This World Basketball Day special. It marked the 175th anniversary of the YMCA, where Dr. James Naismith first introduced the game in 1891. FIBA made it special for Sue Bird & Dirk Nowitzki by naming them in their big reveal.

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) celebrated World Basketball Day by unveiling the FIBA Hall of Fame as Members of the Class of 2026.

"It's a German in the shape of hoops legend Dirk Nowitzki, as well as a FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup icon in Sue Bird of the USA, who headline the 2026 Class," FIBA reported.

Bird, who retired after the 2022 season, is the most decorated FIBA World Cup athlete in history, male or female, owning four gold medals (2002, 2010, 2014, 2018) and one bronze medal (2006). She is also the only five-time FIBA World Cup medalist. Nowitzki is not shy achivements as well.

While he did not win any FIBA World Cup, he was the World Cup MVP in 2002, FIBA EuroBasket MVP (2005), and FIBA EuroBasket Dream Team (2020). He also has six Euroscar Player of the Year (2002–2006, 2011) and FIBA Europe Men's Player of the Year (2005, 2011).

The two of them will be inducted into the FIBA HOF at an enshrinement ceremony on April 21, 2026, in Berlin. Céline Dumerc, Hedo Türkoğlu, Clarisse Machanguana, Ludwik Miętta-Mikołajewicz, Wang Zhizhi, and Ismenia Pauchard have also made the list.

Sue Bird on the WNBA HOF

Sue Bird played in the WNBA for 19-years and fans and experts considered her one of the greatest point guards. She won WNBA championships(2004, 2010, 2018, 2020) and is a 13-time WNBA All-Star, plus the All-time WNBA assists leader (3,234).

Bird averaged 11.7 points, 5.6 assists, and 2.5 rebounds in 580 regular-season games. The League inducted her into the Hall of Fame in 2025 and gave a great message from that stage.

“For me, the Hall of Fame is the ultimate capstone — not for the ‘fame’ part, but for the ‘hall’ part. It’s about being forever connected to this group of peers,” Bird said in her acceptance speech.

Let us know what you think of her career.

Written by

Reyansh Dubey

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu