| |
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame announces 12 Hall of Fame finalists
KNOXVILLE - The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame announced its 12 finalists in consideration for induction into its Hall of Fame during the Baylor at Connecticut game on ESPN (7:00 p.m. ET). The 12 finalists for the Class of 2020 are: Debbie Brock (Veteran Player), Doug Bruno (Coach), Carol Callan (Contributor), Swin Cash-Canal (Player), Tamika Catchings (Player), Sue Donohoe (Contributor), Lauren Jackson (International Player), Lucille Kyvallos (Veteran Coach), Lisa Mattingly (Official), Paul Sanderford (Coach), Bob Schneider (Coach), and Carol Stiff (Contributor).
The Class of 2020 will be selected from the 12 finalists and announced on ESPN2 during the February 10, 2020 Connecticut at South Carolina game (7:00 p.m. ET).
In addition to the announcement of the 12 finalists, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame announced its recipient for the "Trailblazers of the Game" award that is given to teams or organizations for their contributions to the game of women's basketball. The 2020 "Trailblazers of the Game" recipient is the 1980 United States Olympic Women's Basketball Team. The 1980 United States Olympic Women's Basketball Team will join ten other teams and organizations that have been recognized as "Trailblazers of the Game" by the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
The 1980 United States Olympic Women's Basketball Team includes; Carol Blazejowski (Class of 1999), Denise Curry (Class of 1999), Anne Donovan (Class of 1999), Tara Heiss (Class of 2003), Kris Kirchner, Debra Miller, Cindy Noble Hauserman (Class of 2000), LaTaunya Pollard (Class of 2001), Jill Rankin Schneider (Class of 2008), Rosie Walker (Class of 2001), Holly Warlick (Class of 2001), Lynette Woodard (Class of 2005), Sue Gunter (Head Coach, Class of 2000), Pat Summitt (Assistant Coach, Class of 1999), and Betty Jo Graber (Manager, Class of 1999).
Below is the timeline for the Class of 2020 and 2020 Trailblazers of the Game:
• January 9, 2020: Announce Class of 2020 12 Finalists and 2020 Trailblazers of the Game Recipient - 1980 US Olympic Team during the Baylor at Connecticut game on ESPN.
• February 10, 2020: Announce the Class of 2020 on ESPN2 during the Connecticut at South Carolina game (7:00 p.m. ET). Induction tickets go on sale at www.WBHOF.com.
• March/April 2020: Introduce Class of 2020 and 2020 Trailblazers of the Game Award recipient at media events conducted at the 2020 NCAA Women's Final Four and Women's Basketball Coaches Association National Convention (New Orleans, LA).
• June 13, 2020: Induction of Class of 2020 and recognition of 2020 Trailblazers of the Game Award recipient (Knoxville, TN).
Tickets for the 2020 Induction Ceremony will go on sale immediately following the announcement of the Class of 2020 on February 10, 2020. For more information regarding tickets and ticket packages, please visit www.WBHOF.com. The Class of 2020 will mark the 22nd group of inductees to be honored by the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, which held its grand opening and inaugural induction in 1999. The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame currently has 171 Hall of Fame inductees.
The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Directors serves as the selection committee in determining the individuals to be inducted each year. Voting is based on minimum candidate requirements, which include record of performance, national or international recognition, and contributions to the game of women's basketball.
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame - Class of 2020 Finalists
(The following bio capsules highlight a few major accomplishments, but not the comprehensive contributions these individuals have made to women's basketball.)
