2001-02 Men's Basketball Team To Be Inducted Into Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame
8/10/2026 2:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame announced today that the 2001-02 NCAA National Champion Maryland men's basketball team will be part of its Class of 2026. The formal induction ceremony will be held 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 11:00 a.m., followed by the game's first pitch at 12:15 p.m.
The squad will be the class' Team of Distinction joining five impressive individuals who will be enshired as well.
The University of Maryland reached the pinnacle of the college basketball world in 2002 when Hall of Fame head coach Gary Williams led his alma mater to its first - and only - men's basketball national championship. The Terrapins entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed and defeated the highest possible remaining seeds (No. 8 Wisconsin, No. 4 Kentucky, No. 2 UConn, No. 1 Kansas) in its bracket, before defeating Indiana, 64-52, in the title game.
The team was led by the program's all-time leading scorer, Juan Dixon, who was named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player, the ACC Player of the Year and an Associated Press First Team All-American. Fellow senior Lonny Baxter was named the Regional Most Outstanding Player in both 2001 and 2002, as he helped lead the Terps to back-to-back NCAA Final Four appearances.
Throughout the 2026-27 season, Maryland will have a year-long celebration of the 25th anniversary of the program's 2002 NCAA National Championship, presented by Northrop Realty. Home games throughout the 2026-27 season will feature special promotions, giveaways, player appearances and autograph sessions, and more that will celebrate this truly historic milestone in Maryland Athletics history.
Be part of the tradition all season long. Maryland men's basketball season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at umterps.com/JoinTheTradition or by calling 301-314-7060 to speak with an account representative.
Washington, D.C. – Five impressive individuals and one of the legendary teams in NCAA Men's Basketball history make up the Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026. The formal induction ceremony will be held 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 11:00 a.m., followed by the game's first pitch at 12:15 p.m.
This year's class of honorees includes W.T. Woodson High School and Duke University alumnus Tommy Amaker; 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.
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.
THE 2026 INDUCTEES:
TOMMY AMAKER: Attended W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, Va., from 1979 to 1983 where he led the Cavaliers to four straight district titles. Tommy was named a Parade and McDonald's All-American (1983), first team All-Met (1982 and 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. Amaker attended Duke University, 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. Amaker has been a college basketball coach for more than 20 years, including as the head coach of Harvard University, University of Michigan and Seton Hall University. Amaker was inducted into the Duke Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001 and the W.T. Woodson High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.
ELENA DELLE DONNE: One of the faces of the WNBA in the 2010's, Elena Delle Donne won two MVP awards and was a seven-time WNBA All-Star, a four-time All-WNBA First Team selection, the 2013 WNBA Rookie of the Year and led the Washington Mystics to their first championship in 2019. Delle Donne holds the top free throw percentage (.937) and offensive rating (123.1) in WNBA history and is fourth in points per game (19.5) after leading the league in that statistical category during her first MVP run in 2015. During her 2019 title run with the Mystics, Delle Donne became the first WNBA player to join the 50-40-90 club in field goal, three-point, and free throw percentages, respectively. Delle Donne was inducted into both the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame earlier this year.
LONDON FLETCHER: A former professional football player who was a linebacker for 16 seasons in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams, Buffalo Bills and – for the final seven seasons of his playing career – Washington (2007-13). While with the Burgundy & Gold, he was named to four Pro Bowls and won the Bart Starr Award, which is given to a player who "best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community." On Dec. 18, 2013, Fletcher announced his retirement from the NFL, finishing his career having played in 256 consecutive games and starting 215 consecutive games, setting the NFL record of consecutive starts at the linebacker position. Fletcher joined Washington's radio broadcast crew in 2022 and on Sept. 1, 2022, Fletcher was inducted into Washington's Greatest Players list in honor of the franchise's 90th anniversary.
ELANA MEYERS TAYLOR: Best known for her prowess on the ice in Bobsleigh, Elana Meyers Taylor previously excelled on the softball diamond at The George Washington University and is considered one of the school's greatest-ever athletes. Meyers Taylor, who played on GW's softball team for five years, was inducted into the GW Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014 and was the program's first player to have their jersey retired. The university later presented Meyers Taylor with an honorary doctorate in 2018 and the President's Medal in 2022. She is best known for her achievements at the Winter Olympics. Meyers Taylor has competed in five different Winter Olympics and has won six medals, including a gold medal in the Monobob event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
AL THOMAS: A Maryland high school football coaching legend and founding member of the Maryland Scholastic Football Coaches Association (MSFCA) Hall of Fame, Al Thomas led multiple Maryland high schools in his 47-year coaching career, including Gaithersburg, Seneca Valley, Damascus, Cambridge-South-Dorchester and Sherwood high schools. Thomas' career head coaching record was 242-47 with four undefeated seasons – the 10th-best record in state history. In 2008, Thomas set a record with his 8th Maryland State Championship, which he achieved at three different Montgomery County schools in three classifications. Thomas was selected four times by the Washington Post as the Metro Coach of the Year and was inducted into the Maryland Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1997. He passed away in 2016.
TEAM OF DISTINCTION – 2001-02 UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONS: Widely regarded as one of the greatest teams in NCAA Division I Men's Basketball history, the 2001-02 University of Maryland Men's Basketball team finished the season with a 32-4 record, winning the NCAA National Championship with their 64-52 victory over the Indiana Hoosiers, marking the first and only title for the men's basketball program. Led by Head Coach Gary Williams, the Terrapins, remarkably, never lost in their home gym of Cole Field House that season. The championship roster included the talents of Lonny Baxter, Steve Blake, AP First Team All-American Juan Dixon, Byron Mouton, and Chris Wilcox, making them one of the most well-rounded rosters in NCAA history.
