Headline News
CLASS OF 2011 ANNOUNCED
July 10, 2010 - The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame announced its 13th group of inductees, the Class of 2011, on ESPN during "WNBA vs. USA Basketball: The Stars at the Sun Game" at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. today. The six members of the Class of 2011 are: Val Ackerman (contributor), Ruthie Bolton (player), Vicky Bullett (player), Muffet McGraw (coach), Pearl Moore (player) and Lometa Odom (player).
"I know I speak on behalf of the entire Board of Directors when I say how proud we are, once again, of next year's class," said Jack North, President of the WBHOF Board of Directors. "These soon to be inductees represent a broad spectrum of the women's game, consistent with the Hall's objective to 'honor the past, celebrate the present and promote the future.' Our Board sincerely appreciates the relationship we have with the WNBA and ESPN and we're thankful for the opportunity to use their platform for this exciting announcement."
Click here to view the full Class of 2011 Press Release.
2010 Special Group Recognition
At this time we would like to recognize two groups that paved the way for the history of women’s basketball. As voted on by the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors, these two groups will be the first to receive a special display at the Hall of Fame where they are recognized for their contributions to the game. The display, entitled, “Trailblazers of the Game,” will grow annually as the Board of Directors votes to honor additional groups. This year’s recipients of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame’s Special Group Recognition are the Edmonton Grads and the Helms Savings and Loans Hall of Fame.
The Edmonton Commercial Graduates Basketball Club played in Canada from 1915-1940 tallying a record of 502 wins and just 20 losses. They were widely considered the greatest women’s team ever assembled, winning 18 Canadian Championships and 4 unofficial Olympic titles.
The Helms Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame was founded in 1936 to select national championship teams and All-American teams in a number of sports, including women’s basketball. The list of honorees includes some of the biggest names in the game, 12 of which are also Women’s Basketball Hall of Famers.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2010!
(L-R: Teresa Weatherspoon, Rebecca Lobo, Leta Andrews, Teresa Edwards, Gloria Ray, Chris Weller)
The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame held its 2010 Induction Weekend on June 11-12 in Knoxville, TN. The Class of 2010 (Leta Andrews, Teresa Edwards, Rebecca Lobo, Gloria Ray, Teresa Weatherspoon and Chris Weller) were honored for a lifetime of achievements in women's basketball and joined an already prestigious group of inductees to be recognized by the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
2010 4Kay™ Run/Walk
(L-R: Susan Yow, Teresa Edwards, Chris Weller, Gloria Ray, Rebecca Lobo, Pat Summitt, Teresa Weatherspoon, Leta Andrews)
The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame teamed up with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund™ and the Knoxville Track Club to host its second annual 4Kay™ Run/Walk in Knoxville, TN on June 12. Proceeds benefit cancer research through the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund™.
Click here for more information about the WBHOF 4Kay™.
Congratulations to the Class of 2009!
Jennifer Azzi, Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, Jennifer Gillom, Sonja Hogg, Jill Hutchison and Ora Washington (represented by great-niece Brenda Hogue) are Women's Basketball Hall of Famers!
In a weekend full of festivities, the Class of 2009 was recognized for a lifetime of achivements in women's basketball and received the coveted "Eastman" award as the newest group of inductees into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. With the Class of 2009, the WBHOF now proudly boasts 109 inductees.
The weekend began with a private welcome reception, unveiling of exhibits in the Hall of Honor and storytelling session hosted by ESPN's Debbie Antonelli. Saturday's events started bright and early as the WBHOF hosted its inaugural 4Kay™ Run/Walk in memory of the late Women's Basketball Hall of Famer Kay Yow. Approximately 300 people showed up to remember Kay Yow and all of those who have courageously battled breast cancer. All proceeds went to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund™. Marsha Sharp, Executive Director of the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund™ and 2003 WBHOF inductee, was in attendance to start the race with a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
Finally, Saturday night, the Class of 2009 hit the red carpet at the Bijou Theatre and was officially inducted into the women's Basketball Hall of Fame. Antonelli, who is also on the WBHOF Board of Directors, served as the Mistress of Ceremonies. As the inductees thanked all the influencial people in their lives and spoke about their journey to the WBHOF, there was not a dry eye in the theatre.
The weekend concluded with a celebration at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame!
The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame would like to thank the following sponsors for helping to make the weekend such a great success:
• All Occasion Catering
• All Occasions Party Rentals
• Bill Jones Music
• BlueCross BlueShield
• Charter Communications
• EASTMAN
• Honey Baked Ham
• Journal Broadcast
• Knoxville News Sentinel
• US Lawns
• Walkers Formal Wear
• WBHOF Board of Directors
•WVLT
Names in the News
Geno Auriemma
Connecticut Head Coach Geno Auriemma (Class of 2006) has led the Huskies to third straight Final Four and will face Baylor (led by Hall of Famer Kim Mulkey) in the 2010 National Semifinal game in San Antonio.
Auriemma was named the 2009 Naismith Women's College Basketball Coach of the Year and 2009 WBCA National Coach of the Year after leading the Huskies to the National Championship and a perfect 39-0 season.
Auriemma has also recently been named the head coach of the 2012 Olympic Women's Basketball Team.
Jody Conradt
The Jody Conradt Endowed Excellence Fund, named for legendary coach Jody Conradt (Class of 1999), has been established at The University of Texas of Austin to inspire and instruct students on the importance of leadership and equity and to promote faculty research in that area.
Nancy Lieberman
Nancy Lieberman (Class of 1999) will receive the Bill Walsh Champion of Change Award for her charitable work and trailblazing efforts for women’s athletics. She is the first woman to receive the award, which will be given out as part of the third annual Sports, Business and Philanthropy Luncheon on Tuesday, December 8 in NYC.
Bill Wall
Bill Wall (Class of 2004) was recently inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City.
Kay Yow
Kay Yow (Class of 2000), was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame's Class of 2009 in Poland last month.
Pat Summitt
Pat Summitt (Class of 1999, WBHOF Board member) made history when the Lady Vols beat Georgia 73-43 on Feb. 5 at Thompson Boling Arena. The win, marked No. 1,000 for Summitt's career, making her the first college coach, in men's or women's basketball, to reach the milestone.
The WBHOF unveiled a special exhibit in the Hall of Honor, "From the Sidelines to the Summitt," to recognized Summitt's 1000th victory. The display contains the outfit that Summitt was wearing in the win (suit, orange blouse and shoes), the game ball, autographed clipboard/newspapers, streamers from the celebration and various other memorabilia from the historical event.
Summitt was named recipient of the 2009 WNBA Inspiring Coach Award, an award that honors coaches who have positively influenced athletes across numerous levels and whose achievements leave an indelible mark on sports as a whole.
Andy Landers/Sylvia Hatchell
Gergia Coach Andy Landers (Class of 2007) and North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell (Class of 2004) both collected their 800th career victories in the month of January. Landers' 800th win came on Jan. 15 when Georgia beat Savannah State 74-28. Hatchell's milestone victory came on Jan. 11 when North Carolina defeated NC State 75-66 (OT). Congratulations to both members of the WBHOF family!
Lurlyne Greer Rogers
Lurlyne Greer Rogers (Class of 2004 inductee) was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame on Feb. 13, 2009 in North Little Rock.
Carolyn Bush Roddy
Carolyn Bush Roddy (WBHOF Board member) was inducted into the Wayland Baptist College Hall of Fame on February 22. Click here for the full release.
