Basketball Legends Inducted into Hall of Fame

Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne used their Basketball Hall of Fame speeches to express their deep appreciation for the sport. Their induction marked a pinnacle in their careers.

Parker delivered her speech with a basketball in hand, symbolizing the journey and accomplishments that led her to this moment. As part of the 2026 class, she was joined by other legends including the 1996 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team, Chamique Holdsclaw, NBA player Amar’e Stoudemire, esteemed NBA official Joey Crawford, coaches Doc Rivers and Mike D’Antoni, and Gonzaga coach Mark Few.

Acknowledging the role of basketball in her life, Parker expressed the significance of her achievements like dunking on UConn, having her own signature shoe, and being the first woman on the cover of NBA2K. Her career highlights include three WNBA titles, two MVPs, championships at Tennessee, and Olympic golds. She closed with the sentiment that her relationship with the game was a love story 27 years in the making.

Elena Delle Donne’s speech also reflected a heartfelt connection with basketball, chronicling the challenges she overcame. Her sister Lizzie, who is blind and deaf, taught her to keep perspective despite not experiencing the accolades of sport. Delle Donne’s career includes MVP titles in 2015 and 2019 and leading the Washington Mystics to a WNBA championship. She made history by achieving a shooting percentage of over 50% field goals, 40% from the 3-point line, and 90% from free throws in the league. She playfully began her speech with a reference to actor Larry David, whom she met before the ceremony thanks to Doc Rivers.

Rivers, a celebrated NBA coach himself, became emotional as he talked about his brother Grady’s influence on his life and career. With a record of 1,194 regular-season wins, Rivers ranks sixth highest in NBA history.

Chamique Holdsclaw, another inductee, expressed gratitude to her teammates and coaches. She became renowned for leading Tennessee to three consecutive championships from 1996 to 1998 under coach Pat Summitt, whom she dearly missed during her speech. Her college team’s 1998 season was notable for being undefeated and setting an NCAA record at the time. Holdsclaw also enjoyed an 11-year WNBA career.

She thanked the 1996 Olympic team for inspiring her with players she admired, a team that began a long streak of Olympic successes for the U.S., culminating in eight consecutive gold medals.

Mark Few, Gonzaga’s coach since 1999, guided the team to annual NCAA Tournament appearances and several West Coast Conference titles. Describing his journey from a small-town upbringing to a Hall of Fame recognition, Few highlighted the unexpected twists of his career.

Joey Crawford, an NBA official with a 39-year career, reminisced about his teen dreams of officiating and the determination that brought them to life. He officiated over 2,500 regular-season games and many Finals.

Mike D’Antoni’s career shone both as a player and coach in Italy before he returned to the NBA, known for fast-paced play with Phoenix Suns and working with Stoudemire.

The ceremony celebrated the dedication and achievements of all inductees, highlighting their unique paths to the Hall of Fame.