Women's Basketball | January 11, 2018

An All-American during her USC career, Tina Thompson stands as one of the top Trojans to play the game. The first-ever WNBA draftee, Thompson found success in the pros and on the highest international stage. A three-time Olympic gold medals with Team USA (2000, 2004 and 2008), Thompson also won four straight WNBA titles with the Houston Comets. Today (Jan. 11), Thompson was announced as one of 10 finalists for the 2018 class for the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. The inductees will be selected from those 10 finalists, and the class will be announced on Feb. 12.

Thompson looms as USC's No. 5 all-time scorer with 2,248 career points as a Trojan while collecting back-to-back AP All-America honorable mention and then collecting USBWA All-America honors as a senior in 1997. The Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 1994, Thompson was an all-conference first-teamer the next three seasons at Troy. With the Comets, Thompson was a three-time All-WNBA First Team selection
 
Five Women of Troy already have spots in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame — Cheryl Miller (1999), Linda Sharp (2000), Marianne Stanley (2002), Cynthia Cooper (2009) and Lisa Leslie (2015). This year's 10 finalists for the 2018 Hall of Fame class also include Yelena Baranova (international player), Ceal Barry (coach), Rose Marie Battaglia (veteran, contributor), Christine Dailey (contributor - assistant coach), Mickie DeMoss (contributor - assistant coach), Chamique Holdsclaw (player), Vickie Orr (player), Katie Smith (player) and Valerie Still (player).

The 2018 Induction will mark the 20th anniversary of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, which held its grand opening and inaugural induction in 1999. When the Class of 2018 is officially inducted in Knoxville, TN on June 9, more than 160 individuals will have been inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. 

The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Directors serves as the selection committee in determining the individuals to be inducted each year. Voting is based on minimum candidate requirements, which include record of performance, national or international recognition, and contributions to the game of women's basketball.
 
For information regarding the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame or the 2018 Induction Ceremony, please visit www.wbhof.com. The mission of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame is to "honor the past, celebrate the present, and promote the future" of women's basketball.