The United States’ all-conquering 1996 Olympic women’s team and stars Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne were named among the latest inductees to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Hall of Fame President John Doleva said the class of 2026, who will be formally enshrined in August, represent “the very best this sport has to offer.”<\/p>\n
Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers, who guided the Boston Celtics to the 2008 NBA title, was also named on the list along with six-time All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire.<\/p>\n
Other inductees included college coach Mark Few, six-time WNBA All-Star Chamique Holdsclaw, former Houston Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni and referee Joey Crawford.<\/p>\n
Doleva said the group encompassed “coaches who built dynasties at every level” and “players who redefined their positions.”<\/p>\n
The 1996 Olympics gold-medal winning women’s team “helped launch an entire league,” he added, referring to the launch of the WNBA later that year.<\/p>\n
The US women finished the Atlanta Games with a perfect 8-0 record with an average margin of victory of more than 30 points.<\/p>\n
Parker gains entry to the Hall after a glittering career that includes three WNBA championships and back-to-back Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012.<\/p>\n
Parker is the only player in WNBA history to win win Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Players honors in the same season (2008).<\/p>\n
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