The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has announced the Finalists for the Class of 2026 

The Finalists are:

1996 U.S. Women’s National Olympic Team:  This was one of the most dominant squads in Olympic history, averaging a 20-point-plus differential throughout the tournament.  They beat Brazil in the Finals.  The team consisted of Jennifer Azzi, Ruthie Bolton-Holifield, Teresa Edwards, Venus Lacy, Lisa Leslie, Rebecca Lobo, Katrina McClain, Nikki McCray, Carla McGhee, Dawn Staley, Katy Steding, and Sheryl Swoopes, with Tara VanderVeer as their Head Coach.

Jennifer Azzi (PLA):  Azzi was the Naismith Basketball Player of the Year in 1990, leading Stanford to a National Championship.  She was also on the gold medal-winning 1996 Olympic Women’s Team and won two more gold medals at the FIBA World Championship (1990 & 1998).  She was also inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and was a Naismith Basketball Finalist in 2023.

Molly Bolin (PLA).  Bolin was one of the biggest stars of the Women’s Professional Basketball League in the late 70s, the first pro basketball league for women.  She was a three-time league All-Star and was the Co-MVP in 1980.

Tal Brody (COA).  Brody played collegiately at Illinois, but after competing at the Maccabiah Games in Israel, he was asked to stay, which led to a successful career in which he put Maccabi Tel Aviv and Israeli basketball on the map, a tagline he is known for.

Joey Crawford (REF).  Crawford was an NBA Referee from 1977 to 2016 and worked 50 NBA Finals Games.  He was a controversial figure in the NBA, known for his confrontational and aggressive approach to assessing technical fouls.

Mike D’Antoni (COA).  D’Antoni had a long and travelled career as a Coach throughout the NBA and Europe.  In the United States, he is best known for leading Phoenix to two Conference Finals and his runs as the Head Coach for New York and Houston, and he is also a two-time NBA Coach of the Year.  D’Antoni also won two Italian Leagues as Benneton Trevioso’s HC, and he owns two Olympic Gold Medals as an Assistant Coach for the United States.

Elena Delle Donne (PLA).  Delle Donne was a superstar at the University of Delaware, where she was a two-time All-American.  Professionally, she split her WNBA career between Chicago and Washington, winning a WNBA Title with the Mystics. She also won two WNBA MVPs, was a four-time First Team All-WNBA Selection, and a seven-time All-Star.  She was also on the United States team that won the 2016 Gold Medal.

Mark Few (COA).  Few are arguably the most important men in Gonzaga's history; as of this writing, he is still their head coach.  He took the Bulldogs to two Final Fours (2017 & 2021) and won 19 WCC Tournaments.  He is also a two-time Naismith Coach of the Year and a 12-time WCC Coach of the Year.

Blake Griffin (PLA):  Griffin was one of the most exciting players in the first half of the 2010s and came as advertised after his 2009 National Player of the Year campaign at Oklahoma.  Known for his powerful dunks and prolific rebounding, Griffin made the Los Angeles Clippers must-watch basketball.  He won the 2011 Rookie of the Year, was a five-time All-NBA Selection (three Second Team and two Third Team), and a six-time All-Star. 

Chamique Holdsclaw (PLA).  Holdsclaw won three consecutive NCAA Championships at Tennessee (1996-98) and was the Naismith College Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons (1997 & 1998).  Professionally, she went to six WNBA All-Star Games and won one Scoring Title and two Rebounding Titles in a career spent with Washington, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and San Antonio.  She is already in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

Dusan Ivkovic (COA).  A FIBA Hall of Fame inductee, Ivkovic played ten seasons for Radnicki Belgrade in the Yugoslavian League.  Although the Point Guard had a nice career and was nominated as a player, he had far more success as a coach at the club level and for Yugoslavia and Serbia, winning three EuroBasket Gold Medals and a FIBA World Gold Medal in 1990. 

