Dawn Staley says 1996 Olympic team entering Naismith Hall of Fame 'long overdue'

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley publicly declared the 1996 U.S. Olympic women's basketball team's induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as 'long overdue.' The announcement was reported on August 15, 2026, with Staley emphasizing the team's foundational role in establishing the WNBA. The 1996 Olympic team is now set to receive its place among basketball's most celebrated figures in the Naismith Hall of Fame.