Candace Parkeris widely regarded as one of the best women's basketball players of all time with three WNBA championships, two league MVPs, one Finals MVP, and seven All-Star selections to her name.
Is first-ballotNaismith Basketball Hall of Famernext?
Parker is one of dozens of candidates eligible for the Class of 2026, which will be unveiled on April 4 during Final Four Weekend. Elena Delle Donne, Blake Griffin and the 1996 USA Basketball Women's National Team are among the first-time nominees announced Friday, while Chamique Holdsclaw, Doc Rivers and Amar'e Stoudemire return to the ballot.
"The candidates for the Class of 2026 have each left an indelible impact on the game of basketball," Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame President and CEO John L. Doleva said in a statement. "Through defining performances, influential leadership, and achievements that helped elevate the sport on the national and international stage, this year's ballot recognizes those whose legacy continues to shape how the game is played, coached, and celebrated."
Parker and Delle Donne were both elected to theWomen's Basketball Hall of Fame'sClass of 2026 in their first year of eligibility in October and will be inducted on June 27, 2026.
Parker, who retired in 2024, played 16 seasons in the WNBA. She was a two-time WNBA MVP, a three-time champion and a 10-time All-WNBA selection. Parker's No. 3 jersey was retired by theLos Angeles Sparksand Chicago Sky during the summer.
Parker won WNBA Rookie of the Year and MVP in 2008, the only player to accomplish the feat. She's also the only WNBA player to rank in the top 10 in career points, assists, rebounds and blocks. Parker led Tennessee to back-to-back national championships in 2007 and 2008, winning Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four both years.
Delle Donne helped the Washington Mystics to their only title in 2019. The two-time MVP became the first player in WNBA history to finish a regular season with a 50% field goal percentage, 40% 3-point field goal percentage and 90% free throw percentage during the 2019 season.
Sacramento Monarchs center/forward Yolanda Griffith won MVP in 1999.
Connecticut Sun forward Jonquel Jones won MVP in 2021.
Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike won MVP in 2016.
Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings won MVP in 2011.
Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles won MVP in 2012.
Chicago Sky guard/forward Elena Delle Donne won MVP in 2015 and 2019.
Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi won MVP in 2009.
Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles won MVP in 2017.
Seattle Storm forward Breanna Stewart won MVP in 2018 and 2023.
Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker won MVP in 2008 and 2013.
Minnesota Lynx forward Maya Moore won MVP in 2014.
Seattle Storm forward Lauren Jackson won MVP in 2003, 2007 and 2010.
Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie won MVP in 2001, 2004 and 2006.
Houston Comets guard Sheryl Swoopes won MVP in 2000, 2002 and 2005.
Houston Comets guard Cynthia Cooper won the MVP award in 1997 and 1998.
Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson won MVP in 2020, 2022 and 2024." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> All-time WNBA MVPs, ranked 1-16
Sacramento Monarchs center/forward Yolanda Griffith won MVP in 1999.
The Class of 2026 finalists will be revealed on Feb. 9. Here's a look at the ballot:
2026 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Ballot
* Indicates First-Time Nominee
North America Nominees
Women's Nominees
1996 United States Women's National Team (TEA)*
Leta Andrews (COA)
Jennifer Azzi (PLA)
Lynn Norenberg Barry (CONT)*
Lisa Bluder (COA)
Elena Delle Donne (PLA)*
Cheryl Ford (PLA)
