Amar’e Stoudemire is among the nine new members inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for 2026.
INDIANAPOLIS (April 4, 2026) – The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has revealed the Class of 2026, featuring nine inductees who will be celebrated during the Enshrinement festivities on August 14-15. The announcement took place in Indianapolis, host city of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Final Four, and was broadcast live on ESPN2.
NAISMITH BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2026
North American Committee (in alphabetical order): Joey Crawford [Referee], Mark Few [Coach], Doc Rivers [Coach], Amar’e Stoudemire [Player]
Women’s Committee: 1996 United States Women’s National Team, Elena Delle Donne [Player], Chamique Holdsclaw [Player], Candace Parker [Player]
Contributors Committee: Mike D’Antoni
“The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to welcome the Class of 2026, a group that reflects the very best this sport has to offer,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
“From a referee who set the standard over four decades, to coaches who built dynasties at every level, to players who redefined their positions, to a visionary who changed how the game is played — and a women’s class headlined by a national team that helped launch an entire league, alongside three of the most accomplished players the women’s game has ever seen — we are honored to welcome them to Springfield.”
The Class of 2026 will be enshrined during festivities in Springfield, Mass., the Birthplace of Basketball, as well as at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., on August 14-15. VIP packages and single-event tickets to the 2026 Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend are now available at hoophall.com/events/enshrinement-2026.
North American Committee:
JOEY CRAWFORD [Referee] – One of the longest-tenured and most accomplished officials in NBA history, Crawford served as an NBA referee for 39 seasons from 1977-2016. During his career, he officiated 2,561 regular-season games – second most to Hall of Famer Dick Bavetta – a record 374 playoff games and 50 NBA Finals games, working every Finals series from 1986- 2015. Crawford began officiating high school basketball in 1970 and gained professional experience in the Eastern Basketball Association before making his NBA debut at age 26.
MARK FEW [Coach] – One of the most successful coaches in college basketball history, Few has led Gonzaga to sustained national prominence. He guided the Bulldogs to NCAA championship game appearances in 2017 and 2021, 26 consecutive NCAA Tournament berths and 773 victories. Few is the winningest active coach by winning percentage and has recorded at least 20 wins in every season as Gonzaga’s head coach. He is a two-time Naismith Coach of the Year (2017, ‘21), won numerous West Coast Conference titles, and was an assistant coach for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team that took home the gold medal.
DOC RIVERS [Coach] – Rivers has amassed more than 1,180 wins in 27 seasons as an NBA head coach with the Orlando Magic (1999-2003), Boston Celtics (2004-13), Los Angeles Clippers (2013-20), Philadelphia 76ers (2020-23), and Milwaukee Bucks (2023-present). He led the Celtics to a pair of NBA Finals appearances, winning the championship in 2008, and was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2000. A former NBA All-Star point guard during his 13-year playing career, Rivers recently moved into sixth place on the NBA’s all-time coaching wins list, passing George Karl, while his 114 playoff victories rank fourth all-time.
AMAR’E STOUDEMIRE [Player] – A six-time NBA All-Star (2005, ‘07-11) and 2003 NBA Rookie of the Year, Stoudemire averaged 21.4 points and 8.3 rebounds during his first eight seasons with the Phoenix Suns (2002-10) before signing with the New York Knicks (2010-15). The ninth overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft directly out of high school, Stoudemire earned five All-NBA selections and was a key figure in Phoenix’s “Seven Seconds or Less” era. He successfully returned from microfracture knee surgery that limited him to three games in 2005-06 and averaged over 20 points and 8 rebounds in each of the next three seasons, including a career-high 25.2 points in 2007-08. Stoudemire finished his 14-year NBA career (2002-16) averaging 18.9 points and 7.8 rebounds.
Women’s Committee:
1996 UNITED STATES WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM – The 1996 United States Women’s National Team captured the gold medal at the Atlanta Games, finishing with an undefeated 8-0 record and an average margin of victory of more than 30 points. Coached by Tara VanDerveer, the team featured a roster that included future Hall of Famers Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Dawn Staley, Teresa Edwards, Rebecca Lobo, and Katrina McClain. The squad’s dominant performance helped elevate the global profile of women’s basketball and contributed to the launch of the WNBA later that year.
ELENA DELLE DONNE [Player] – A two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player (2015,‘19), Delle Donne starred for the Chicago Sky and Washington Mystics and led Washington to its first WNBA championship in 2019. Delle Donne, who was named to the WNBA’s 25th Anniversary Team in 2021, was a seven-time All-Star and four-time All-WNBA First Team selection, and selected as the league’s Rookie of the Year in 2013. A two-time First-Team All-American at the University of Delaware, Delle Donne was selected second overall in the 2013 WNBA Draft and won an Olympic gold medal with the U.S. team at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.
CHAMIQUE HOLDSCLAW [Player] – A six-time WNBA All-Star (1999-03,‘05), Holdsclaw was the first overall pick in the 1999 WNBA Draft after leading Tennessee to three consecutive NCAA national championships (1996-98). The 1999 Rookie of the Year and 2002 scoring champion averaged 16.9 points and 7.6 rebounds across her 11-year WNBA career with the Washington Mystics (1999-04), LosAngeles Sparks (‘05-07), Atlanta Dream (‘09), and San Antonio Silver Stars (‘10). Holdsclaw, who won an Olympic gold medal in 2000, was a two-time Naismith College Player of the Year (1998, ‘99) and finished as the SEC’s all-time leading scorer. She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.
CANDACE PARKER [Player] – One of the most accomplished players in women’s basketball history, Parker is a three-time WNBA champion (2016, ‘21, ‘23) and two-time league MVP (2008, ‘13), earning Finals MVP honors in 2016. She is the only player in WNBA history to be named Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season (2008) and was also recognized as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2020. A seven-time WNBA All-Star and All-WNBA First Team selection, Parker starred collegiately at Tennessee, winning two NCAA national championships (2007-08), and is a two-time Olympic gold medalist (2008, ‘12).
Contributors Committee:
MIKE D’ANTONI – An important figure in the evolution of modern basketball, D’Antoni influenced the game through innovation via his up-tempo, space-and-pace philosophy that helped redefine offensive strategy, emphasizing ball movement, shooting and efficiency, and shaping the analytics-driven era of the sport. D’Antoni’s impact spans continents, having coached professionally in Italy for eight seasons before bringing his ideas to the NBA, where he amassed nearly 1,200 career wins. He was named NBA Coach of the Year twice (2005, ‘17), served as an assistant coach for the gold medal-winning 2012 U.S. Olympic Team, and was recognized as one of the 50 Greatest Contributors in EuroLeague history in 2008.
About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame:
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches, and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 475 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo “Court of Dreams. ” Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates more than 150 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum, and events, visit hoophall.com, and follow @hoophall #26HoopClass.
