Former Las Vegas Aces Star Candace Parker Headed to Basketball Hall of Fame

Parker, Delle Donne, Holdsclaw, and 1996 Olympic team among 2026 inductees

Apr. 5, 2026 at 4:56pm

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Former Las Vegas Aces forward Candace Parker, along with Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw, and the 1996 U.S. Olympic women's basketball team, will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame later this year. Parker, a three-time WNBA champion with three different teams, will be joined by other inductees including NBA coach Doc Rivers and Gonzaga's Mark Few.

Why it matters

Parker's induction into the Hall of Fame recognizes her storied career, which includes two NCAA titles at Tennessee, two Olympic gold medals, and two WNBA MVP awards. Her selection, along with other pioneering women's basketball players, highlights the growing prominence and impact of the women's game.

The details

Parker won three WNBA titles with the Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky, and Las Vegas Aces. She is the only player in league history to win both MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season. Delle Donne, a two-time WNBA MVP, led the Washington Mystics to their first championship in 2019. Holdsclaw won three straight NCAA titles at Tennessee from 1996-98.

  • The enshrinement ceremony will take place in August 2026 at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The players

Candace Parker

A former forward for the Las Vegas Aces who won three WNBA championships with three different teams and was the only player in league history to win both MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season.

Elena Delle Donne

A two-time WNBA MVP who led the Washington Mystics to their first championship in 2019, becoming the first player in league history to shoot over 50% from the field, 40% from 3-point range, and 90% from the free-throw line.

Chamique Holdsclaw

Won three straight NCAA titles at Tennessee from 1996-98, including the Vols' first undefeated season at 39-0 in 1998, and went on to have an 11-year WNBA career.

1996 U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team

The dominant U.S. women's basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

Doc Rivers

An NBA coach with 1,192 career victories, putting him sixth on the all-time wins list, and led the Boston Celtics to the NBA championship in 2008.

Mark Few

The head coach at Gonzaga who has won over 770 games at the school and set the NCAA Division I men's coaching record by winning 81 games in his first three years.

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What they’re saying

“Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw and the 1996 U.S. Olympic women's basketball team will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame later this year.”

— DOUG FEINBERG, Author

What’s next

The enshrinement ceremony for the 2026 Basketball Hall of Fame class will take place in August in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The takeaway

The induction of these pioneering women's basketball players and teams into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is a significant milestone that recognizes the growing prominence and impact of the women's game. Their accomplishments on and off the court have paved the way for future generations of players.