Delle Donne and Parker inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in the 2026 class

Springfield, Massachusetts held a ceremony on Saturday to induct six individuals into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class. Among the inductees were WNBA legends Elena Delle Donne and Candace Parker, who celebrated their intertwined careers and the many great moments they shared. Delle Donne, a three-time MVP, became the first player in WNBA history to achieve a perfect shooting percentage in three categories.

Parker, a six-time WNBA All-Star, joined Delle Donne in sharing a heartfelt speech about the support they received from their loved ones, particularly her sister Lizzie, who is blind and deaf. The ceremony also honored the 1996 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team, Chamique Holdsclaw, Amar’e Stoudemire, Joey Crawford, Doc Rivers, Mike D’Antoni, Gonzaga coach Mark Few, and the entire 1996 Olympic team.

Holdsclaw expressed her gratitude to her former coach Pat Summitt, who allowed her to grow as a player and person. Few, who has led Gonzaga to numerous NCAA Tournament appearances, reflected on his journey from a small town of 1,500 people to becoming a Hall of Fame coach. Crawford, who officiated over 2,500 games in his 39-year career, reminisced about his childhood dream of officiating in the NBA.

D’Antoni, known for developing a fast-paced style of play with the Phoenix Suns, thanked his wife for her unwavering support.