Kevin Johnson (PLA).  Johnson played his college ball at California and was drafted seventh by Cleveland, but was traded soon after to Phoenix, where he played the rest of his career.  With the Suns, Johnson was a four-time Second Team, one-time Third Team All-NBA Selection with three All-Stars, and he scored 13,127 Points and 6,711 Assists in the Association.

Marques Johnson (PLA).  Johnson was recently considered in the North American era and is now in the Veterans’ category.  An NCAA Champion at UCLA, where he was the National College Player of the Year, Johnson was a one-time First Team All-NBA and two-time Second Team All-NBA Selection, and a five-time All-Star who mainly played with Milwaukee.   He averaged 20.1 Points per Game, and also played for the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State.

Gary McKnight (COA).  One of the most successful Coaches on the high school level, McKnight led Mater Dei High School to a National Championship, 11 California State Titles, and 39 League Titles.

Dick Motta (COA).  Motta helmed Weber State to three Big Sky Titles (and a Big Sky Coach of the Year), but his best work was in the NBA, where he coached the Washington Bullets to a championship in 1978.  He was also the NBA Coach of the Year in 1971 with the Chicago Bulls and was the HC in the NBA for Dallas, Sacramento, and Denver.

Candace Parker (PLA).  Considered one of the greatest women’s players of all time, Candace Parker won a truckload of awards at the University of Tennessee, capped by leading the Lady Vols to two National Championships.  Professionally, Parker led three different teams to WNBA Titles (Los Angeles, Chicago, and Las Vegas), and she also won a Defensive Player of the Year Award, two MVPs, was a seven-time First Team All-WNBA, and went to seven WNBA All-Star Games.  She also led the United States to two Olympic Gold Medals.

Doc Rivers (COA).  Nominated for the second time, Rivers is the current Head Coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and holds an NBA Championship, having led the Boston Celtics to a title in 2008.  A former Coach of the Year, Rivers was named one of the NBA’s 15 Greatest Coaches.  He is also a former Head Coach of the Orlando Magic, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Philadelphia 76ers, and is currently eighth all-time in Wins.

Kelvin Sampson (COA).  Sampson first served as a Head Coach at Montana Tech, where he led his team to three Conference Tournament titles.  Washington State later hired him and then hired him as the HC at Oklahoma, where he led the Sooners to a Final Four and four Big 12 Tournament championships.  Currently, Sampson is the Head Coach at the University of Houston, where he has led the Cougars to two Final Fours.  As of this writing, he has 808 wins.

Amar’e Stoudemire (PLA).  Stoudemire was a six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA Selection (one first Team and four Second Team) who had 15,994 Points and 6,632 Rebounds in a career with Phoenix, New York, Dallas, and Miami.  After his NBA career ended, he moved to Israel and won two Premier League Titles.

Jerry Welsh (COA).  Welsh was the Head Coach at SUNY Potsdam, where he had a record of 494-141 from 1968 to 1991 and won two National Championships in 1981 and 1986.

Buck Williams (PLA).  Williams won the 1982 Rookie of the Year Award and was a three-time All-Star in his time with the New Jersey Nets.  He also played for Portland and New York, was a four-time All-Defensive Selection (two First Team and two Second Team), and had 16,784 career Points and 13,017 Rebounds.

We here at Notinhalloffame would like to congratulate the candidates who have made it this far.

RocketPlay Casino Honest Assessment of Bonuses and Games

RocketPlay Casino structures its bonus packages with specific match percentages, expiration timelines, and game restrictions that directly determine whether promotional offers deliver actual value or merely create barriers to withdrawing funds. The platform’s game library combines slots, table games, and live dealers from multiple software providers, each carrying different return-to-player percentages that affect long-term profitability potential for different playing styles.

Bonus Structure and Real Value Assessment

Welcome bonuses at RocketPlay typically offer a 100% deposit match up to $200 alongside free spins on designated slot games. These bonuses appear generous on the surface, but their actual value depends entirely on the wagering requirements attached, which require playing through the bonus amount 25 times before converting it to withdrawable cash. By accepting this bonus structure, you gain additional playing capital that extends your sessions but sacrifice the ability to withdraw money quickly since the playthrough obligation locks your funds during extended gameplay periods.

