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Swin Cash, Tamika Catchings, Lauren Jackson will be inducted as part of Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2020

Photo Credit: WBIR-TV

To everyone that has already been enshrined into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame – seven more are preparing to join that exclusive sorority.

As No., 5 UConn squared off against No. 1 South Carolina, a special announcement was made during the game on ESPN2 that there would be seven new enshrines into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

Those enshrinees are Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings, Lauren Jackson, Debbie Brock, Carol Callan, Sue Donohoe and Carol Stiff. In addition, the 1980 U.S. Women’s Olympic Team will be the 2020 Trailblazer of the Game recipient.

Cash played for five teams – the Detroit Shock, Seattle Storm, Chicago Sky, Atlanta Dream and New York Liberty. She won three WNBA titles – two in Detroit and one in Seattle. Cash’s resume also includes four WNBA All-Star appearances and two Olympic gold medals. She now occupies a front office position with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Catchings played the entirety of her W career in Indiana with the Fever. In 2002, she won the Rookie of the Year award then 10 years later, brought a WNBA championship to the basketball-loving Hoosier State. She also took home Finals MVP honors that year. Catch is also a 10-time All-Star in addition to a four-time Olympic gold medalist. She is now the Fever’s general manager.

Jackson also played her entire WNBA career with one team – the Seattle Storm after she was selected by Seattle first overall in the 2001 draft. She guided the Storm to two WNBA titles and is also a five-time All-Star with the WNBL along with winning four WNBL MVP awards and four WNBL Grand Final MVPs. She also was part of three silver medal-winning Australian Opals Olympic teams. She now is the head of women for Basketball Australia.

Debbie Brock was a point guard for Delta State University that claimed three AIAW national titles. She also attracted recognition for her accomplishments at the 2013 NCAA Women’s Final Four – also in New Orleans. Brock is a member of the Delta State Sports Hall of Fame.

Callan is currently the national team director for USA Basketball and has served in that role since 1996. Throughout her tenure, she has presided over the USA Basketball Women’s National Team winning gold medals at the 1996 (Atlanta), 2000 (Sydney), 2004 (Athens), 2008 (Beijing), 2012 (London) and 2016 (Rio de Janeiro) Olympics.

Sue Donohoe was the Vice President of NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball for nearly a decade. Before she assumed that role, she was the director of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship from 2002 to 2003 and was the director of the Division I Women’s Basketball Championship from 1999 to 2002. Donohoe is already in one sports hall of fame – the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, meaning this upcoming Final Four will be familiar territory for her.

Carol Stiff is ESPN’s Vice President for Programming and Acquisitions. She primarily works with women’s sports – including the WNBA. Stiff was once the recipient of the WBCA Mel Greenberg Award. She is credited with launching Jimmy V Week as well as the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and has helped in more than $7 million in donations to the Fund.

The 2020 Trailblazers of the Game recipient went to the USA Basketball Women’s National Team of 1980 that did not participate in that year’s Olympics because of the boycott of the USSR.

That team includes:

Carol Blazejowski (Inducted in Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999)

Denise Curry (Inducted in Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999)

Anne Donovan (Inducted in Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999)

Tara Heiss (Inducted in Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003)

Kris Kirchner

Debra Miller

Cindy Noble Hauserman (Inducted in Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000)

LaTaunya Pollard (Inducted in Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001)

Jill Rankin Schneider (Inducted in Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008)

Rosie Walker (Inducted in Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001)

Holly Warlick (Inducted in Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001)

Lynette Woodard (Inducted in Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005)

Sue Gunter (coach, Inducted in Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000)

Pat Summitt (assistant coach, Inducted in Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999)

Betty Jo Graber (manager, Inducted in Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999)

The new members as well as the Trailblazers of the Game Award recipient will be introduced at the Women’s Final Four and WBCA convention in New Orleans. The induction ceremony will occur in mid-June at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville.

Congratulations to all of the new Women’s Hoops Hall members!

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