Who created the bronze statue in the entrance to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame?

Artist Elizabeth MacQueen, an internationally recognized sculptor, was commissioned by the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame to create the statue. The sculpture is approximately 17 feet tall and 12 feet wide and represents the past, present and future of the game.

The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame called on two coaching greats, one from the past and one from the present, to help create the larger-than-life bronze sculpture that greets visitors at the entrance to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. The sculpture was made possible by a gift from the Eastman Chemical Company.

Nell Fortner, coach of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team, and Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Billie Moore, who guided the USA to a silver medal in the 1976 Olympics, traveled to San Luis Obispo, California, to assist the sculptor in creating the bronze sculpture.

Why is the Hall located in Knoxville?

Knoxville is located at the intersection of I-40 and I-75, which is within a day's drive of 60 percent of the U.S. population. In addition, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is 25 minutes to the Southeast of Knoxville, is host to more than 10 million tourists. Add that to the support women's basketball enjoys in Knoxville and East Tennessee, and you have a recipe for a successful tourist attraction.

Another reason is that Gloria Ray, President/CEO of the Knoxville Sports Corporation, stepped forward and raised the financial support necessary to build the $9.3 million project.

What are the procedures for induction?

The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Directors serves as the Selection Committee and determines which individuals will be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

Anyone may nominate an individual for consideration as a candidate for induction into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame by submitting any supporting materials (statistical information, letters of recommendation, etc.) to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. These materials will then be forwarded to the individuals on the Selection Committee.

Nominations may be submitted in either player, coach, referee, or contributor category; may be from the national, international, and/or veteran ranks; and may represent any level or phase of women's basketball.

Voting shall be based on various factors, which may include moral character, integrity, sportsmanship, record of performance, ability, national or international recognition and contributions to the game of women's basketball.

Race, religion, creed, politics, geographic location and phase of basketball represented shall not be factors of consideration when evaluating candidates.

Contributors shall be evaluated on the significance of their contributions to women's basketball whether on a voluntary basis or performing the duties of a salaried person.

To be eligible the nominees shall have the following prerequisites:

Players shall be retired from their highest level of play for at least five (5) years. Coaches shall have coached the women's game at least twenty (20) years. Referees shall have officiated the women's game at least ten (10) years. Contributors shall have significantly impacted the game of women's basketball.