A New Chapter in Women's Basketball
The recent ceremony at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame celebrated the induction of eight new members, a class that blends pioneering coaches, dominant players and trailblazing administrators.
Coach Cheryl Reeve, who guides the Minnesota Lynx, stands one victory away from surpassing all previous coaches as the winningest leader in league history, a milestone she attributes in part to the late Speedy Morris, under whom she first learned the game at La Salle University.
Elena Delle Donne, the former WNBA MVP and No. 2 overall pick in 2013, reflected on an emotional journey that was shaped by her sister’s support and was introduced on stage by longtime mentor Marianne Stanley, a former Immaculata star and assistant on the 2019 Washington Mystics championship staff.
Candace Parker, a two‑time league MVP herself, used her acceptance speech to honor the late Pat Summitt, the legendary Tennessee coach whose influence continues to ripple through the careers of today’s stars.
The inductees also include international stars and influential figures whose contributions have expanded the game’s reach, underscoring the Hall’s role as a repository of the sport’s evolving narrative.
Beyond individual accolades, the ceremony highlighted the growing infrastructure that supports women’s basketball, from collegiate programs at institutions such as La Salle University and the University of Delaware to the global platforms broadcast by ESPN and the WNBA.
As the hall’s walls fill with new portraits, the message is clear: the future of women’s basketball is built on the foundations laid by those who have long been shaping the game from the sidelines and the locker room.