Wanda Ford (PLA)
Bridgette Gordon (PLA)
Chamique Holdsclaw (PLA)
Bettye McClendon (REF)
Suzie McConnell (PLA)
Taj McWilliams-Franklin (PLA)
Candace Parker (PLA)*
Ticha Penicheiro (PLA)
Ruth Riley (PLA)
Tom Shirley (COA)*
Michelle Snow (PLA)*
Mike Thibault (COA)
Marian Washington (COA)
Chris Weller (COA)
Andrew Yosinoff (COA)
Men's Nominees
Rick Barnes (COA)
Gene Bartow (COA)
Tom Chambers (PLA)
Jamal Crawford (PLA)*
Joey Crawford (REF)
Terry Cummings (PLA)
Bobby Dibler (REF)
Mark Few (COA)
Robert Foley (COA)
Mike Gminski (PLA)
Blake Griffin (PLA)*
Anfernee Hardaway (PLA)
Herman Harried (COA)*
Robert Horry (PLA)
Marques Houtman (PLA)
Joe Johnson (PLA)*
Kevin Johnson (PLA)
Marv Kessler (COA)
Bill Laimbeer (PLA)
Mike Leonardo (COA)
Maurice Lucas (PLA)
Jack Madden (REF)
Shawn Marion (PLA)
Rollie Massimino (COA)
Bob McKillop (COA)
Gary McKnight (COA)
Paul Mihalak (REF)*
Steve Moore (COA)
Bill Morse (COA)
Dick Motta (COA)
Tom Murphy (COA)*
Jack Nagle (COA)
Bruce Pearl (COA)*
Jim Phelan (COA)
Donald Richardson (COA)
Doc Rivers (COA)
Dave Robbins (COA)
Lee Rose (COA)
Brandon Roy (PLA)*
Kelvin Sampson (COA)*
Scott Skiles (PLA)*
Harry Statham (COA)
Amar'e Stoudemire (PLA)
Jerry Welsh (COA)
Buck Williams (PLA)
Shelden Williams (PLA)*
Contributor Nominees
Marv Albert
Pete Babcock
Bernie Bickerstaff
Tal Brody
Vic Bubas
Tremaine Dalton
Mike D'Antoni*
Bill Duffy
Mike Fratello
Bob Gibbons
Roberto Gonzalez
Simon Gourdine
Tim Grgurich
Dennis Jackson
Junius Kellogg
Johnny "Red" Kerr
Dan Lynch
Elmo Mahoney*
Ken Mahoney*
Jack McCloskey
Jon McGlocklin
Alex McKechnie*
Johnny Most
Dennis Murphy
Curly Neal
Jim Riswold
Ermer Robinson*
Will Robinson
Gene Shue
Otis "Dino" Smiley
Scott Tarter
Sonny Vaccaro
Donnie Walsh
World Wheelers
International Nominees
David Blatt (COA)
Jean-Jacques Conceicao (PLA)
Mirza Delibasic (PLA)
Jorge Garbajosa (PLA)
Marc Gasol (PLA)
Andrew Gaze (PLA)
Panagiotis Giannakis (PLA)
Giuseppe Giergia (PLA)
J.R. Holden (PLA)
Dusan Ivkovic (PLA)
Andrei Kirilenko (PLA)
Vladimir Kondrashin (COA)
Marcos Leite (PLA)
Ettore Messina (COA)
Juan Carlos Navarro (PLA)
Andres Nocioni (PLA)
Fabricio Oberto (PLA)
Jose Ortiz (PLA)
Amaury Pasos (PLA)
Modesto Palauskas (PLA)
Togo Soares (PLA)
Penny Taylor (PLA)
Amaya Valdemore (PLA)
Ranko Zeravica (COA)
Women's Veteran Nominees
1982 Cheyney State NCAA Final Four Team (TEA)
Molly Bolin (PLA)
Alline Banks Sprouse (PLA)
Edmonton Commercial Grads (TEA)
Fort Shaw Indians School (TEA)
John Head (COA)
Yolanda Laney (PLA)
Nashville Business College (TEA)
Patsy Neal (PLA)*
Lometa Odom (PLA)
Hazel Walker (PLA)
Rosie Walker (PLA)*
Valerie Walker (PLA)
Veteran Nominees
1936 US Men's National Team (TEA)
1972 US Men's National Team (TEA)
1976 US Men's National Team (TEA)
Frank J. Basloe (CONT)*
Malcolm Brown (PLA)
Boid Buie (PLA)
Mack Calvin (PLA)
Jim Chones (PLA)
Jack Coleman (PLA)
Don Donoher (COA)
Leroy Edwards (PLA)
Leo Ferris (CONT)
World B. Free (PLA)
Travis Grant (PLA)
Bobby "Showboat" Hall (CONT)
Cam Henderson (COA)
Robert Hopkins (PLA)
Marques Johnson (PLA)
Roger Kaiser (PLA)*
Larry Kenon (PLA)*
Kentucky Wesleyan 1966, 1968, 1969 (TEA)
Butch Lee (PLA)
Abe Lemons (COA)
Henry Logan (PLA)
Loyola of Chicago 1963 (TEA)
Billy Markward (CONT)
Bill Melchionni (PLA)
Francis Meehan (PLA)
Lucias Mitchell (COA)
Richard Mullins (PLA)
Willie Naulls (PLA)
Ben Newman (CONT)
Don Otten (PLA)
Louis Pieri (CONT)
William J. Reinhart (CONT)
Mel Riebe (PLA)
Glenn Roberts (PLA)
Holcombe Rucker (CONT)
Kenny Sailors (PLA)
Bernard "Red" Sarachek (CONT)
Fred Schaus (CONT)
Paul Silas (PLA)
Ralph Simpson (PLA)
Dick Van Arsdale (PLA)
Tom Van Arsdale (PLA)
Cleo Vaughn (PLA)
Lambert Will (CONT)
Gus Williams (PLA)
John Williamson (PLA)
Max Zaslofsky (PLA)
Contributing: Heather Burns
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne on Basketball Hall of Fame ballot
