Sheryl Swoopes couldn’t be more excited about 1996 Olympic team’s Hall of Fame induction

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has made its list of 2026 inductees official, and the 1996 US Women’s National Team sits alongside big names such as Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne. Sheryl Swoopes was asked for her thoughts on the recognition by NBA TV’s Chris Haynes during her appearance on “The Association,” and the WNBA legend couldn’t hide how thrilled she felt.

“I’m so excited,” Swoopes began. “It’s an honor. I think, when you look at that team, there’s so many of us who are in the Hall of Fame as, you know, just our individual accomplishments and things we were able to do. But to go in as a group, as a team, and knowing what we all did in 95-96 and, honestly, in my opinion, just really kind of putting women’s basketball on the map, it’s just truly an honor to be recognized for that.”

The 1996 Women’s Olympic team claimed the gold medal at the Atlanta Games with an undefeated 8-0 record and an average win margin of over 30 points. The hype that they generated around women’s basketball led to the creation of the WNBA. As a pivotal part of both that team and the W’s founding, Swoopes expressed why the collective induction also held a deeper meaning for herself and the squad.

“It’s truly an honor. It’s nothing that any of us take for granted, and I’m excited for every single one of us,” Swoopes said. “[I’m] looking forward to the celebration. And, you know, I think we’ve always felt a responsibility to continue to uplift these women and continue to grow the game, and the fact that we’re being honored and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a team is truly an honor.”

“It’s just truly an honor to be recognized for that.” @ChrisBHaynes talks with @airswoopes22 about the induction of the 1996 U.S. Women’s Olympic team to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame!

The Association is LIVE on NBA TV and the NBA App! https://t.co/dadjDhnWa7 pic.twitter.com/vr3OZWnkkW

— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 9, 2026

There is one aspect that Swoopes finds disappointing, however. The women’s Olympic team’s reunion will be incomplete after the 2023 death of two-time Olympic gold medalist Nikki McCray-Penson at the age of 51.

“The unfortunate thing is all of us won’t be present,” Swoopes said. “You know, we lost our sister Nikki McCray a couple years ago to breast cancer, but that will just make it even that much more special.”

The US women’s national team and the rest of the Class of 2026 will be inducted into the Hall of Fame the weekend of August 14-15, 2026.

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