Iowa's Kim Muhl Joins WNBA Legends in Women's Basketball HOF
The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame welcomed its newest class on Saturday, and Iowa had a major stake in the celebration. Kirkwood Community College coach Kim Muhl joined WNBA superstars Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne, along with championship coach Cheryl Reeve, in a ceremony that highlighted grit, family devotion, and respect for the game's traditions.
Kirkwood Coach Kim Muhl Earns Hall of Fame Honors
While Parker and Delle Donne dominated the national headlines, the induction of Kirkwood Community College coach Kim Muhl brought the celebration home to Iowa. Muhl has built a powerhouse program in Cedar Rapids, proving that elite basketball development happens right here in the Heartland. Her enshrinement recognizes a career dedicated to mentoring young athletes and building a winning culture at the junior college level.
Cheryl Reeve's Grit Pays Off
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve delivered one of the most compelling stories of the night, highlighting a journey built on hard work and perseverance. Reeve, who is now just two wins away from the WNBA's all-time coaching record, recounted her early days in the league when the pay was meager and the future was uncertain.
From 2001 until today, I ate, drank and slept everything WNBA. I experienced teams folding, I collected unemployment and hearing my dad wonder aloud when I was going to get a real job.
Reeve took her first WNBA job as an assistant for the late Anne Donovan with the Charlotte Sting in 2001, earning a salary of just $5,000. She later guided the U.S. Olympic team to gold in the Tokyo Games and won four WNBA titles with the Lynx. Her success is a testament to sticking with a passion even when the odds are stacked against you.
This game has given me a fulfilling lifetime of joy. To share the Hall with so many women's basketball greats makes me glad I never got a real job.
Family and Perseverance Define Elena Delle Donne
Elena Delle Donne, a two-time WNBA MVP, put family above all else during her career, a choice that resonated deeply during her speech. Delle Donne famously decommitted from UConn to stay close to her home in Delaware and be near her sister, Lizzie, who was born blind, deaf, and with cerebral palsy.
Through tears, Delle Donne credited her sister as her ultimate inspiration.
Although you can't hear me, I hope you can feel the impact you made on me. For the challenges most people couldn't begin to understand, you've shown me that the hardest battles are met head-on without self-pity.
Delle Donne also drew a laugh from the heavily pro-Tennessee crowd in Knoxville. She thanked the city for treating her family so well, joking, I'm not sure if it's because of this Hall of Fame honor, or because I left UConn after 48 hours.
Candace Parker Honors Legendary Coach Pat Summitt
Candace Parker, who led the Lady Vols to back-to-back national championships in 2007 and 2008, closed the night by honoring the coach who made it possible. Parker wore a custom-designed suit as a tribute to the legendary Pat Summitt, who passed away in 2016 after battling early onset dementia.
In the words of James Baldwin, children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them. This suit is a rendition of one of my favorite looks that coach Pat Summitt wore on the sideline.
Parker, the only rookie to ever win WNBA MVP, cut the shoulder pads off the suit to make it her own, but the message was clear. She noted that while she might not have been the best listener at Tennessee, she was always paying attention to how Summitt attacked life.
Before the ceremony, Parker and Delle Donne shared a lighthearted moment about Parker hosting Delle Donne on a recruiting visit to Tennessee in the pre-NIL era. I think you took me to Taco Bell, Delle Donne said with a laugh. Well, the money was a little different when we were in school, Parker replied.
Who else was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame?
Alongside Muhl, Parker, Delle Donne, and Reeve, the Hall of Fame welcomed former WNBA players Amaya Valdemoro of Spain and Isabelle Fijalkowski of France. ESPN broadcaster Doris Burke and former Clemson star Barbara Kennedy-Dixon, who was inducted posthumously, also joined the 2026 class. Fijalkowski's daughter, 6-foot-7 Alicia Tournebize, currently plays for South Carolina's women's basketball team.
When will Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne enter the Naismith Hall of Fame?
Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne are scheduled for induction into the Naismith Hall of Fame in August. Both players retired after the 2023 WNBA season, leaving behind resumes that feature two MVP awards and Olympic gold medals each.