Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Reveals 2026 Induction Class
The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame has announced its star-studded Class of 2026, featuring eight competitors’ ballot inductees headlined by recent Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame member Sylvia Fowles. Joining her are NFL standouts Joe Horn, Todd McClure and Pat Williams, MLB All-Star Jonathan Lucroy, and legendary basketball coaches John Brady, Mike McConathy and Dewain Strother.
For the third time this decade, the Hall will also present the Louisiana Sports Ambassador Award—this year to Warren Morris, the Alexandria native whose iconic walk-off home run delivered LSU the 1996 College World Series title. Morris has since become a lifelong ambassador for college baseball, the CWS, and LSU athletics.
Induction Class Highlights
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Sylvia Fowles – Four-time Olympic gold medalist and LSU star who reached four straight Final Fours (2005–08). An eight-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Finals MVP with the Minnesota Lynx, she was named one of the WNBA’s Top 25 Players of All Time and entered both the Naismith and Women’s Basketball Halls of Fame in 2024.
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Joe Horn – Fan-favorite wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints, with four Pro Bowl selections during his 12-year NFL career.
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Todd McClure – Baton Rouge native and LSU All-American center who spent 14 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, earning a spot in the team’s Ring of Honor.
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Pat Williams – Monroe native and defensive tackle who made three consecutive Pro Bowls (2006–08) as part of a 14-year career with Buffalo and Minnesota.
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Jonathan Lucroy – Lafayette’s own, who starred at UL and went on to a 12-year MLB career, including two All-Star appearances and a top-four finish in 2014 AL MVP voting.
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John Brady – College basketball coach with 402 career wins, three SEC championships at LSU, and a 2006 Final Four appearance.
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Mike McConathy – Former Louisiana Tech star and longtime Northwestern State coach, with a Louisiana-record 682 college wins and a 2006 NCAA Tournament upset of Iowa.
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Dewain Strother – Retired in 2023 as the nation’s second-winningest girls’ high school basketball coach, with 1,235 victories and five LHSAA state championships at Florien High.
Celebration Details
The 67th Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration will take place June 25–27, 2026, in Natchitoches, culminating with the official enshrinement at the Hall’s award-winning museum overlooking Cane River Lake.
The weekend includes seven events: receptions, a bowling party, a youth sports clinic, and a free riverbank concert. Ticket information, advertising, and sponsorship opportunities are available now at LaSportsHall.com/Induction2026.
Selection Process
The Class of 2026 was chosen by a 40-member Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA) committee after reviewing 153 nominees from 27 sports. Sixty-one advanced to the final round of consideration.
Additional inductees from the contributors’ categories—including the Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award and Distinguished Service Awards in Sports Journalism—will be announced later this year, bringing the final Class of 2026 to 12 members.
About the Hall of Fame
Founded in 1958, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame will grow to 515 total members with the 2026 class. Its museum, operated in partnership with the Louisiana State Museum system, has earned worldwide acclaim since opening in 2013.
The Hall honors a diverse group of athletes, coaches, administrators, and media figures, including Pro Football Hall of Famers, Olympic champions, NBA legends, MLB stars, and more.
