Diana Taurasi Headlines 2027 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Class

The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame announced its 2027 induction class on Thursday, Nov. 5.

The six-member class is headlined by Diana Taurasi, the WNBA's all-time leading scorer and the only player in league history to surpass 10,000 career points.

Taurasi retired on Feb. 25, 2025, after 20 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury.

She won three WNBA championships (2007, 2009, 2014), was named to the All-WNBA team 14 times, and led the league in scoring five times.

She also holds the WNBA career records for three-pointers made and free throws made.

Before her professional career, Taurasi played at the University of Connecticut, where she led the Huskies to three consecutive NCAA championships (2002, 2003, 2004).

She was twice named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player and was the consensus National Player of the Year in 2003.

Taurasi owns six Olympic gold medals — more than any other basketball player in the history of the Games.

She also won three FIBA World Cup gold medals and six EuroLeague championships while playing overseas in Russia and Turkey.

Joining Taurasi in the 2027 class is Sandy Brondello, the current head coach of the Toronto Tempo.

Brondello is a two-time WNBA championship coach.

She won her first title in 2014 with the Phoenix Mercury — the same season Taurasi was on that roster — and was named WNBA Coach of the Year that year.

She won her second title in 2024 with the New York Liberty, leading the franchise to its first championship.

Brondello also led the Australian Opals to an Olympic bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Games and two FIBA World Cup silver medals (2018, 2022).

On Oct. 20, 2026, she was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Brondello was named the first head coach of the expansion Toronto Tempo on Nov. 4, 2025, after her contract was not renewed by the Liberty.

In the Tempo's inaugural 2026 season, the team finished 11-33, ending with eight straight losses and only one win in its final 21 games.

Despite the record, the season had positives, including strong attendance and the emergence of breakout guard Marina Mabrey.

Brondello had made the WNBA playoffs in 12 consecutive seasons before missing the postseason in 2026.

She has made four WNBA Finals appearances in her coaching career.

As a player, Brondello was a one-time WNBA All-Star, a WNBL MVP, and a three-time Olympic medalist.

The third inductee is Mike Thibault, a three-time WNBA Coach of the Year.

Thibault coached the Connecticut Sun from 2003 to 2012 and later led the Washington Mystics from 2013 to 2022.

He won a WNBA championship with the Mystics in 2019.

Thibault is one of the winningest coaches in WNBA history.

The fourth inductee is Dee Kantner, a longtime WNBA referee.

Kantner officiated in the WNBA for more than two decades and is considered one of the league's most respected officials.

She also refereed in the NBA and in international competitions.

The fifth inductee is Dr. Judith Holland, the former director of women's athletics at UCLA.

Holland was a pioneer in the development of women's collegiate athletics and played a key role in advancing opportunities for female athletes at UCLA and nationally.

The sixth inductee is Molly Bolin Kazmer, nicknamed "Machine Gun Molly."

Bolin Kazmer is widely regarded as the greatest player in the history of the 6-on-6 version of girls' and women's basketball, which was popular for decades in states like Texas, Oklahoma, and Iowa.

As a senior at Moravia High School in Iowa, she averaged 54.8 points per game.

She later played professionally in the Women's Basketball League and became one of the sport's early stars.

"For nearly thirty years, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame has honored the greatest of the game, and we are thrilled to welcome these six inductees into the distinguished seats of the Hall of Fame," said Michelle Marciniak, CEO of the WBHOF, in a statement.

"Selection for this esteemed recognition celebrates the hard work, success, and record-breaking journeys for those to join this global class."

"We cannot wait to welcome the Class of 2027," Marciniak added.

The induction ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, June 26, 2027, in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame was founded in 1999 and is located in Knoxville.

It honors the greatest players, coaches, contributors, and officials in women's basketball history.

The 2027 class will be the 28th class inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Taurasi and Brondello have a shared history that makes their induction together especially notable.

Brondello coached Taurasi on the Mercury team that won the 2014 WNBA championship.

That season, Brondello was named Coach of the Year and Taurasi was the Finals MVP.

Both are among the most decorated figures in women's basketball history.

Taurasi's six Olympic gold medals are the most of any basketball player, male or female.

Brondello's coaching career spans two decades, including 14 seasons as a head coach in the WNBA.

The 2027 class represents a wide cross-section of women's basketball history.

It includes two elite scorers (Taurasi and Bolin Kazmer), two championship-winning WNBA coaches (Brondello and Thibault), a trailblazing referee (Kantner), and a pioneering administrator (Holland).

The announcement was made Thursday and was covered by multiple outlets, including CBC Sports, USA Today, and Sportsnet.

The Hall of Fame selection process involves a committee of experts who evaluate candidates based on their contributions to the sport.

Taurasi's induction was widely expected given her career achievements.

She is widely considered one of the greatest women's basketball players of all time.

Her 10,000-point milestone in the WNBA is a record that may stand for decades.