Two more Lady Vols greats are headed for basketball immortality this weekend.
Candace Parker and Chamique Holdsclaw will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class, with ceremonies taking place in Springfield, Mass., and at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn. They’ll be joined by the 1996 U.S. Women’s National Team, a group that includes the late Nikki McCray-Penson and Carla McGhee.
“The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to welcome the Class of 2026, a group that reflects the very best this sport has to offer,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “From a referee who set the standard over four decades, to coaches who built dynasties at every level, to players who redefined their positions, to a visionary who changed how the game is played - and a women’s class headlined by a national team that helped launch an entire league, alongside three of the most accomplished players the women’s game has ever seen - we are honored to welcome them to Springfield.”
Parker and Holdsclaw are now the second and third former Lady Vols players to enter the Hall, joining Tamika Catchings. The three are already members of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, and each has had her number retired by Tennessee.
The Lady Vols’ Hall of Fame footprint runs deeper than that. Pat Summitt was inducted as a coach in 2000, right in the middle of her run of dominance, and later joined former Lady Vols Cindy Brogdon and Patricia Roberts in 2023 as players on the 1976 U.S. Olympic Team.
Also going in this weekend is the late Nancy Darsch, who was on Summitt’s Lady Vols staff from 1978-85 and served as an assistant under Tara VanDerveer on the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team that will also be inducted.
Coverage begins at 7pm ET on Saturday.
In Other News...
Tennessee Made A Classy Off-Field Move Fans Will Appreciate
Tennessees switch from Nike to Adidas is more than a branding change for the Volunteers. After 10 seasons with Nike, the school moved on to a new official uniform and merchandise partner, and in the process found a practical way to give its old football gear a second life. Much of the previous equipment, including jerseys, pants and shoes, was donated to Carson-Newman, keeping a big chunk of it right here in East Tennessee.
Carson-Newman players have already been seen wearing the hand-me-down gear, which gives the move a nice local twist for fans who like seeing the program connected to the community. It is the kind of off-field gesture that does not change what happens on Saturdays in Knoxville, but it does say something about how the university handled the transition and where some of that old Tennessee equipment ended up. [Read more 🡒]
Nico Iamaleava Just Gave Tennessee Fans A Surprising Leadership Reflection
Nico Iamaleavas path has already taken a sharp turn from where Tennessee fans first knew him. He spent 2023 behind Joe Milton III, then opened the 2024 season as the Vols starting quarterback before moving on to UCLA in 2025 after disputes and missed practices changed the course of his time in Knoxville.
What makes his latest leadership reflection stand out is the backdrop around him now. UCLA has gone through a difficult season that ended with DeShaun Fosters firing, while Tennessee has kept moving forward with Joey Aguilar running the offense under Josh Heupel. For Vols fans, it is another reminder of how much can change in a year, and how Iamaleavas story still hangs over both programs in different ways. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Awaits A Huge 2028 QB Decision That Could Spark Its Class
Tennessees 2028 quarterback board is about to get a little clearer, and possibly a lot more interesting, with a major decision looming this week. Craft is set to make his college commitment live Monday afternoon from Lake Norman High School in North Carolina, with the announcement streamed on Rivals YouTube channel, giving the Volunteers a chance to land one of the most important early pieces in that cycle.
The timing matters because Tennessee still does not have a commitment in its 2028 class, and neither does Oregon, another program in the mix. Crafts finalists also include Florida, LSU, Ole Miss and Michigan, so the Vols are battling a familiar national group for a player who could help set the tone for how their class develops from here. [Read more 🡒]