April 1, 2026
Candace Parker To Be Enshrined In The Naismith Basketball Hall Of Fame
Parker's career accomplishments include three WNBA championships with three different franchises.
WNBA legend Candace Parker has been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
The moment marks the first time two multi-time WNBA MVPs have entered the Hall of Fame at the same time. Along with Parker, Ella Delle Donne, a competitor and fellow college standout, will enter the elite group of players. Induction ceremonies are scheduled to take place on August 14 in Springfield, Massachusetts, according to ESPN.
Parker, often referred to as “Ace,” enters the Hall after 16 seasons in the WNBA, where she she won three WNBA championships with three different franchises: the Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky, and Las Vegas Aces. In 2008, she became the only player in league history to win both Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. She retired in 2024 and is currently an analyst with TNT Sports.
The Class of 2026 Hall of Fame will enshrine several other notable figures, including international icon and two-time NBA champion Pau Gasol, who is recognized for his pivotal role in the Los Angeles Lakers’ success and his legendary career with the Spanish national team. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will also welcome coach Doc Rivers, currently the coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, and Amar’e Stoudemire.
As a coach, Rivers guided the Boston Celtics to an NBA championship in 2008. He currently is the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. Before his successful coaching career, he was an All-Star point guard with the Atlanta Hawks and a television analyst. Stoudemire, the 2003 Rookie of the Year and a six-time All-Star, thanks to his explosive athleticism with the Phoenix Suns, helped to reshape the modern power forward position.
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