Former WNBA MVPs and champions Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne headline the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Tuesday.
Candace Parker is the only player in WNBA history to win championships with three different franchises, capturing titles with the Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky, and Las Vegas Aces. She remains the only player to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season, accomplishing the feat in 2008.
Parker's dominance extends beyond the WNBA. She won the dunk contest at the McDonald's All American Game in high school, before captured two NCAA championships at Tennessee. She later went on to add two Olympic Gold medals to her elite resume.
Elena Delle Donne joins Parker as a two-time league MVP, winning the honor in 2015 and 2019. She subsequently became the first WNBA player to finish a season shooting 50% from the field, 40% from 3-point range, and 90% from the free throw line. The sharpshooter led the Washington Mystics to its only WNBA title in 2019.
Parker and Delle Donne are just the latest WNBA icons to heed the Hall of Fame call. Last year, pro basketball superstars Sue Bird, Maya Moore, and Sylvia Fowles joined the Class of 2025.
Basketball Hall of Fame Sets August Enshrinement Ceremony
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame's enshrinement ceremony will take place this August in Springfield, Massachusetts.
