WNBA legends Thompson, Holdsclaw among members of 2018 HOF

Last month, 10 finalists were announced for who could have made the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2018.

Today at intermission of tNo. 1 UConn against No. 4 Louisville game, those members who made the list were announced as follows:

Katie Smith (US player)

Smith is a former star in the WNBA where she helped the Detroit Shock win two titles in 2006 and 2008; she also was named the WNBA Finals MVP when she led the Shock to its second title. Prior to being a standout in the top league in the world, Smith was a star at Ohio State.

Smith finished her Buckeye career as the Big Ten’s all-time leading scoring for both the men and women’s game.

The New York Liberty head coach stated the following on her Instagram:

“I am humbled and honored to be chosen as a member of such a prestigious group of athletes who have given their all for this game we love. Basketball has taken me from Logan, Ohio to places I never would have dreamed. I am grateful to everyone who has touched my life through this sport All of this would not have happened without the love and support form my family.....they are my rock.”

Chamique Holdsclaw (US player)

Holdsclaw is an 11-year vet of the WNBA where she played for the Washington, Atlanta, Los Angeles, as well as San Antonio and was named an All-Star six times. In her rookie season with the Mystics, Holdsclaw took the league by storm as she was named the Rookie of the Year and later in her career was crowned the WNBA’s 2002 scoring champion.

Before entering the league, Holdsclaw played under the late-great Pat Summitt where she helped the Lady Vols win the first-ever back-to-back-to-back titles (1996-1998). She also topped her career off at Tennessee as the program’s leading point scorer (3,025 points) as well as the top rebounder (1, 295).

“Humbled by the honor of being among such great company in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2018. Thank you to the Board of Directors, my family, friends, fans, and my lord and savior, that blessed me with such a gift in basketball and allowed me to share that gift with the world. To have lived this incredible journey and then to be acknowledged in this way is an indescribable feeling. Sincerely, to the game I love, and to all, THANK YOU! #thankyouCoachSummitt #thankyougrandma #HOF2018 #astoriasfinest #wbhof2018

— Via Holdsclaw’s Instagram

Tina Thompson (US player)

When the league first started the Houston Comets were unstoppable and a huge reason for that was because of Thompson. In fact, she was the first overall pick when the WNBA started 22 years ago. She went on to help the Comets set a league record with four consecutive WNBA titles. Until last season, Thompson was still the league’s all-time leading scorer, but now she is second after Diana Taurasi broke her record.

Outside of Houston, she also played in Los Angeles and Seattle before she elected to retire from playing. As a former player at the University of Southern California, Thompson led her teams to an overall record of 77-37 in four years which included three trips to the NCAA Tournament in 1994 (Elite Eight), 1995 and 1997.

She currently is in her third year as an assistant at Texas.

Ceal Barry (coach)

Barry is a former coach for the Colorado Buffs were she led the team for 22 years. Under her, the Buffs made 12 NCAA Tournament appearances which went to the Elite Eight round three times and the Sweet 16 six times. Across all sports at Colorado, Barry is the all-time winningest coach with 427 wins.

Rose Marie Battaglia (veteran, contributor)

Battaglia coached for 38 years in New Jersey at either the high school level or at a junior college. When Anne Donovan — a two-time Olympic gold-medal winner and WNBA championship coach — was in high school, she was coached by Battaglia. During her coaching career, Battaglia appeared in four NJCAA Final Four runs and finished with an overall record of 702-240.

Chris Dailey (assistant coach)

Dailey has been Geno Auriemma's top assistant for the past 33 years. Former and past players, even Auriemma, have raved about the impact she has had during her time with the Huskies and where the program has gone.

“CD is incredible for this program,” senior guard Kia Nurse said in a report. “You come here, you meet her, you’re in the program and you see what she does every day — her ability to do the team-building stuff, the off-the-court stuff, and make sure you’re ready to enter the real world after you leave this place.”

Dailey has helped UConn win 11 National Championships.

Mickie DeMoss (assistant coach)

DeMoss is another Lady Vol being inducted into the Hall of Fame this year joining Holdsclaw. Working under Summitt, DeMoss helped Tennessee to six NCAA title runs and 13 trips to the Final Four.

She started her coaching career at Memphis State in 1977. Outside of coaching for the Lady Vols, DeMoss also spent time as a head coach at Florida and Kentucky while sharing time at Auburn, Texas, Louisiana Tech and the WNBA’s Indiana Fever as an assistant coach.

Currently, she still is coaching as she is on the sidelines at LSU under Nikki Fargas who also is a former Lady Vol.

“It is a tremendous honor to be selected into this class of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.“ Basketball continues to be a big part of my life. I’ve had so many great opportunities to work with so many outstanding coaches and players. Being in the Class of 2018 is truly an honor.”

-Via the Advocate

The Hall of Fame induction will take place June 9 in Knoxville, Tennessee.