Candace Parker is widely regarded as one of the best women’s basketball players of all time with three WNBA championships, two league MVPs, one Finals MVP, and seven All-Star selections to her name.

Add first-ballot Basketball Hall of Famer to the list.

Parker will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026 during an induction ceremony at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts on Saturday, Aug. 15, alongside Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw, Doc Rivers, Amar’e Stoudemire, Mike D’Antoni, Mark Few, Joey Crawford and the 1996 USA Basketball Women’s National Team.

USA TODAY Sports is providing live coverage of the Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday, including speeches, highlights and more. Here is everything you need to know to get ready:

Mike D’Antoni says he’s the ‘luckiest man in the world’

Through his 16 NBA seasonsas a head coach, Mike D’Antoni racked up nearly 1,200 career wins. He was named NBA Coach of the Year twice (2005 and 2017). He served as an assistant coach for the gold medal-winning 2012 U.S. Olympic Team and was also recognized as one of the 50 Greatest Contributors in EuroLeague history in 2008.

His wife Laurel, however, teases about one accomplishment he fell short of. 

“Laurel, you’ve been my greatest partner and supporter,” D’Antoni said. “I know you’re especially excited about the incredible 1996 Women’s National team inducted tonight. You’re one of the biggest supporters of women’s basketball and someone who was gifted a Phoenix Mercury Championship ring. And she reminds me, at least somebody in our house got a ring.”

Many of the D’Antoni’s former players were in attendance for his Hall of Fame induction, including Steve Nash (Class of 18), Amar’e Stoudemire (’26), Jeremy Lin and James Harden, who D’Antoni took time to acknowledge. 

“We signed this long-haired Canadian soccer player, Steve Nash. Steve, I am proud that your two MVP titles with the (Phoenix) Suns. All of you guys, all of you guys are the reason why coaching is so rewarding,” D’Antoni said of Nash, who he coached in Phoenix (2003–2008). He then turned his attention to Harden, who he coached in Houston (2016–2020): “(James Harden’s) one of the most skilled players I’ve ever coached, and I appreciate the trust he gave me.”

He added, “The Hall of Fame is about leaving an impact and mine is simple. We made the game a little faster, a little brighter, and a heck of a lot more fun. Luckiest man in the world. Spent my life doing what I love alongside people I love.”

Longtime NBA referee Joey Crawford quotes Muhammad Ali

Joey Crawford officiated 2,561 regular-season NBA games over 39 seasons, including a record 374 playoff contests and 50 NBA Finals games. He worked in 23 consecutive NBA Finals before retiring in 2016 at the age of 63.

“As the great Muhammad Ali once said, it ain’t bragging if you did it,” Crawford said during his induction speech, drawing a loud applause.

Crawford credited his father with showing you could make a living as a referee. Crawford’s father, Shag Crawford, served as a MLB umpire for two decades.

“I didn’t have to look very far for my inspiration to become an NBA ref. He was standing right in front of me. It was my dad,” Crawford recalled. “He umpired more than 3,000 games, three World Series. At a young age, I would ask my mom, ‘Where’s dad?’ … She would pull out the newspaper and she’d tell me Chicago, where the Cubs are, the Dodgers in LA, St. Louis Cardinals. She laid it all out for me. And then she would say, ‘Joseph, this is how we pay the bills.’

“That’s when it came to me. Oh my Lord, you could actually make a living doing this.”

Chamique Holdsclaw pays tribute to late Pat Summitt

Chamique Holdsclaw will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame alongside the 1996 USA Basketball Women’s National Team, the very team that “made me believe that this dream could become a reality.”

“I have to honor and acknowledge a team that changed everything for me. The 1996 United States Olympic team,” Holdsclaw said in her induction speech on Saturday, Aug. 15. “Teresa Edwards, Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, Dawn Staley. Those were the women whose posters were on my wall. Black women, strong, confident, dominant, graceful… And standing here tonight, it feels full circle.”

Holdsclaw selected Tamika Catchings (Class of 2020), Tina Thompson (‘18) and Teresa Weatherspoon (‘19) as her presenters, and they all stood by Holdsclaw’s side. But there was one presenter Holdsclaw wished could have joined her at Symphony Hall.

“One person I wish was here tonight as my presenter, my demanding and wonderfully supportive college coach, Pat Summit, the one and only,” said Holdsclaw, who played under Summitt at Tennessee from 1995–1999. “Coach Summit allowed me to grow as both the player and the person. She stood by me 10 toes down during life’s highs and lows. She showed me a conditional love and support. Also showed me support is not defined. Family is not defined by blood. I miss her dearly.”

What time is the Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony?

The Class of 2026 Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. ET at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Class of 2026 will walk the red carpet ahead of the ceremony, starting at 6 p.m. ET.

Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony: TV, streaming

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 15
• Time: 7 p.m. ET
• Location: Symphony Hall (Springfield, Mass)
• TV: NBA TV
• Stream: Fubo

The first woman to appear on the cover of SLAM Magazine, Holdsclaw was a six-time All-Star, a three-time All-WNBA selection, a two-time league-rebounding champ and the scoring champ in 2002. Selected No. 1 overall out of Tennessee, she was the Rookie of the Year in 1999 and helped Team USA win gold at the 2000 Olympics. Holdsclaw twice averaged a double-double in seasons for the Washington Mystics and finished in the top 10 of MVP voting six times in her career.

Elena Delle Donne is in the building

Elena Delle Donne, the 6-foot-5 unicorn from Delaware, donned a white tuxedo for her induction.

Mike D’Antoni arrives

The inductees are arriving and leave it to longtime head coach Mike D’Antoni to be the first to arrive.

Stream the 2026 Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony on Fubo

Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen spotted on red carpet

Kevin Garnett stopped on the red carpet to take a photo with fans ahead of the Class of 2026 Hall of Fame induction ceremony, where he will serve as a presenter for former head coach Doc Rivers. Rivers coached Garnett on the Boston Celtics from 2007 through 2013, winning an NBA championship together in 2008.

Ray Allen was also on hand to support Rivers. Allen was on the Celtics’ championship squad in 2008 and played under Rivers from 2007-2012.

2026 Hall of Fame Inductees, presenters

• Joey Crawford – Danny Crawford (Class of 2025), Rod Thorn (‘18)
• Mike D’Antoni – Jerry Colangelo (‘04), Bob McAdoo (‘00), Steve Nash (‘18), Amar’e Stoudemire (‘26), Rod Thorn (‘18)
• Elena Delle Donne – Sylvia Fowles (‘25), Marianne Stanley (‘22)
• Mark Few – John Calipari (‘15), Grant Hill (‘18), John Stockton (‘09)
• Chamique Holdsclaw – Tamika Catchings (‘20), Tina Thompson (‘18), Teresa Weatherspoon (‘19)
• Candace Parker – Tamika Catchings (‘20), Allen Iverson (‘16), Cheryl Miller (‘95), Dwyane Wade (‘23)
• Doc Rivers – Kevin Garnett (‘20), Paul Pierce (‘21)
• Amar’e Stoudemire – Jerry Colangelo (‘04), Mike D’Antoni (‘26), Grant Hill (‘18), Tracy McGrady (‘17), Steve Nash (‘18), Rick Welts (‘18)
• 1996 USA Basketball Women’s National Team – Teresa Edwards (‘11), Lisa Leslie (‘15), Rebecca Lobo (‘17), Katrina McClain (‘12), Dawn Staley (‘13), Sheryl Swoopes (‘16), Tara VanDerveer (‘11)

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