Uljana Semojonova, Class of 1999, passed away on January 8, 2026 at the age of 73. A Latvian basketball legend, Semjonova leaves behind an unparalleled legacy in the history of the game.
At 6’9’’, Semjonova kept a dominant presence on the floor. She spent 18 years competing for the Soviet Union national team and never suffered a loss during her international career. She helped lead the Soviet Union to Olympic gold medals in 1976 and 1980 and won the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket Championship ten consecutive times. Across her international and club career, Semjonova is widely regarded as the winningest player in women’s basketball history.
Semjonova’s impact extended far beyond her on-court achievements. She was named Latvia’s most popular athlete 12 times between 1970 and 1985, reflecting her profound influence and admiration at home and abroad. She was also a member of the inaugural class of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999.
To honor her life and legacy, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame will place a memorial wreath at her photo in the Hall of Honor for the next month as we mourn the loss of a truly great player and inductee.
