On March 9, 2021, Lauren Jackson, Yolanda Griffith, Marianne Stanley, and Leta Andrews were all named as finalists for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Lauren Jackson
Jackson was a seven-time All-Star and three-time MVP during her 12-year tenure in the WNBA. Over this time, she averaged 18.9 points and 7.7 rebounds for the Seattle Storm. The Storm also managed to win two championships with Jackson in 2004 and 2010.
Along with the WNBA accolades, Jackson is also a four-time Olympian. As a member of the Australian team, she was able to win medals all four years, receiving three silvers (2000, 2004, 2008) and a bronze (2012).
Yolanda Griffith
Griffith was a seven-time All-Star as well as the 1999 MVP. She played for the Sacramento Monarchs, Seattle Storm, and Indiana Fever in her 11 seasons in the WNBA. During this time she averaged 13.2 points and 7.9 rebounds. She was also a two-time gold medalist in the Olympics for Team USA (2000 and 2004).
Griffith’s main contribution to her teams was her ability to play exceptional defense in the post and collect rebounds. She has the top three seasons in terms of offensive rebounds in WNBA history according to Basketball-Reference. These occurred between 1999 and 2001 (141, 148, and 162 respectively).
Marianne Stanley
Stanley was a head coach in the NCAA for several different teams between 1977 and 2000. She had the most success at Old Dominion University where she won a National Championship in 1985. Prior to ODU women’s sports joining the NCAA, Stanley helped lead the Lady Monarchs to two National Championships in the AIAW in 1979 and 1980 as well as the NWIT Championship in 1978.
In her inaugural season as head coach in the WNBA, she won Coach of the Year after leading the Washington Mystics to the Eastern Conference finals in 2002. She is currently coaching the Indiana Fever.
Leta Andrews
Andrews is the only one of these four Hall of Fame finalists to have been previously nominated to the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. This is her fourth time making it to this stage.
Andrews coached for 52 years amassing 1,416 career victories and a state championship. This is the most by any high school basketball coach ever. She spent time coaching at five different Texas high schools including her alma mater Granbury High School. Her sole state championship was at Calallen High School in 1990.
Of all 14 of the nominees to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame, these four women all have a very solid chance of being members of the Class of 2021.
For more articles related to women’s sports check out Beyond Women’s Sports.
