hall of Fame class provides another reminder that basketball history is not limited to championship banners or statistics. It is also about the people who expanded the game, opened doors and inspired generations of players and fans.

This summer, the sport is celebrating where basketball is going — while taking time to remember how far it has come.