KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — What David Stern did for the sport of basketball transcended any gender bias and opened a whole new world for women in the game.
NBA commissioner from 1984-2014, Stern was the key figure in the formation and operation of the WNBA in 1997.
That bold move paved the way for Stern, who died Jan. 1, 2020, to be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday night.
Stern was joined in the induction class by former players Tamika Catchings, Swin Cash, Lauren Jackson and Debbie Brock, along with contributors Carol Callan, Sue Donohoe and Carol Stiff.
Jackson played for the Seattle Storm from 2001-12. Injuries cut her WNBA career short. She was a 7-time All-Star, 3-time league MVP, 3-time scoring champ, and helped Seattle win 2 titles. The Storm picked her number one overall in the 2001 WNBA Draft.
Cash went to 4 All-Star games, 2 with the Storm. She played in Seattle for 4 seasons. Cash was on the Storm team that won the WNBA title in 2010.
