Between them, Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne boast four MVP awards, four WNBA championships, two Rookie of the Year honors, and thirteen All-Star selections—a combined legacy of dominance that has defined generations of women’s basketball. Now, these two icons stand on the cusp of another monumental shared milestone: first-ballot eligibility for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2026.

Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne are included in the shortlist that will be eligible to be voted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. They could be enshrined in Springfield, Massachusetts, next year. The entire Class of 2026 will be unveiled on national television during the Final Four Weekend in April. 

“The candidates for the Class of 2026 have each left an indelible impact on the game of basketball,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “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.”

A seven-time WNBA All-Star and two-time league MVP (2008 and 2013), Parker made history as the only player ever to capture Rookie of the Year and MVP in her debut season. She stands alone in WNBA annals as the sole athlete to secure championships with three separate franchises: the Los Angeles Sparks in 2016, the Chicago Sky in 2021, and the Las Vegas Aces in 2023.

A two-time Olympic gold medalist, Parker retired before the 2024 season as arguably the greatest women’s basketball player ever. Her impact remained consistent even after retirement. She moved into broadcasting and has been heavily investing in basketball.

Parker is among the newly minted women’s basketball league Project B. Her voice is prevalent in men’s college basketball and the NBA. In 2023, she became the first woman to serve as a color commentator for an NBA All-Star Game.

Delle Donne has also had a comparable impact. She 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.

She braved injuries throughout her career, including three bulging discs, during the 2019 WNBA finals. The two-time MVP led Chicago to multiple playoff appearances and later moved to the Mystics. 

Off the court, Elena Delle Donne is already influencing the next generation. In September 2025, USA Basketball appointed her as the first Managing Director of the USA 3×3 Women’s National Team.

She also continues in her role as special advisor to Monumental Basketball, the parent company of the Washington Mystics. Their path to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame follows the standard eligibility timeline rather than a rare exception.

The Hall recently reduced the waiting period for players to two full seasons after retirement. With Candace Parker retiring in April 2024 and Delle Donne in April 2025 (after last playing in 2023), both became first-time eligible for the Class of 2026.

Parker, meanwhile, continues to honor the Tennessee roots where her storied career began under the guidance of Pat Summitt.

Candace Parker Reminisces Former Coach After Reunion With Dawn Staley And Co. 

Candace Parker, Nikki Fargas, Andraya Carter, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, and ESPN’s Holly Rowe spent two hours sharing stories about the late Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt during a live reunion show by Omaha Productions on December 11.

They reminisced as old friends in front of a live audience. The group shared laughter and a few tears over the memory of the coaching legend who passed away in 2016. 

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The panel was flanked by 8 of Summitt’s national championship trophies on stage, with nets draped over each one, as they recounted being recruited by Summitt, seeing both her competitiveness and care for them, and how they were impacted by witnessing her fight with Alzheimer’s. 

“Just to be there and kind of like remember um her legacy to be in Knoxville, it was unbelievable. So, super special to be a part of that. So, I can’t wait for you all to see it. Omaha Productions produced it, and I can’t wait to see the finishing touches of it,” Parker said on the Post Moves Podcast. 

Parker is also formally affiliated with the Pat Summitt Foundation as an Honorary Co-Chair and is listed as a leader. She plays a crucial role in raising awareness about the foundation and its vital work.

Parker herself has a philanthropic venture, the Candace Parker Foundation. It focuses on investing in social impact organizations and youth uplift through initiatives like its Glass Ceiling Grants.

Moments like that underline why Parker’s candidacy resonates: the résumé is elite, but the influence runs deeper.