Hoops Happening: Will Ticha Penicheiro be enshrined in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame with the 2019 class?

The 12 finalists for possible induction into the Women’s Basketball of Hall of Fame have made enduring contributions to women’s basketball and should be celebrated for the lasting impact they’ve made on the game. Among the finalists, Ticha Penicheiro — who held the WNBA all-time assists record until Sue Bird dethroned her in 2017 — is one of the more well-known names for potential induction, along with Ruth Riley and Valerie Still.

But only a handful will be enshrined with the Class of 2019, and these inductees will be announced tonight — Monday, Feb. 4 — during ESPN2’s broadcast of the Baylor at Texas game, which tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Finalists for the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2019

Beth Bass

CEO of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (2001-2014)

Assisted in the launch of WBCA’s Think Pink campaign for breast cancer awareness (2007)

President’s Award from the National Association of Girls and Women in Sport (2004)

Debbie Brock

Point guard for three-time AIAW National Champion Delta State University (1975-1977)

One of 12 players recognized by the NCAA at the 2013 Women’s Final Four Championship

Kodak All-American (1978)

Inducted into the Delta State Sports Hall of Fame (1988)

Joan Cronan

Served as Women’s Athletics Director at Tennessee for 29 years, elevating Tennessee as one of the nation’s premier women’s athletics departments

Athletic Director of the Year by National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (2005)

First recipient of the NCAA President’s Pat Summitt Award (2017)

Nora Lynn Finch

Inaugural Chair of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee (1981-1988)

Member of several key NCAA committees, including the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee, the NCAA Division I Management Committee, and the NCAA Division I Championships Cabinet (Chair), as well as many other committee

The Atlantic Coach Conference’s (ACC) first female Assistant Athletics Director

Lucille Kyvallos

Served on the United States Olympic Committee (1969-1972) and (1974-1976)

Holds a .810 winning percentage in her collegiate 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

Ticha Penicheiro

Russian League Champion (2007), EuroLeague Champion (2007), Czech League Champion (2011) and Turkish League Champion (2012)

Four-time WNBA All-Star, seven-time WNBA assist leader, and named to the 2016 WNBA Top-20 Players of All Time

Two-time Kodak All-American (1997, 1998) and the Wade Trophy Winner (1998)

Ruth Riley

Olympic gold medalist (2004)

Two-time WNBA champion with the Detroit Shock (2003, 2006) and the 2003 WNBA Finals MVP

Naismith Player of the Year guiding Notre Dame to their first NCAA Division I National Championship (2001)

Carolyn Bush Roddy

Two-time NJCAA All-American at Hiawassee Junior College

Led Wayland Baptist Flying Queens to two AAU National Championships, leading the team in both scoring and rebounding both years

Texas Panhandle Player of the Year (1975)

Paul Sanderford

25 seasons as a collegiate head coach with a career record of 453-189 (.709)

Led Western Kentucky to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances including three Final Fours and was the 1992 NCAA Division I 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

All-time coaching record of 1,045-293 (.781), with only two losing seasons in 40 years

Third all-time in NCAA Division II history with 634 victories

During his 12 years at Canyon High School, his teams won five state championships and finished runner-up five times

Valerie Still

Kentucky’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder guiding the Wildcats to the 1982 SEC regular season and NCAA Tournament championships

Kodak/WCBA All-American at Kentucky (1982, 1983), and then led the Columbus Quest to back-to-back ABL Championships (1997, 1998)

First female to have her jersey retired at Kentucky, in any sport, and inducted in the charter class of the University of Kentucky’s Hall of Fame

Amy Tucker

Overall record of 889-183 in 32 seasons at Stanford as an assistant coach, associate head coach and head coach

During her tenure, Stanford has won two NCAA Division I National Championships, reached 13 Final Fours, 19 Elite Eights and 24 Sweet Sixteens

United Press International National Coach of the Year and Pac-10 Coach of the Year (1996)

The 2019 Trailblazer of the Game Award recipient will also be announced during tonight’s ESPN2 broadcast, and the new class will be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame on June 8, 2019 in Knoxville, Tenn.

Source for career highlights of the 12 finalists: Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

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More in the world of women’s basketball

Shakyla Hill has anointed herself quadruple-double queen in history-making fashion

The Grambling State senior is the first basketball player in NCAA history — man or woman — to record two quadruple-doubles.

Elsewhere:

• Karima Christmas-Kelly has signed with the Minnesota Lynx and apparently she is head coach Cheryl Reeve’s kind of player. Here’s why.
• In other Lynx free agency news, Minnesota has reportedly signed Damiris Dantas to an offer sheet. Will the Atlanta Dream match it, to keep her?
• An evening with basketball legends Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi — hosted by Hall of Famer Rebecca Lobo — is happening just before Valentine’s Day in Connecticut. Get your tickets ... for just $100.
• Maori Davenport, after missing the majority of her senior year due to misconduct by the Alabama High School Athletic Association, was left off the All-American roster.
• Dorothy J. Gentry with WNBA Insidr reports on the Dallas Wings’ rebuilding efforts amid center Liz Cambage’s intention to leave the organization and Skylar Diggins-Smith missing the 2019 season with maternity leave.
• Lyndsey Darcangelo with WNBA Insidr argues the WNBA should do away with coring players to “[t]urn what’s usually a cold and barren free agency period into hot one. Even if it is in February.”
• Rachel Galligan with Hero Sports tackles one of the most exciting topics, sure to further enrage rather than silence naysayers: top dunks by women of all time!
• Connecticut Sun head coach Curt Miller has re-signed Brandi Poole to his coaching staff and promoted to Chris Koclanes to the position of assistant coach.
• Alisha Valavanis is the new chief executive officer of the Seattle Storm and Force 10 Sports Management. Get to know her.
• The Storm promoted Talisa Rhea to assistant general manager. Congratulations!
• Eric Thibault has been promoted to the position of associate head coach of the Washington Mystics.

Extra & otherwise

Football player Toni Harris was featured in a Super Bowl ad for Toyota, becoming the absolute best thing about the otherwise snooze-worthy game and yikes-inducing halftime show.

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Every [hu]man is guilty of the good [they] didn’t do. -Voltaire