DEBBIE BROCK (Veteran Player)
• Point guard for 3-Time AIAW National Champion Delta State University (1975, 1976, 1977), and one of 12 players recognized by the NCAA at the 2013 Women's Final Four Championship for her dynamic play during her AIAW career
• 1978 - Kodak All-American
• 1988 - Inducted into the Delta State Sports Hall of Fame
DOUG BRUNO (Coach)
• Head coach for 33 years at DePaul University, guiding them to 24 NCAA Tournament appearances
• Three-time Big East Coach of the Year (2014, 2016, 2017) and three-time WBCA Regional Coach of the Year (2004, 2005, 2017)
• Six-time Gold Medalist Coach with USA Basketball
CAROL CALLAN (Contributor)
• Currently the USA Basketball Women's National Team Director (Since 1996). She has directed gold medal-winning teams in six straight Olympic Games
• Currently serving on the National Team Steering Committee (Chair), National Team Player Selection Committee (Chair), and the Developmental National Team Committee (Chair)
• Currently serves as President of FIBA Americas and is a member of the FIBA Competitions Commission
SWIN CASH-CANAL (Player)
• Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist (2004, 2012)
• Three-time WNBA Champion (2003, 2006, 2010), four-time WNBA All-Star (2003, 2005, 2009, 2011), and two-time WNBA All-Star Game MVP (2009, 2011)
• Guided the University of Connecticut to two NCAA National Championships in 2000 and 2002
TAMIKA CATCHINGS (Player)
• Four-time Olympic Gold Medalist (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016)
• Guided the Indiana Fever to the 2012 WNBA Championship en route to being named the 2012 WNBA Finals MVP
• While at the University of Tennessee, she was named the 2000 WBCA Player of the Year, 2000 Naismith College Player of the Year, the 2000 AP Player of the Year and the 2000 USBWA Women's National Player of the Year
SUE DONOHOE (Contributor)
• Served as the Vice President of NCAA Division I Women's Basketball from 2003 to 2012
• She was the Director of NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship (2002-2003) and was the Director of NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship (1999-2002)
• 2019 WBCA Lifetime Achievement recipient, 2017 Dave Dixon Award recipient and Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inductee
LAUREN JACKSON (International Player)
• Two-time WNBA Champion with the Seattle Storm (2002, 2010)
• Eight-time WNBA All-Star and three-time WNBA MVP
• Guided Australia Women's National Basketball Team to three Olympic silver medals (2000, 2004, 2008) and one Olympic bronze medal (2012)
LUCILLE KYVALLOS (Veteran Coach)
• Served on the United States Olympic Committee from 1969 to 1972 and from 1974 to 1976
• Holds a .810 winning percentage in her collegiate coaching career with an overall record of 311-73
• Inducted into the Springfield College Athletics Hall of Fame, the Queens College
• Athletics Hall of Fame, the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame, and the West Chester State College Hall of Fame
LISA MATTINGLY (Official)
• As an official for 33 years, she has officiated the NCAA Women's Final Four Championship game ten times (2001-2007, 2009, 2011, 2014) and the semifinals seven times (1999, 2000, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018)
• Officiated the WNBA League Championship Series from 2000 to 2007 and the WNBA League Finals from 2002 to 2006
• Recipient of the 2002 Naismith Award for Outstanding Official
PAUL SANDERFORD (Coach)
• 25 Seasons as a collegiate head coach with a career record of 453-189 (.709)
• Led Western Kentucky to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances including 3 Women's Final Fours and was the 1992 NCAA Division I National Runner-Up
• Won a JUCO National Championship, was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 2000 and into the Western Kentucky University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008
BOB SCHNEIDER (Coach)
• All-Time coaching record of 1,045-293 (.781), with only 2 losing seasons in 40 years
• 3rd all-time in NCAA Division II history with 634 victories
• During his 12 years at Canyon High School (Canyon, TX), his teams won 5 state championships and finished runner-up 5 times
CAROL STIFF (Contributor)
• Currently ESPN Vice President for Programming & Acquisitions with emphasis on NCAA women's basketball, WNBA and other various women's sports
• 2011 WBCA Mel Greenberg Media Award winner
• Launched the Jimmy V Week and launched the Kay Yow Cancer Fund week assisting in $7.53 million in donations over 12 year to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
Published January 16, 2020 |
