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New Virginia head coach Tina Thompson inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame

Thompson joins Chamique Holdsclaw, Katie Smith, and four others in the Class of 2018.

By Caroline Darney
Texas Athletic Department

It’s early, but the hire of Tina Thompson as the new Virginia Women’s Basketball coach is already looking pretty good. Thompson was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2018 today, alongside Ceal Barry, Dr. Rose Marie Battaglia, Chris Dailey, Mickey DeMoss, Chamique Holdsclaw, and Katie Smith.

Thompson, who was named the new women’s coach in April after Joanne Boyle stepped down to take care of a family situation, is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist (2004 and 2008), won four WNBA titles with the Houston Comets, and was named one of the top-15 WNBA players of all time in 2011. Additionally, Thompson was the first overall pick in the inaugural WNBA draft after a successful college career at USC. Before coming to Charlottesville, Thompson was an assistant coach at Texas.

She was escorted to the event by her son, Dyllan, and joins a group of incredibly talented players and coaches that includes legends like Pat Summitt, Geno Auriemma, Rebecca Lobo, Lisa Leslie, and Sheryl Swoopes.

Virginia’s Athletic Director, Carla Williams, was on hand for the festivities and helped document the induction via social media.

Thompson will now have a display at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Former Virginia Women’s Basketball head coach Debbie Ryan was inducted as a member of the WBHOF Class of 2008, and Thompson joins Val Ackerman (2011) and Dawn Staley (2012) as inductees with UVA ties.

It was understandably all smiles for Coach Thompson and Dyllan:

My Big Baby is sooooooo clean!!!!!!! #classof2018 #wbhof

A post shared by Tina Thompson (@iamtinathompson) on

Congrats, Coach!

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