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Ten years after legendary Tennessee coach Pat Summitt died, two of the greatest players in Lady Vols history — Candace Parker and Chamique Holdsclaw — will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend in Springfield, Massachusetts.
“I know Pat’s smiling down that we’re going to walk in together,” Parker mentioned in June at her Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame induction.
Holdsclaw introduced Parker for that honor, but then Parker — who is nine years younger — turned the tables to praise Holdsclaw in her speech. Between them, they led the Lady Vols to five NCAA titles (1996, 1997, 1998, 2007 and 2008) and both were WNBA No. 1 draft picks, Rookies of the Year and Olympic gold medalists.
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“When I saw you stop on a dime and pull up for a jump shot, the way you moved, your bravado, your New York style of basketball — it made me want to play basketball and wear orange,” Parker mentioned of Holdsclaw. “I’m so glad you’re going to get your flowers [at Naismith] because it’s long overdue.”
For her part, Holdsclaw mentioned of Parker, “What we witnessed over the years is somebody who has continued to knock down every bar placed in front of her. Every expectation, every limitation, every stereotype about what women’s basketball could be. She changed the way the game looks.”
Parker and Holdsclaw will enter the Naismith Hall on Saturday along with Elena Delle Donne and the 1996 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team, a group that includes former Lady Vols Carla McGhee and the late Nikki McCray. Amar’e Stoudamire, Doc Rivers, Mark Few, Mike D’Antoni and official Joey Crawford also will be inducted.
Like Parker, Delle Donne went into the women’s hall in June. They both spoke then about how much they admired and were motivated by each other during their overlapping seasons in the WNBA.
Here is a look at what stands out the most about the women’s Naismith inductees and how they much they have moved the sport forward.
The U.S. women went 52-0 in their pre-Olympic tour in 1995-96 and then won their games in Atlanta by an average of 28.6 points. Rick Stewart/Allsport/Getty ImagesWhy the 1996 U.S. Olympic team is a Hall of FamerIt’s not hyperbole to say this group might be the most important team in women’s basketball history. With its pre-Olympic tour in 1995-96 and run to the gold medal in the Atlanta Games, the U.S. squad paved the way for the 1997 start of the WNBA, which this summer is celebrating its 30th season. That team’s success also launched the ABL in 1996. Though that women’s pro league was short-lived, it contributed to lasting professional women’s basketball in the United States as most of the ABL’s players moved on to the WNBA in 1999.Along with McGhee and McCray, the U.S. team members were Jennifer Azzi, Ruthie Bolton, Teresa Edwards, Venus Lacy, Lisa Leslie, Rebecca Lobo, Katrina McClain, Dawn Staley, Katy Steding and Sheryl Swoopes.Tara VanDerveer, who took a season away from her Stanford team, coached the Americans. The United States had taken bronze in the 1992 Olympics and the 1994 World Cup (then called the World Championship), which were disappointing results that alarmed USA Basketball. So the organization and the NBA combined to put together a women’s “Dream Team” similar to what had been done with the U.S. men in the 1992 Olympics using NBA stars.The U.S. women went 52-0 in their pre-Olympic tour in 1995-96 and then won their games in Atlanta by an average of 28.6 points. They dominated Brazil 111-87 for the gold medal Aug. 4, 1996.”It’s amazing that I did not have to have a one-on-one with one single player about attitude, effort, anything,” VanDerveer told ESPN. “They all bought in at such a high level, it was just incredible.”They really cared for each other; they really worked hard. And I don’t think I’m having 20/20 hindsight or glossing stuff over. I mentioned the same thing the year of it [happening]. It was hard, and we did stuff that they had not had to do before in terms of training. That was a time, I think, that women became proud of muscles. They became strong and fit.”That team also started what is now a run of eight consecutive Olympic gold medals by the U.S. women. The only major international competition the Americans have lost since 1996 was in the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup, where they took bronze. The United States will attempt to win its 12th FIBA World Cup gold in September in Germany.Many of the players on the current U.S. roster weren’t even born when the 1996 team triumphed in Atlanta; the oldest on the squad is Chelsea Gray, who was 3 at the time. But they know how important the 1996 team was.
