Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne Headline 2026 Women's Basketball HOF Inductees

Former WNBA MVPs Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne headline the 2026 class for the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

According to the Associated Press' Doug Feinberg, Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve and ESPN broadcaster Doris Burke are among the other luminaries. International players Isabelle Fijalkowski and Amaya Valdemoro, Kirkwood Community College coach Kim Muhl and Clemson legend Barbara Kennedy-Dixon round out the group.

"We are honored to pay tribute to eight distinguished legends of this exceptional sport," Hall of Fame president Dana Hart said. "They exemplify the highest standards in women's basketball and have made substantial contributions to the sport, along with shaping the game's historical trajectory."

Parker was the first player in WNBA history to win a championship with three different teams. She had a starring role for the Los Angeles Sparks and Chicago Sky before closing out her career as a supporting piece for the Las Vegas Aces in 2023.

The numbers speak for themselves with the 10-time All-WNBA honoree. She ranks 10th all time in points (6,574), third in rebounds (3,467), 11th in assists (1,634) and fifth in blocks (619).

Parker was ahead of her time as a 6'4" forward who could space the floor and play multiple positions.

Delle Donne was one of the WNBA's most potent scorers. Her career average of 19.5 points per game is fifth and she's 10th in true shooting percentage (59.7).

The 36-year-old also has the distinction of being the first women's player in the 50/40/90 club. While winning her second MVP in 2019, she shot 51.5 percent from the field, 43 percent from three-point range and 97.4 percent from the free-throw line.

Parker and Delle Donne's achievements in college added to both of their Hall of Fame resumes.

Parker helped Tennessee lift back-to-back national championships in 2007 and 2008 and won every major individual award while in Knoxville. Delle Donne was a two-time All-American who carried Delaware to the Sweet 16 in 2013.

Reeve has a strong case to be the greatest coach in WNBA history. She built a dynasty in Minneapolis with the Lynx winning four titles across a seven-year span in the 2010s.

Minnesota is once again a contender with Napheesa Collier at the fore, and Reeve has adapted to a style of play mirroring "Moreyball" in the NBA.

The Lynx made the second-most three-pointers and were first in three-point percentage in 2025. That's a far cry from the days when they oriented their offense around center Sylvia Fowles.

Reeve has coached the United States as well, guiding the team to gold medals in the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup and 2024 Summer Olympics.