Dawn Staley calls 1996 Olympic team Hall of Fame induction long overdue

Dawn Staley expressed that the 1996 U.S. Olympic basketball team’s induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is 'long overdue' during the enshrinement ceremony on August 15, 2026, in Springfield, Massachusetts. The 1996 team is credited with establishing the foundation for the WNBA, starting the league’s first season in 1997. Staley, among other players, emphasized the team's role in proving the viability of professional women's basketball in the U.S. The Hall of Fame class also includes notable players like Chamique Holdsclaw and Candace Parker, who acknowledged the influence of the 1996 team's achievements on future generations of female athletes.

• 4:56 PMYahoo Sports — Dawn Staley says 1996 Olympic team entering Naismith Hall of Fame 'long overdue'