WASHINGTON – Tommy Amaker, The Thomas G. Stemberg '71 Family Endowed Coach for Harvard Men's Basketball, will be inducted into the Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2026, it was announced today.
 
This year's class of honorees includes Amaker, who graduated from W.T. Woodson High School and Duke University; Washington Mystics two-time WNBA MVP, seven-time WNBA All-Star and WNBA Champion Elena Delle Donne; four-time NFL Pro Bowler and Super Bowl XXXIV Champion and member of the Washington Football Team London Fletcher; The George Washington University softball star and Olympic gold medalist Elana Meyers Taylor; and legendary Maryland high school football coach Al Thomas. The 2001-02 NCAA Men's Basketball National Champions from the University of Maryland, will be recognized as this year's Team of Distinction. 
 
Amaker and the rest of the Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will be formally inducted at Nationals Park on Sunday, Aug. 30, prior to the Washington Nationals game against the Miami Marlins. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at approximately 11 a.m. ET, followed by the game's first pitch at 12:15 p.m. ET.
 
Amaker attended W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, Virginia, from 1979 to 1983 where he led the Cavaliers to four straight district titles. He was named a Parade and McDonald's All-American (1983), first-team All-Met (1982, 1983), and to the All-Region Team and All-District Team in multiple years. In 1983, Amaker earned the Wooden Defensive Player of the Year Award, which recognizes the nation's best high school defensive player, and was named "Mr. Basketball" for the Washington, D.C., area.
 
After a successful prep career, Amaker attended Duke, where he was a four-year starter and member of the 1986 ACC Championship team. As a senior at Duke, Amaker earned All-America accolades and was voted the National Defensive Player of the Year. His playing career includes a gold medal as part of the U.S. National Team at the 1986 FIBA World Championships, and he was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1987 NBA Draft.
 
With this month's honor, Amaker adds to another accolade to an impressive head coaching career that features 497 career victories (Seton Hall, Michigan, Harvard), 15 postseason appearances, an NIT championship (2004), and six players who went on to play in the NBA. Prior to becoming a head coach, Amaker was on the coaching staff at Duke where the Blue Devils posted a 230-80 record in nine years to go with two NCAA titles (1991, 92) and three other Final Fours.
 
After Aug. 30's induction, Amaker will have been inducted into five different halls of fame -- Duke Athletic Hall of Fame (2001), W.T. Woodson High School Hall of Fame (2012), New England Basketball Hall of Fame (2013), Washington Metropolitan Basketball Hall of Fame (2013), Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame (2026).
 
The members of the DC Sports Hall of Fame selection committee include chair Bobby Goldwater, Georgetown University Global Sports Operations & Strategy executive master's program faculty director and a sports industry consultant; chairman emeritus and veteran D.C. public relations executive Charlie Brotman; former and WTOP TV reporter/producer Brenda J. Curtis-Heiken; journalist David Elfin; George Washington University teaching instructor of management Meredith Geisler; Emmy-winning sportscaster Chick Hernandez; attorney Phil Hochberg; Washington Nationals Managing Principal Owner Mark D. Lerner; basketball executive and former coach Ed Tapscott; attorney Mark Tuohey; radio and television personality and former Washington pro football tight end Rick "Doc" Walker; basketball broadcaster, coach, and former high school and college star Christy Winters Scott; baseball commentator and historian Phil Wood; and University of Maryland journalism adjunct professor and WTOP radio sports contributor Joe Yasharoff.  
 
"This year's honorees have made lasting contributions to our area's sports legacy through the standards they set and the leadership they displayed. It is a great pleasure to welcome them into the DC Sports Hall of Fame," said Goldwater. 
 
"Our committee sincerely appreciates the continuing support of the Washington Nationals and the Lerner family for their collaboration in conducting the annual induction ceremony at Nationals Park," he added.  
 
Individuals nominated for inclusion must have gained prominence in the D.C. area through their achievements in sports as an athlete, coach, owner, executive, member of the media or contributor. A professional, collegiate or high school team that has made a significant and positive impact on the Greater D.C. community through outstanding achievement is eligible to be recognized as a Team of Distinction.   
 
The names of all DC Sports Hall of Fame inductees are prominently displayed at Nationals Park.