Parker, Delle Donne headline Hall of Fame class of 2026

Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne headlined the 2026 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class, which also honored the 1996 U.S. Olympic women's basketball team, Chamique Holdsclaw, Amar'e Stoudemire, Joey Crawford, Doc Rivers, Mike D'Antoni and Mark Few.

Delle Donne won MVP awards in 2015 and 2019, the latter when she led the Washington Mystics to their lone WNBA championship. She became the first player in WNBA history to shoot more than 50% from the field, 40% from behind the 3-point line and 90% from the free throw line in a season. In her speech, Delle Donne drew strength from her older sister Lizzie, who is blind and deaf.

Holdsclaw was best known for helping Tennessee win three straight titles from 1996 to 1998, the first team to accomplish that under Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt. Holdsclaw led Tennessee to its first undefeated season at 39-0 in 1997-98, when the Lady Vols set an NCAA record for the most wins in a season. She had an 11-year WNBA career.