LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame announces ‘class of 2026’ honourees
Billie Jean King has been honoured (Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)
Billie Jean King has been honoured (Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)
The LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame has announced 10 new inductees for 2026, with Billie Jean King and Jason Collins honoured for their contributions to sports and advocacy.
Established in 2013, the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame celebrates the contributions LGBTQ+ people have made across the world of sport.
Alongside the new inductees, lesbian tennis legend Billie Jean King and gay former basketball player Jason Collins will be honoured with the Glenn Burke Award, which is awarded to those whose “courage and authenticity have transformed the sports landscape”.
“These individuals embody the very spirit of our mission of the Hall of Fame,” chair of the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame, Scott Bova, said in a statement.
“Their contributions to sports and advocacy have paved the way for greater inclusion and have inspired countless athletes and fans worldwide. We are honored to recognise their legacy.”
The class of 2026 includes:
Maybelle Blair
Blair played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) in the 1940s amid World War II and only came out publicly many decades later, when she was 95.
The AAGPBL also served as the inspiration for the 1992 comedy-drama film A League of Their Own which starred Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna, Lori Petty and Rosie O’Donnell.
During a panel for the Amazon Prime series adaption of A League of Their Own, Blair said she “hid for 75, 85 years” and described believing something was “wrong” with her because she had a “crush” on a girl in high school.
Nikki Hiltz
Trans and non-binary Olympic distance runner Hiltz has won a raft of medals during their career, including a World Championships silver medal and several national titles, while also sharing their journey as a non-binary person and calling for greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in track and field.
Bill Kennedy
Referee Bill Kennedy has officiated NBA games for more than 30 seasons and in 2015 became the league’s second out gay official.
Kennedy came out publicly after Rajon Rondo used a slur against him during a game. Rondo subsequently apologised, saying his comments were “were unacceptable and did not reflect my feelings toward the LGBT community”.
Phaidra Knight
Women’s rugby player Knight has represented the US at international level for almost two decades and was named USA Rugby Player of the Decade in 2010 and inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2017.
Anthony Nicodemo
High school basketball coach and athletic director Nicodemo came out publicly back in 2013, and at the time said he was “blown away” by his team’s response.
In the years since, Nicodemo has been outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in school sports and education.
Ryan O’Callaghan
American football player O’Callaghan played six seasons in the NFL with the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs, and came out as gay in 2017.
He later said there are “plenty of closeted NFL players”, adding: “I think it’s safe to say there’s at least one on every team who is either gay or bisexual. A lot of guys still see it as potentially having a negative impact on their career.”
Robin Roberts
Newscaster Roberts joined ESPN in 1990, where she stayed until 2005, and publicly acknowledged her sexuality in 2013.
She helped expand the profile of women’s sports and in 2012 was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame for her services to the sport.
Rick Welts
A sports executive, Welts is currently the CEO of the Dallas Mavericks and has worked in the NBA for more than 50 years.
He came out publicly in 2011 and was the first prominent American sports executive to do so.
Sue Wicks
WNBA player Wicks was one of the first to come out publicly when she did so back in 2002 and said at the time she could not say “how many players are gay… but it would be easier to count the straight ones”.
Dan Woog
Woog was one of the first high school coaches to publicly come out and has long campaigned for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport. He has gone on to write many books, several of which focus on LGBTQ+ athletes and his experiences in soccer.
