WBHOF Class of 2026

June 29, 2026 — On June 27, 2026, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame enshrined eight legends of basketball at the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville. Baron® Championship Rings was proud to be there, crafting the rings that mark this Moment. The Class of 2026 is headlined by names that rewrote the record books:

• Candace Parker is the only player in WNBA history to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season.
• Elena Delle Donne, whose 97.4% free throw percentage in 2019 stands as one of the most remarkable shooting seasons in basketball history.
• Cheryl Reeve, who led the Minnesota Lynx to four Championships and guided Team USA to Olympic gold in Paris.
• Alongside them are international legends Amaya Valdemoro and Isabelle Fijalkowski
• Trailblazing broadcaster Doris Burke
• Powerhouse Community College coach Kim Muhl
• The posthumous honoring of Clemson icon Barbara Kennedy-Dixon.

Eight stories.

Eight Legacies.

One ring to carry it all.

Candace Parker didn’t just play the game; she changed it. The Tennessee legend won back-to-back NCAA Championships in 2007 and 2008 under Coach Pat Summitt, earning Most Outstanding Player honors both times at the University of Tennessee.

She entered the WNBA as the #1 overall pick in 2008 and immediately made history, becoming the only player ever to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. She’d win MVP again in 2013.

Three WNBA Championships followed on three different teams — the LA Sparks (2016), the Chicago Sky (2021), and the Las Vegas Aces (2023) — along with two Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012), seven All-Star selections, and a Defensive Player of the Year award in 2020.

After 16 seasons, Parker retired in April 2024 as one of the most decorated players the sport has ever seen.

Cheryl Reeve has built one of the most decorated coaching careers in women’s basketball history. She joined the Minnesota Lynx as Head Coach in 2010 and has never stopped winning.

Four WNBA Championships (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017). Four WNBA Coach of the Year awards (2011, 2016, 2020, 2024). Two Executive of the Year honors.

In 2022, she added President of Basketball Operations to her role with the Lynx. At the international level, she guided Team USA to FIBA World Cup gold in 2014 and 2016 as an assistant.

Then took the helm as Head Coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team from 2021 to 2024 — capping that run with Olympic gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Amaya Valdemoro built a Championship résumé that spans two continents. The Spanish star became a three-time WNBA Champion with the Houston Comets in 1998, 1999, and 2000 — back when the Comets were the most dominant team in the league.

She also won eight Spanish League titles, nine Spanish Cups, and three Russian Cups across a career that stretched well into the 2010s.

On the international stage, she won gold at the 2013 FIBA Women’s EuroBasket, earned EuroBasket MVP in 2007, and represented Spain at two Olympic Games (2004, 2008).

She was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2023 and the Spanish Hall of Fame in 2019.

Isabelle Fijalkowski made history before she ever set foot on a WNBA court; she was the first Frenchwoman ever drafted into the league, selected in 1997.

She played two seasons with the Cleveland Rockers, winning the Eastern Conference Championship in 1998. But her legacy goes far beyond the WNBA. Fijalkowski dominated European basketball for over a decade, winning five French League titles, two Italian League titles, and two EuroLeague Championships (1997, 2002).

She claimed the French League MVP award in both 1996 and 1997, the Italian League MVP in 1998 and 1999, and finished her international career as the all-time leading scorer for the French national team with 2,562 points in 204 games.

She won EuroBasket gold in 2001 to cap a remarkable international career.

Doris Burke didn’t just cover basketball; she opened doors that had never been opened before. She joined ESPN in 1991 and spent more than three decades becoming one of the most respected voices in the sport.

She was the first woman to call a New York Knicks game on radio and television (2000), the first woman to serve as primary commentator on a men’s college basketball conference package (2000), and the first woman hired as a regular NBA game analyst for a full ESPN season (2017).

In 2023, she became the first woman to serve as an analyst for the NBA Conference Finals and NBA Finals as part of ESPN’s lead broadcasting team.

Through it all, she remained a tireless Champion of the women’s game and one of its most recognizable voices.

Kim Muhl spent 36 years at Kirkwood Community College building something that defies belief. From 1989 to 2026, he compiled an overall record of 1,108–178, including a staggering home record of 464–35.

He led his teams to nine NJCAA Division II National Championships, 34 Regional finals, and 24 National tournaments. He produced 35 consecutive 20-win seasons, set an NJCAA DII record with 39 straight wins, and won 106 consecutive conference games between 2006 and 2011.

He was named Region XI Coach of the Year 23 times and Outstanding Coach of the Tournament nine times. He was inducted into the NJCAA Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.

Now, he takes his rightful place in the sport’s highest honor.

Barbara Kennedy-Dixon was a force at Clemson University before women’s basketball was even an NCAA sport. When the NCAA took over in 1982, she was the first Division I women’s scoring leader.

She finished her Clemson career with 3,113 points and 1,252 rebounds, making her one of only eight players in NCAA history with at least 3,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. She still holds Clemson and ACC single-season records for points (908), points per game (29.3), field goals (392), and rebounds (400) in a single season.

A three-time First Team All-ACC selection, two-time All-American, and two-time ACC Tournament MVP, she was inducted into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989 and the South Carolina Hall of Fame in 1998.

Her legacy in the sport is long overdue for this recognition.

Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026

The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 represents the very best this sport has to offer. From Championship-winning players who rewrote record books across the WNBA, NCAA, and international stages, to a coaching legend who built dynasties at every level.

A trailblazing broadcaster who opened doors for generations to come, and an unstoppable community college coach whose winning culture speaks for itself. This class is a celebration of the Journey, the Moment, and the Legacy that defines women’s basketball at its finest.

The WBHOF Class of 2026 includes Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Cheryl Reeve, Amaya Valdemoro, Isabelle Fijalkowski, Doris Burke, Kim Muhl, and Barbara Kennedy-Dixon.

Baron® is proud to honor their legacies as the official Hall of Fame Ring Provider and to recognize the achievements and contributions that continue to shape the future of the game.

• The IX Sports: Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Cheryl Reeve named to 2026 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame class
• ESPN: Parker headlines 2026 women’s hoops Hall of Fame class

Celebrate your legacy with a custom-designed Basketball Championship Ring or Hall of Fame Ring by Baron®.

As the trusted ring provider for the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Baron® delivers expertly crafted, custom designs that honor every Journey, Moment, and milestone

Start designing your custom ring today and let your story shine.

#yourjourney #yourmoment #yourlegacy

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Who was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026?

The WBHOF Class of 2026 includes Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Cheryl Reeve, Amaya Valdemoro, Isabelle Fijalkowski, Doris Burke, Kim Muhl, and Barbara Kennedy-Dixon.