Wednesday, 13 May 2026

Val Ackerman

Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Contributors 2026
Embed from Getty Images
Sport(s): Basketball Executive
Statistics & Accolades: Member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
Val Ackerman is a pioneering leader whose influence has shaped the modern landscape of both professional and collegiate basketball. She started her career as a staff attorney for the NBA before becoming the WNBA’s founding president in 1996, guiding the league through its launch and its initial eight seasons. Her achievements in creating a sustainable professional pathway for women athletes led to her becoming the first woman to serve as president of USA Basketball in 2005, during which she oversaw the organization as its men’s and women’s national teams won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Since 2013, Ackerman has been the commissioner of the Big East Conference, and she announced her plans to retire in August 2026. Over her 13-year leadership, she guided the conference through significant realignment, successfully reintegrating charter member UConn in 2020 and securing multi-network media rights deals with Fox Sports, NBC, and TNT through 2031. Recognized for her nearly forty years of dedication to the sport, she was inducted as a contributor into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.

We are proud to nominate Val Ackerman for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.