Candace Parker, Doc Rivers, Amar'e Stoudemire, Elena Delle Donne, Mark Few, and Others Elected to Basketball Hall of Fame

The 2026 Basketball Hall of Fame class, announced on Saturday and set for induction in August, is being hailed as one of the most historically significant in women's basketball history—despite criticism that it lacks NBA stars. The class features Candace Parker, a three-time WNBA champion and two-time MVP widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, whose all-around dominance across college, pro, and international play makes her a first-ballot lock. Elena Delle Donne, a two-time MVP and 50-40-90 season pioneer, is celebrated for her elite shooting and free-throw accuracy—93.7% for her career, the best in professional basketball history. Sheryl Swoopes, though not mentioned in the transcript, is referenced through her team, but the focus is on Shaniqua Holstclaw, a three-time NCAA champion at Tennessee with a 39-0 season and a case for college basketball Rushmore. The class also includes Amar'e Stoudemire, whose peak performance at 22—including a 37-point, 10-rebound average in the 2005 Western Conference Finals—cements his legacy despite a shortened career. Coaches Mark Few and Doc Rivers are recognized for their sustained excellence, with Few boasting the second-highest winning percentage in NCAA history and Rivers ranking fifth in NBA wins. Mike D'Antoni enters as a contributor due to his transformative international and NBA coaching legacy. The 1996 U.S.