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The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame welcomed its eight-person 2026 class on Saturday night.
Players Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw and Amar’e Stoudemire were joined by coaches Doc Rivers, Mark Few, and Mike D’Antoni, and referee Joey Crawford in enshrinement.
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The ceremony was held at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts, following Friday night’s red-carpet event at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. Each of this year’s honorees actually received their Hall of Fame jackets Friday night.
Saturday is reserved for the inductees to not only continue to be honored but also to give speeches about their inductions as they become official.
Here is more on this year’s class of inductees and what they had to say during their inductions.
Candace Parker, 7-time WNBA All-Star
Candace Parker poses for a portrait during the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement tip-off celebration and awards gala at Mohegan Sun on Aug. 14, 2026, in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
(Elsa via Getty Images)
Teams she played for
Los Angeles Sparks (2008-20), Chicago Sky (2021-22), Las Vegas Aces (2023)
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Career accolades
3-time WNBA champion (2016, 2021, 2023)
2-time WNBA MVP (2008, 2013)
7-time WNBA All-Star (2008, 2012 to 2014, 2017, 2020, 2022)
WNBA Rookie of the Year (2008)
Only WNBA player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season
Number retired by Sparks, Sky
2008, 2012 Olympic gold medal winner with Team USA
Who presented Candace Parker?
Dwyane Wade, Allen Iverson, Cheryl Miller and Tamika Catchings
What she said in her induction speech
Parker talked about the expectations set for her during her childhood. She said her father told her, “Parkers don’t have the same goals and don’t have the same expectations,” meaning their family always aimed high. Parker’s brother is in the Orlando Magic front office, and her other brother became a doctor after attending Johns Hopkins.
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She talked about how Allen Iverson was one of her role models growing up, and she couldn’t believe that he was on stage with her wearing a jacket that read “Parker.”
She…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/2026-naismith-basketball-hall-of-fame-induction-candace-parker-amare-stoudemire-doc-rivers-lead-latest-class-014337811.html
Author : Teddy Ricketson
Publish date : 2026-08-16 01:43:00
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