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Candace Parker, Amar’e Stoudemire and Doc Rivers headline a nine-member class that has been selected for induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame next August.
The threesome will be joined by Elena Delle Donne, Mark Few, Joey Crawford, Chamique Holdsclaw, Mike D’Antoni and the 1996 United States Women’s National Team in the Class of 2026, the Hall of Fame announced Saturday. Some were dominant forces on the court and pioneers of their sport, while the coaches maintained remarkable levels of sustained success for over two decades each.
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Here are their stories.
Candace Parker (player)
WNBA player (2008–2023), three-time WNBA champion, seven-time WNBA All-Star, two-time WNBA MVP, two-time NCAA champion
The list of accolades only begins to scratch the surface of the indelible resume Parker built in her basketball career. Parker was the best player at every stage she played.
She was the best high school player in the country in Illinois, twice winning USA Today High School Player of the Year (2003 and 2004). Her high school years were also when she first drew acclaim for her athleticism. She is believed to be the first woman in Illinois to dunk in a basketball game, doing so at just 15 years old.
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It was an omen of just how head and shoulders above the competition she would be for the rest of her career.
Parkler’s dominance continued in her three seasons under legendary coach Pat Summitt at Tennessee (2005-08). The 6-foot-4 forward averaged 19.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per night. She won two national championships (2007 and 2008) and was an All-American all three years in college. In both national title runs, Parker was the Most Outstanding Player. Summitt, a Naismith Hall of Famer herself, was quick to sing the praises of Parker during her college career.
“Candace Parker is the best player in the women’s game,” Summitt said in 2008. “There has been a lot of questions or suggestions about who is the best player. My comment on that is, the big question should be, who is the best player in the world? Is it Candace Parker or is it Lauren Jackson?”
At the time, Jackson was a…
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Publish date : 2026-04-04 16:46:00
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