Maybelle Blair, Sue Wicks & More To Be Inducted Into LGBTQ Sports Hall Of Fame
The newly announced class recognizes pioneers from women’s baseball to the WNBA, alongside media figures and sports leaders who pushed inclusion forward.
The LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame has announced its 2026 class, honoring 10 figures whose impact spans baseball, basketball, rugby, football, media, and education. Together, they represent generations of LGBTQ athletes and leaders who reshaped sports by choosing visibility and advocacy in spaces that once demanded silence.
The induction ceremony will take place on June 25 in New York City during NYC Pride.
Among the inductees is Maybelle Blair (above), a pioneer of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League who came out publicly later in life and helped preserve queer history in women’s sports.
Rugby legend Phaidra Knight, who represented the United States for nearly two decades and was named USA Rugby Player of the Decade, joins the class alongside Olympic runner Nikki Hiltz, a trailblazer for trans and nonbinary visibility in track and field.
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Basketball’s influence on the class is unmistakable. Sue Wicks, the first openly gay player to compete in the WNBA, is honored for her on-court success and cultural impact. Media icon Robin Roberts is recognized for expanding the visibility of women’s sports and publicly acknowledging her sexual orientation in 2013. NBA executive Rick Welts, the first prominent American sports executive to come out publicly, is celebrated for shaping the modern NBA, from All-Star Weekend to the launch of the WNBA. And NBA referee Bill Kennedy, the only male official to come out publicly as gay, is also part of the class.
Beyond professional leagues, the Hall of Fame honors high school coach and advocate Anthony Nicodemo, former NFL lineman Ryan O’Callaghan, and soccer coach and writer Dan Woog, each of whom has used their platform to expand LGBTQ inclusion in sports.
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In addition to the inductees, tennis legend Billie Jean King and former NBA center Jason Collins will receive the Glenn Burke Award, honoring individuals whose courage and authenticity have transformed the sports landscape.
“These individuals embody the very spirit of our mission of the Hall of Fame,” Scott Bova, Chair of the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame, 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 recognize their legacy.”
