A Historic Induction Class
The women's basketball community will gather in Knoxville, Tennessee, this summer to celebrate a distinguished class that includes Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Cheryl Reeve, Kim Muhl, Doris Burke, Amaya Valdemoro, Isabelle Fijalkowski and the late Barbara Kennedy‑Dixon.
Parker, a two‑time WNBA MVP and key figure in Tennessee’s two national championships, is set to be enshrined alongside Delle Donne, whose Olympic gold medal and second‑time MVP award cement her place among the game’s greats.
The ceremony will also honor Reeve, the most decorated coach in WNBA history with four Coach of the Year trophies and four championships with the Minnesota Lynx, as well as Muhl, who amassed 1,108 wins over 37 seasons at Kirkwood Community College.
Analyst Doris Burke, who transitioned from Big East men’s basketball coverage to become ESPN’s first full‑time NBA analyst in 2017, joins the roster of honorees, underscoring the expanding role of women in basketball media.
International contributors Valdemoro and Fijalkowski, who helped the Houston Comets secure three consecutive titles and set scoring records for the French national team respectively, round out the class, while Kennedy‑Dixon will be remembered posthumously for her dual legacy as a player and administrator at Clemson.
Later this summer, Parker and Delle Donne will also be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, a testament to their impact on and off the court.
The induction class reflects a broader narrative of growth, leadership and trailblazing that continues to shape the future of women’s basketball worldwide.