Danielle Donehew stood in the spotlight Saturday night in Knoxville, finally receiving the honor so many believed was long overdue: induction into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. And this one wasn’t just another award — it was a moment that stamped her name permanently into the history of the sport she’s helped grow for nearly three decades.
The former Georgia Tech sharpshooter, now executive director of the WBCA, joined a powerhouse 2025 class that included Sue Bird, Sylvia Fowles, and Alana Beard. But amid those household names, Donehew’s story carved a path of its own — not with buzzer-beaters or Olympic medals, but through relentless work, leadership, and loyalty to the game.
A Jacket at Heart — Records That Still Stand
Danielle Donehew might wear many hats today, but Georgia Tech is where it all began.
She suited up for the Yellow Jackets from 1996 to 2000, leaving behind records that still haven’t been touched. In a sport where records often fall every few years, hers continue to resist gravity.
One sentence says it all.
She hit eight three-pointers in a game — twice. In the 1998-99 season, she drained 86 threes, a single-season record at Georgia Tech that still stands more than 25 years later. Let that sink in.
Her efforts helped push Tech to a WNIT postseason, but she wasn’t just draining deep balls. She was pulling double-duty in the classroom too.
Twice, she earned academic all-ACC and CoSIDA academic all-district honors. And in 2001, she was handed the ACC Postgraduate Scholarship — a sign of things to come.
From Summitt’s Side to the Summit of the Sport
After graduation, Donehew wasn’t done. Not even close.
She joined legendary coach Pat Summitt at Tennessee as a graduate assistant. That move turned out to be pivotal. She wasn’t chasing stardom anymore. She was building it.
Her early days with Summitt shaped how she saw the sport — not as a product but as a community.
In fact, she would go on to help co-found the Pat Summitt Foundation, one of many organizations she supported in the years that followed. And her work stretched far beyond one team or one league.
Later, she served as executive vice president for the Atlanta Dream, a WNBA franchise that was still finding its voice. With Donehew on board, it found direction.
One paragraph won’t cover her resume.
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Executive director of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association since 2014
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Third person ever to lead the WBCA in its 40+ year history
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Board member, advisor, committee leader — you name it
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Advocate for women’s sports before it was trendy
In other words, she became the kind of leader she once looked up to.
Saturday Night in Knoxville: A Ceremony, a Statement
The Historic Tennessee Theatre has seen its fair share of stories, but Saturday night was different.
Seven individuals were inducted into the Hall of Fame this year. Names that echoed through arenas and households. Bird. Fowles. Pondexter. Beard.
And then, Donehew. Different kind of impact. Just as deep.
She walked on stage in the same city where she started her coaching life. Full circle. No script could write it better.
The audience stood. Some wiped away tears. Others just smiled quietly, the kind of smile you wear when someone you know finally gets their due.
Not everyone makes the NBA. But not everyone needs to.
Measuring Her Impact: On and Off the Court
To put Donehew’s career into context, let’s line up a few facts. Numbers don’t lie — and neither does legacy.
| Role | Organization | Years Active |
|---|---|---|
| Executive Director | WBCA | 2014–Present |
| Executive VP | Atlanta Dream (WNBA) | Late 2000s |
| Graduate Assistant | University of Tennessee | Early 2000s |
| Co-Founder | Pat Summitt Foundation | Since Inception |
| Record Holder (3-pointers) | Georgia Tech Women’s Basketball | Since 1999 |
Longevity matters. But so does direction. Donehew brought both.
Quiet Confidence in a Game Full of Noise
What sets Danielle apart isn’t a flashy career or a long list of personal accolades. It’s that she never seemed to want them.
She showed up to grow the game — not her name.
And she did it with quiet fire, the kind that burns slow but steady.
One of her mentors once said, “Leadership is how you show up when no one’s watching.” Donehew? She showed up. All the time.
Ask anyone who’s worked with her. They’ll tell you: she listens, she encourages, and she gets things done. No fluff. No spotlight-hogging.
The Class of 2025 — A Rare Mix of Talent and Tenacity
It’s easy to get lost in a Hall of Fame class stacked with global icons. But this year’s class didn’t just honor players. It honored builders.
Every inductee brought something unique.
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Sue Bird: 5 Olympic medals, 4 WNBA titles
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Sylvia Fowles: Defensive powerhouse, MVP
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Cappie Pondexter: Style, swagger, buckets
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Lucille Kyvallos: Coaching pioneer
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Alana Beard: Lockdown defender, role model
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Mark Campbell: Champion and developer of programs
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Danielle Donehew: Architect of the game’s future
This class wasn’t just strong — it was balanced. Like a good team.
Donehew might’ve been the least famous on the list, but few could argue she wasn’t among the most important.
Tech Roots Still Run Deep
Even though Donehew’s job now takes her across the country, Georgia Tech never really left her.
In 2013, she was named Tech’s ACC Legend — a title that made perfect sense, even back then.
That moment — and Saturday night in Knoxville — felt like bookends. Not to a career, but to a chapter.
There’s more to come. But this weekend? This was hers.