“The mission was greater than anybody’s individual performance,” Azzi told ESPN. “Years later, no one remembers who did what. It’s really about all of us having a gold medal and changing history.”
Elena Delle Donne won a WNBA title with Washington in 2019, when she had the league’s first 50-40-90 season M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesWhy Elena Delle Donne is a Hall of FamerDelle Donne has written a series of books for youngsters inspired by her journey as the tallest kid in class trying to find her place in sports and life. But people of all ages can find inspiration in Delle Donne’s story. After originally signing with UConn, she realized she wanted to stay closer to her family, especially her sister, Lizzie, who is blind, deaf and has cerebral palsy and autism. So Delle Donne went to Delaware, first taking a year away from basketball to address burnout. She instead played volleyball, then returned to hoops and scored 3,039 points in her college career for the Blue Hens.The 6-5 forward/guard was the 2013 No. 2 WNBA draft pick by the Chicago Sky, then Rookie of the Year, then a two-time MVP. She played in the WNBA Finals three times (once with the Sky, twice with the Mystics) and won a league title with Washington in 2019, when she had the league’s first 50-40-90 season (shooting field goals, 3-pointers and free throws). Delle Donne also won an Olympic gold medal in 2016. Throughout her career, she battled serious physical ailments such as Lyme disease and debilitating back issues.
Delle Donne, 36, would be a Hall of Famer on stats alone: She finished her career averaging 19.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists while also being the WNBA’s career leader in free throw percentage (93.7). Knowing the obstacles she conquered and the strength she showed along the way makes her all the more worthy of Naismith recognition.
The No. 1 WNBA draft pick by the Mystics in 1999, Chamique Holdsclaw was Rookie of the Year that season and led the league in scoring and rebounding in 2002. Robert Mora/NBAE via Getty ImagesWhy Chamique Holdsclaw is a Hall of FamerHoldsclaw was another key figure in that pivotal year of 1996 for women’s basketball. As a freshman, she helped lead Tennessee to the NCAA title in March and kept the sport’s momentum going forward after UConn’s 1995 perfect season. Holdsclaw was a dynamic mix of power, speed, leaping and agility as a 6-2 forward, a player who set a new bar for excitement in the women’s college game. For her Tennessee career, she averaged 20.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 51% from the field.Even with a program that had had several stars, she stood out. Holdsclaw won three consecutive national championships for the Lady Vols, then was the No. 1 pick in the 1999 WNBA draft by the Washington Mystics, where she spent six seasons. She was the 1999 Rookie of the Year and won Olympic gold in 2000. In her peak WNBA seasons — 2002 and 2003 — she averaged a double-double.
After three years with the Los Angeles Sparks following a trade from Washington, Holdsclaw didn’t play in the WNBA in 2008. She returned to finish with one season in Atlanta (2009) and one in San Antonio (2010). Holdsclaw averaged 16.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists for her WNBA career.
Holdsclaw, 49, also made a big impact as one of the first WNBA players to speak publicly about mental health and has continued to be an advocate for athletes in that area.
Candace Parker was known for her ability to play any position on the court, including point guard. Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY SportsWhy Candace Parker is a Hall of FamerMany current stars — including four-time MVP A’ja Wilson — cite Parker as a role model for how much she expanded the role of a forward. The 6-4 Parker was known for her ability to play any position on court, even point guard, as her ballhandling and passing were huge offensive weapons along with her more traditional post skills.
At Tennessee, she averaged 19.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists and led the way to back-to-back championships before being the top draft pick by Los Angeles in 2008. That was a jam-packed year for Parker, who was WNBA Rookie of the Year and MVP — the only player who has won both honors in the same season — along with helping the U.S. win gold in the Olympics. She also won Olympic gold in 2012.
Parker earned her second MVP in 2013 and then won her first league title in 2016, when she was WNBA Finals MVP for the Sparks. In 2021, she returned to her hometown of Chicago and won her second WNBA title. She finished her career in 2023 with Las Vegas, winning her third title.
Over 16 WNBA seasons, Parker averaged 16.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists. She was also the 2020 Defensive Player of the Year.
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