Indiana Fever coach Lin Dunn among 2014 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductees

The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame announced its 16th group of inductees, the Class of 2014, on ABC during the WNBA All-Star Game at the Mohegan Sun, Saturday July 27. The six members of the Class of 2014 are: Lin Dunn (coach), Michelle Edwards (player), Mimi Griffin (contributor), Yolanda Griffith (player), Jasmina Perazic (player), and Charlotte West (contributor). The Class of 2014 will be formally inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame on June 14, 2014 in Knoxville, TN. Stay tuned for ticket information.

With the addition of the Class of 2014, the WBHOF will recognize the 1976 USA Olympic Team for their contributions to the game in a display at the Hall entitled “Trailblazers of the Game”. The 1976 team will join the All American Red Heads, Edmonton Grads, the Former Helms/Citizens Savings/Founders Bank, and the Wayland Baptist Flying Queens as the only five groups recognized as “Trailblazers of the Game”.

The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors serves as the selection committee in determining which individuals will be inducted each year and which groups will be honored as “Trailblazers of the Game”. Voting is based on various factors, which include moral character, integrity, sportsmanship, record of performance, ability, national or international recognition, and contributions to the game of women’s basketball.

LIN DUNN (Coach)
Dunn has been a professional head coach for 11 seasons, leading the Indiana Fever to the 2012 WNBA Championship. She was named the 1998 American Basketball League (ABL) Coach of the Year and was the 2009 Runner-up for the WNBA Coach of the Year. As a collegiate coach, Dunn has over 400 victories, being named Big Ten Coach of the Year twice (1989, 1991).

MICHELLE EDWARDS (Player)
Edwards played for the University of Iowa, leading the Hawkeyes to a 102-22 record from 1984-1988. She is the only Hawkeye women’s basketball player to have her jersey retired. Edwards was named a 1988 Kodak All-American, Naismith All-American, USBWA All-American, Big Ten Conference Player of the Year, and the University of Iowa’s Athlete of the Year. She also played 5 seasons in the WNBA.

MIMI GRIFFIN (Contributor)
Griffin is considered to be the first broadcast expert for women’s basketball. She served as the “face” for women’s basketball in its’ early television exposure and laid the foundation for women’s basketball on television. Griffin was the first woman color analyst for a NCAA men’s tournament game on ESPN in 1990. She was also named the 1994 WBCA Mel Greenberg Media Award winner.

YOLANDA GRIFFITH (Player)
Griffith is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time WNBA All-Star. She was the 1999 WNBA MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year. She lead the Sacramento Monarchs to the 2005 WNBA Championship. In college, Griffith was a 1991 Kodak Junior College All-American, a 1993 WBCA Division II Player of the Year, and a 1993 Kodak Division II All-American.

JASMINA PERAZIC (Player)
Perazic played for the University of Maryland, leading the Terps’ to the 1982 NCAA Final Four and a final ranking of No. 3 in the country. She was named a 1983 Kodak All-American and co-ACC tournament MVP. Perazic was a two-time member of the Yugoslavian Olympic Team leading them to the bronze medal in 1980. She played one season in the WNBA for the New York Liberty.

CHARLOTEE WEST (Contributor)
West was a huge advocate for women’s sports and pioneer for Title IX. From 1960 to 1986 she served as the director of athletics for women at Southern Illinois University. She helped transform the department from its meager beginnings into a nationally recognized program with a budget of more than $1 million dollars for 11 sports. West was the 1983 WBCA Administrator of the Year and was the first recipient of the Honda Award.