Danielle Donehew, Executive Director of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), has been named a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025. The announcement was made during halftime of the UConn-North Carolina game. Donehew joins a distinguished class of contributors to the sport, with the induction ceremony scheduled for June 14, 2025, at the Tennessee Theater in Knoxville.
Danielle Donehew is only the third person to lead the WBCA in its 40-plus-year history. She was named Executive Director on July 2, 2014.
As Executive Director, Donehew administers all operational affairs for the WBCA, oversees all marketing endeavors, manages the non-profit organization’s $2.5 million annual budget, oversees all WBCA programs and services, and directs the office staff. She also oversees the WBCA’s external affairs, taking on active roles with affiliate organizations such as the NCAA, USA Basketball, the WNBA, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Women’s Sports Foundation.
Donehew represents the WBCA as a non-voting member on the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee, which oversees all aspects of the sport on the NCAA Division I level; and a voting member on the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Competition Committee, which monitors and develops recommendations regarding student-athlete health and safety, sportsmanship, integrity, game operations, game presentation, technology and statistical trends.
Donehew is the past president of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Directors, having concluded a three-year term as its president on June 10, 2020. She serves on the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Trustees as well. She is also an International Women’s Forum Foundation Fellow, completing in June 2016 the leading women’s executive development program in the world.
Donehew continues to give back to athletics and the community through her service on other non-profit boards. She serves on the board of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, dedicated to the fight against women’s cancers. She is a co-founder and advisory board member of the Pat Summitt Foundation, which is dedicated to bringing awareness and funding to the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. She also serves as an advisory board member for the Pat Summitt Leadership Group.
A pioneer in women’s basketball, Donehew has a legacy of building impactful programs. She played a crucial role in creating new WBCA game events, including the Orlando MTE and the Invitational Class in Las Vegas. She has also been instrumental in producing media content as a founding partner in Coaches+Media with the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) that elevates coaches’ stories.
Donehew’s career spans leadership roles across the sport, including at Georgia Tech, the University of Tennessee, the WNBA Atlanta Dream, the BIG EAST Conference, the American Athletic Conference and the WBCA. Her impact is further reflected in her recognition as one of Georgia Tech’s 70 Most Influential Women Graduates of All Time, the establishment of the Danielle M. Donehew Women’s Basketball Scholarship at Georgia Tech, and her induction as an ACC Legend in 2013.
In addition to her professional achievements, Donehew serves on the boards of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, and the Pat Summitt Foundation. She also represents the coaching community on multiple NCAA committees, advocating for the sport’s continued growth and excellence.
As the leader of the WBCA’s 3,800+ membership, Donehew has worked tirelessly to advance the game at every level. Her contributions will now be celebrated alongside those of other iconic figures in women’s basketball.
Donehew joins a Class of 2025 that includes Sue Bird, Alana Beard, Sylvia Fowles, Cappie Pondexter, Mark Campbell, and Lucille Kyvallos. Together, they represent the highest standards of achievement and dedication in the sport.For more information about the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, visit www.wbhof.com.