It always made sense for the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame to be located in Knoxville, where legendary Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt built an untouchable legacy.
Now, one of Summitt’s former players will now oversee the Hall. Former Tennessee star Michelle Marciniak was named the CEO of the WBHOF on March 27, and she is set to take over July 1. Former WBHOF president Dana Hart, who announced her retirement in February, will remain in a consulting role through the induction of the 2026 class in June to assist the transition.
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Marciniak spent the 2025-26 season as general manager for Arizona women’s basketball and announced March 6 she was stepping down to return to Knoxville and care for her mother, who has Alzheimer’s.
“Women’s basketball has given me everything – from lifelong relationships to opportunities I never could have imagined – and it is incredibly meaningful to return to Knoxville and lead an organization that honors those who built this game,” Marciniak said in a news release. “As a former Lady Vol, this community and its legacy have shaped so much of who I am. The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame holds a special place in the story of our sport, and I am deeply committed to preserving that legacy while helping to elevate and expand its future.
“There has never been a more exciting time for women’s basketball, and I look forward to building on the Hall’s impact while inspiring the next generation to see what’s possible because of those who came before them.”
The WBHOF 2026 class includes Lady Vols legend Candace Parker, WNBA great Elena Delle Donne, Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve and NBA analyst Doris Burke. They’ll also be joined by international players Isabelle Fijalkowski and Amaya Valdemoro, Kirkwood Community College coach Kim Muhl and veteran player Barbara Kennedy-Dixon, who’s being honored posthumously. The induction ceremony is June 26 at the Tennessee Theatre.
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Marciniak played for the Lady Vols from 1993-96, and she was a senior when Tennessee won the 1996 national championship, the first of a historic three consecutive NCAA titles. Marciniak was named Most Outstanding Player of the 1996 Final Four. She helped lead the Lady Vols to two SEC championships and back-to-back trips to the Final Four.
Marciniak played professionally from 1996-2002 before she got into coaching. She was an assistant on Susan Walvius’ staff at South Carolina from 2003-08. Marciniak also has experience in the business world with 18 years as an entrepreneur. In 2007, she and Walvius co-founded SHEEX, which is the world’s first performance bedding company.
Marciniak is the co-CEO of SHEEX, which raised more than $25 million in capital as it became a nationally recognized brand.
“Her fierce drive and desire will no doubt carry the Hall to greatness just as she did in basketball as a player,” WBHOF board of governors chair Michael Strickland said in the release. “Her 1996 National Championship and Most Outstanding Player award exemplifies the winning spirit the Hall will have under her leadership. Michelle is a friend and an inspiration. We welcome her and look forward to a great future.”
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Cora Hall is the University of Tennessee women’s athletics reporter for Knox News. Email: cora.hall@knoxnews.com; X: @corahalll; Bluesky: @corahall.bsky.social. Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks:knoxnews.com/subscribe
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Michelle Marciniak named CEO of Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
