Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne took the opportunity to express their deep appreciation for basketball during their Hall of Fame acceptance speeches. Both athletes highlighted the significant impact the sport has had on their lives, celebrated during their induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Parker brought a basketball to the stage when delivering her speech as part of the 2026 class. This distinguished group included the 1996 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team, Chamique Holdsclaw, NBA player Amar’e Stoudemire, NBA officials like Joey Crawford, and coaches such as Doc Rivers, Mike D’Antoni, and Gonzaga’s Mark Few.
“It felt strange to walk on the stage without the reason I’m here today,” said Parker, referring to the basketball. “We’ve accomplished a lot together: dunking against UConn, mastering that fadeaway shot, launching a signature shoe, and becoming the first woman to grace the NBA2K cover. We’re first-ballot Hall of Famers.” Parker’s accomplishments include three WNBA titles, two MVP awards, college championships at Tennessee, and two Olympic gold medals. She emotionally concluded, “our journey was destined to be a love story for 27 years.”
Delle Donne also dedicated her speech to the love of the game, reflecting on her career’s highs and lows. She acknowledged having perspective on life thanks to her sister Lizzie, who is blind and deaf. “She never played in front of huge audiences, never received ovations, and never gave interviews after victories. Yet, she’s the strongest person I know,” Delle Donne stated, tearing up. “Thank you all for supporting me.” Delle Donne won MVP titles in 2015 and 2019 and led the Washington Mystics to a WNBA championship. She made history as the first player with a shooting average over 50% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 90% in free throws.
During her speech, she humorously referenced actor Larry David, who was present, using his iconic line “pretty, pretty, pretty good.” Rivers, who introduced them, is known for his impressive record-winning 1,194 regular-season games as an NBA coach.
Holdsclaw remembered her time with the Tennessee team and thanked her teammates and coach Pat Summitt. “Coach Summitt, my demanding yet supportive guide, allowed me to grow significantly as both player and person. I miss her dearly,” Holdsclaw shared. She praised the legendary 1996 Olympic team, reflecting on their inspiration during her younger years. Holdsclaw enjoyed an 11-year WNBA career and was instrumental in Tennessee’s success during the late 1990s.
Few, as Gonzaga’s coach since 1999, led the team to numerous West Coast Conference championships and two NCAA title games. “Standing here is surreal,” Few explained. “I grew up in a small town, and reaching this point is astonishing.”
Joey Crawford officiated over 2,500 regular-season NBA games, plus nearly 400 postseason games, and fifty NBA Finals matches in his 39-year career, attaining his dream since adolescence.
Mike D’Antoni, having built his career in Italy, brought a rapid playstyle to the NBA with the Suns, working alongside Stoudemire, a fellow inductee.
AP Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg contributed to this story.