The squad will be the class' Team of Distinction joining five impressive individuals who will be enshired as well.
The University of Maryland reached the pinnacle of the college basketball world in 2002 when Hall of Fame head coach Gary Williams led his alma mater to its first - and only - men's basketball national championship. The Terrapins entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed and defeated the highest possible remaining seeds (No. 8 Wisconsin, No. 4 Kentucky, No. 2 UConn, No. 1 Kansas) in its bracket, before defeating Indiana, 64-52, in the title game.
The team was led by the program's all-time leading scorer, Juan Dixon, who was named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player, the ACC Player of the Year and an Associated Press First Team All-American. Fellow senior Lonny Baxter was named the Regional Most Outstanding Player in both 2001 and 2002, as he helped lead the Terps to back-to-back NCAA Final Four appearances.
Throughout the 2026-27 season, Maryland will have a year-long celebration of the 25th anniversary of the program's 2002 NCAA National Championship, presented by Northrop Realty. Home games throughout the 2026-27 season will feature special promotions, giveaways, player appearances and autograph sessions, and more that will celebrate this truly historic milestone in Maryland Athletics history.
Be part of the tradition all season long. Maryland men's basketball season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at umterps.com/JoinTheTradition or by calling 301-314-7060 to speak with an account representative.
Washington, D.C. – Five impressive individuals and one of the legendary teams in NCAA Men's Basketball history make up the Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026. The formal induction ceremony will be held 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 11:00 a.m., followed by the game's first pitch at 12:15 p.m.
This year's class of honorees includes W.T. Woodson High School and Duke University alumnus Tommy Amaker; 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.
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.
THE 2026 INDUCTEES:
TOMMY AMAKER: Attended W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, Va., from 1979 to 1983 where he led the Cavaliers to four straight district titles. Tommy was named a Parade and McDonald's All-American (1983), first team All-Met (1982 and 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. Amaker attended Duke University, 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. Amaker has been a college basketball coach for more than 20 years, including as the head coach of Harvard University, University of Michigan and Seton Hall University. Amaker was inducted into the Duke Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001 and the W.T. Woodson High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.
ELENA DELLE DONNE: One of the faces of the WNBA in the 2010's, Elena Delle Donne won two MVP awards and was a seven-time WNBA All-Star, a four-time All-WNBA First Team selection, the 2013 WNBA Rookie of the Year and led the Washington Mystics to their first championship in 2019. Delle Donne holds the top free throw percentage (.937) and offensive rating (123.1) in WNBA history and is fourth in points per game (19.5) after leading the league in that statistical category during her first MVP run in 2015. During her 2019 title run with the Mystics, Delle Donne became the first WNBA player to join the 50-40-90 club in field goal, three-point, and free throw percentages, respectively. Delle Donne was inducted into both the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame earlier this year.
LONDON FLETCHER: A former professional football player who was a linebacker for 16 seasons in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams, Buffalo Bills and – for the final seven seasons of his playing career – Washington (2007-13). While with the Burgundy & Gold, he was named to four Pro Bowls and won the Bart Starr Award, which is given to a player who "best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community." On Dec. 18, 2013, Fletcher announced his retirement from the NFL, finishing his career having played in 256 consecutive games and starting 215 consecutive games, setting the NFL record of consecutive starts at the linebacker position. Fletcher joined Washington's radio broadcast crew in 2022 and on Sept. 1, 2022, Fletcher was inducted into Washington's Greatest Players list in honor of the franchise's 90th anniversary.
ELANA MEYERS TAYLOR: Best known for her prowess on the ice in Bobsleigh, Elana Meyers Taylor previously excelled on the softball diamond at The George Washington University and is considered one of the school's greatest-ever athletes. Meyers Taylor, who played on GW's softball team for five years, was inducted into the GW Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014 and was the program's first player to have their jersey retired. The university later presented Meyers Taylor with an honorary doctorate in 2018 and the President's Medal in 2022. She is best known for her achievements at the Winter Olympics. Meyers Taylor has competed in five different Winter Olympics and has won six medals, including a gold medal in the Monobob event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
AL THOMAS: A Maryland high school football coaching legend and founding member of the Maryland Scholastic Football Coaches Association (MSFCA) Hall of Fame, Al Thomas led multiple Maryland high schools in his 47-year coaching career, including Gaithersburg, Seneca Valley, Damascus, Cambridge-South-Dorchester and Sherwood high schools. Thomas' career head coaching record was 242-47 with four undefeated seasons – the 10th-best record in state history. In 2008, Thomas set a record with his 8th Maryland State Championship, which he achieved at three different Montgomery County schools in three classifications. Thomas was selected four times by the Washington Post as the Metro Coach of the Year and was inducted into the Maryland Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1997. He passed away in 2016.
TEAM OF DISTINCTION – 2001-02 UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONS: Widely regarded as one of the greatest teams in NCAA Division I Men's Basketball history, the 2001-02 University of Maryland Men's Basketball team finished the season with a 32-4 record, winning the NCAA National Championship with their 64-52 victory over the Indiana Hoosiers, marking the first and only title for the men's basketball program. Led by Head Coach Gary Williams, the Terrapins, remarkably, never lost in their home gym of Cole Field House that season. The championship roster included the talents of Lonny Baxter, Steve Blake, AP First Team All-American Juan Dixon, Byron Mouton, and Chris Wilcox, making them one of the most well-rounded rosters in NCAA history.
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