Candace Parker Reportedly Among 4 to Join Doc Rivers in 2026 Basketball Hall of Fame Class

Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne and Amar'e Stoudemire are slated to join the Basketball Hall of Fame's 2026 class, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

The Dallas Morning News' Brad Townsend reported Monday night that coach Doc Rivers is getting the call as well.

Legendary Gonzaga head coach Mark Few, who owns a 773-156 career record, will also join the class of 2026, CBS Sports' Matt Norlander reported.

Parker is one of the greatest players in women's basketball history.

In three seasons at Tennessee, she was a two-time national champion who won every major individual award on offer. She arrived in the WNBA in 2008 as one of the most hyped prospects ever and immediately justified the excitement.

Parker finished with 34 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in her debut. She went on to become the only player ever in the W to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season.

The 39-year-old ultimately added another MVP in 2013 and was a seven-time All-Star along with being a 10-time All-WNBA honoree. She has three league titles with three different teams, making her the only player with that distinction as well.

Parker's versatility is evidenced by the fact she ranks in the top 10 all time in points (6,574), rebounds (3,467) and blocks (619).

Delle Donne didn't enjoy the same longevity as some of her peers. She sat out the WNBA's 2020 bubble season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Then persistent back trouble limited her availability into her 30s and led her to retire in 2025.

The 6'5" forward was a bit ahead of her time as the WNBA was slower to embrace stretch 4s and floor-spacing than the NBA proved to be. She was a 39.2 percent three-point shooter and averaged 19.5 points per game, which is the fifth-best career mark in the WNBA.

Like Parker, Delle Donne is a two-time MVP, and her 2019 win coincided with her best individual season. She was the first player to enter the 50-40-90 club and helped the Washington Mystics capture their first title.

Stoudemire was the 2002-03 Rookie of the Year and a six-time All-Star in the NBA.

The 6'10" forward thrived in the Phoenix Suns' famed "Seven Seconds or Less" offense. In eight seasons with Phoenix, he averaged 21.4 points on 54.4 percent shooting along with 8.9 rebounds.

Stoudemire's career eventually went downhill after he signed with the New York Knicks in 2010. While he had successfully recovered from a 2005 microfracture surgery, his knee trouble resurfaced in the Big Apple.

A lackluster end doesn't change what Stoudemire accomplished with the Suns or how well his Knicks tenure started.

Rivers might be a somewhat divisive inclusion given how his coaching career has unfolded since he helped the Boston Celtics win the 2008 NBA Finals.

The 64-year-old couldn't get the Los Angeles Clippers or Philadelphia 76ers over the hump, and he has lost more Game 7s (10) than any other head coach.

Things have gone even worse since Rivers took over for the Milwaukee Bucks. They have a .490 winning percentage with him on the sideline, and their ongoing slide has raised big questions over Giannis Antetokounmpo's future.

Still, Rivers has the sixth-most wins in regular season history with 1,191, and only three coaches have more playoff appearances. Those numbers speak for themselves.