Contrary to what I suspect are the opinions of many of our regulars–especially the ones who believe the sports world begins at Wrigley and ends at Rate–with only a seasonal divergence to United Center–even I don’t like to perpetually drink from a firehose of sludge. And for basketball fans outside of perhaps the Main Line, lately there’s been little to be truly happy about. For this one, especially as the afterglow of the Knicks’ stirring championship run fades further and further into the gloamin’ stories about owners under federal investigation and women desperate to play into identity politics discourse just don’t cut it.
That’s why I was especially happy to realize that the sport had relocated its Hall of Fame enshrinment weekend from the early days of September to this past weekend, immediately following the NFL’s version in Canton and within shouting distance of baseball’s pomp and circumstance in Cooperstown. A weekend in the Berkshires this time of year may be a tad warmer than usual but the Springfield setting grows all the more nostalgic and idyllic as the years pass and the sport’s global hold continues to mushroom. And that’s especially true as the WNBA is turning the corner into its fourth decade and its relevance in history is also growing.
That was especially evident in the class of 2026 that received its laurels Saturday night. Not only were stalwart alumni like Elena Della Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw and Candace Parker receiving their just dues, but arguably the team that elevated the league itself to the possibility of existence was collectively immortalized. And nowhere was this clearer than in the mind of one of the sport’s more astute observers, the KNOXVILLE NEWS-SENTINEL’s Cora Hall:
The WNBA as we know it wouldn’t exist without the efforts — and wins — of the 1996 U.S. Olympic team, which at long last finds its place in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
That team won the first Olympic gold medal of a run that is ongoing — at the 2024 Paris Games, the U.S. women won their eighth consecutive gold, the longest such streak by any team sport. But the 1996 team also carried the weight of proving women’s professional basketball could thrive in the U.S., a test it passed with flying colors.
“It’s long overdue. I think sometimes in our history, you know, we don’t really reach back,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said Aug. 14, a day before the NaisImith Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement for the 2026 class at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts. “But how it turned out and who I’m going in with means the world to me. All of them, we are sisters that are joined by hard work and success, and sometimes that’s not often rewarded. But this is great that we’re being rewarded in this way.”
I have particularly warm memories of this squad as I actually attended early round games in Atlanta of this tournament. I wasn’t quite able to see the U.S. team itself; those tickets were even then a bit pricey. But the halo effect of attention made even the Australia-Japan elimination round match that I did attend all the more thrilling. The Aussies eventually medaled after being our next-to-last victim and then emerging with hardware after taking down Cuba 66-55 in perhaps the only situation where a third place game actually matters. So for me it was a doubly satisfying outcome and grew my interest in the sport exponentially.
The men that were enshrined were quite deserving as well, none less than this icon that USA TODAY’s Elizabeth Flores specifically shouted out:
NBA coach Doc Rivers is another inductee, recognized for his 27 seasons as a head coach. Rivers’ career highlights include leading the Boston Celtics to an NBA championship in 2008 and more than 1,000 career coaching wins while leading the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks.
And in addition this touching presence of a lion in winter:
Among those selected for enshrinement by the North American Committee is Joey Crawford, one of the longest-tenured officials in NBA history, who served as a referee for 39 seasons from 1977 to 2016.
Seeing the now-frail Crawford and his literal support wife walk the red carpet almost a bit bewildered but basking in the honor was exactly the kind of imagery I needed to have my palate cleansed of the gunk it’s been dealing with in recent days. And hearing both Holdsclaw and Della Donne proudly thank the purely emotional support of their wives as simple gratitude and not a lecture or cause was hopefully a reminder to the current crop who seem otherwise determined to if not shut up and dribble in the pejorative sense at least place those skill sets ahead of the ones they lately don’t seem inclined or capable of downpedaling on.
At a time when good news was all the more desired, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame came to the rescue. You might even say it was a peach of a time.
Courage…