Lady Vols orange will be all over the Naismith Hall of Fame this summer with the induction of legends Chamique Holdsclaw and Candace Parker and Carla McGhee and the late Nikki McCray-Penson who played for the iconic 1996 U.S. Women’s National Team that won Olympic gold in Atlanta.

The foursome will double the Lady Vol representation in the Springfield, Massachusetts, shrine to basketball with the late Pat Summitt being enshrined in 2000; Tamika Catchings, Class of 2020 and officially inducted in 2021 due to the pandemic; and Cindy Brogdon and Patricia Roberts earning their place in 2023 as players on the 1976 U.S. Olympic Team, which won a silver medal in the debut of women’s basketball in the Olympics. Summitt also was honored as a member of that team.

Parker enters the hall on the first ballot after a high school, college, WNBA and overseas basketball career that saw her win multiple championships at every level.

“First, I want to congratulate everyone up here,” Parker said. “I’ve been inspired by each and every one of you. I think how many greats have worn that orange jacket and extremely humbled to be standing and sitting before you. I’m really appreciative of the women, especially the women that carried the torch.

“To my right, Chamique Holdsclaw, I was inspired by her and went to Tennessee because of her.”

Holdsclaw’s spot at Naismith became long overdue and she finally broke through in 2026.

“I’m holding so much gratitude to be here amongst legends, amongst giants,” Holdsclaw said. “It’s been such a journey from New York City, Queens, with dreams of being on the big stage, going to the University of Tennessee, and playing for Coach Pat Summitt. To go into the Hall of Fame with my sister, my friend Candace Parker is, oh, my God, just an unbelievable thing. Also, the ’96 Olympic team. I was a kid chasing these women for autographs. I had their posters on my wall. So, this is definitely a full circle moment for me.”

Springfield is officially known as the Birthplace of Basketball, and enshrinement will be held Aug. 14-15. The full video of the press conference with the 2026 inductees can be watched HERE.

An earlier column on this site made the case for Holdsclaw and can be read HERE. The hall also is missing Bridgette Gordon, who was a finalist in 2026, and also needs to break through in Springfield.

The other 2026 honorees are Elena Delle Donne, player; Joey Crawford, referee; Mark Few, coach; Doc Rivers, coach; Amar’e Stoudemire, player; and Mike D’Antoni, contributor.

Parker was 10 years old when the 1996 dream team, coached by Tara VanDerveer, went 8-0 with an average margin of victory of more than 30 points. The team also included Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Dawn Staley, Teresa Edwards, Rebecca Lobo and Katrina McClain.

Parker would be drafted No. 1 into the WNBA in 2008 by the Los Angeles Sparks, which was led by Lisa Leslie.

“I got to be teammates with Lisa Leslie my rookie year, and I learned so much,” Parker said. “We were nicknamed Smooth and Silk by (coach) Michael Cooper. To be able to play with different generations, I feel very lucky because I got to play with the past and the present. I learned so much from her. Dawn Staley, obviously what she’s done for the women’s game.”

Holdsclaw won a national title at Tennessee in 1996 a few months before the Atlanta Olympics and would go on to win two more in 1997 and 1998 and then a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. The two women who had a tremendous impact on Holdsclaw were her grandmother, the late June Holdsclaw, and Summitt.

“They would be proud of me because both of them pushed resiliency and pushing through,” Holdsclaw said. “I think that’s been a story of my journey, so they’re smiling down on me saying, way to go, girl.”

Maria M. Cornelius, a senior writer/editor at MoxCar Marketing + Communications since 2013, started her journalism career at the Knoxville News Sentinel and began writing about the Lady Vols in 1998. In 2016, she published her first book, “The Final Season: The Perseverance of Pat Summitt,” through The University of Tennessee Press and a 10th anniversary edition will be released June 16, 2026.