The bonus activation timeline matters significantly for your gaming strategy. Claiming your welcome offer immediately upon registration locks you into the 25x wagering requirement from day one, whereas delaying your bonus claim allows you to play with deposited funds first and decide later whether the bonus terms suit your bankroll. The main compromise of accepting bonuses is that in order to achieve higher promotional amounts, you must commit to playing through substantial multiples of the bonus before accessing any winnings.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the bonus tiers available on the platform:

Game Contribution Percentages and Playthrough Reality

Not all games contribute equally toward completing your wagering requirements, which significantly impacts how quickly you can finish your playthrough. Slot machines typically contribute 100% of your wagers toward the requirement, meaning every dollar spent counts fully. Table games like blackjack and roulette contribute only 20%, so wagering $100 on these games counts as just $20 toward your 25x requirement. By choosing to play table games during bonus playthrough, you inevitably sacrifice progress speed and must extend your gaming sessions substantially to meet the obligation.

The following list shows contribution rates for different game categories:

• Video slots and jackpot games contribute at 100% toward wagering
• Table games including blackjack and roulette contribute at 20%
• Live dealer games contribute at 15% of wagers
• Certain specialty games contribute at 50%
• Progressive jackpot slots sometimes exclude bonus progress entirely

Game Selection and Return to Player Analysis

RocketPlay integrates games from 10 major software providers including established companies known for certified fair gaming. Each game displays its theoretical RTP percentage, which indicates the average amount returned to players over extended play. Slot machines average 95-97% RTP, meaning the house maintains a 3-5% advantage on these games. Table games like blackjack offer better odds at 98-99% RTP when played with optimal strategy, but require significantly more skill and decision-making compared to automated slot gameplay.

Volatility in slot games determines whether your winnings come from frequent small wins or rare large jackpots. High volatility slots might pay out once every 200 spins but deliver larger amounts, while low volatility slots pay smaller wins more frequently. By choosing high volatility games for bonus playthrough, you accept longer losing streaks and higher bankroll swings in exchange for the potential to complete requirements with fewer total spins if you hit winning combinations. This choice directly affects whether your bonus funds last long enough to satisfy playthrough obligations.

Live Dealer Games and Authenticity Considerations

Live dealer games stream actual croupiers conducting games in real-time from broadcast studios, creating an experience closer to physical casinos. These games feature 97-98.5% RTP on average and allow strategic decision-making in games like blackjack and baccarat. The main compromise of live dealer gameplay is that you accept slower game speed compared to automated versions, with each hand or spin taking 30-60 seconds rather than completing instantly. Additionally, live dealers typically contribute only 15% toward bonus wagering, requiring significantly longer play sessions to complete your playthrough obligations.

Here are the key characteristics of live dealer offerings:

• Real croupiers broadcast live from professional studios with HD streaming quality
• Games include blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker variations
• Minimum bets range from $5 to $25 depending on table selection
• Interaction features allow chat communication with dealers during gameplay
• Game speed requires 30-60 seconds per round rather than instant completion

Bonus Restrictions and Withdrawal Limitations

Maximum withdrawal caps apply specifically to winnings generated from bonus funds, with typical limits ranging from $500 to $1,000 depending on your bonus tier. This restriction means that even if you successfully complete your 25x wagering requirement and accumulate significant winnings, you cannot withdraw amounts exceeding these caps. By accepting bonuses, you inevitably sacrifice unlimited withdrawal potential on promotional funds in exchange for the initial capital boost.

Certain game categories may be entirely excluded from bonus playthrough, particularly progressive jackpot slots where the house edge works differently. Withdrawal requests triggered by bonus winnings undergo additional verification steps that can extend processing times beyond standard 24-hour periods to 48-72 hours.

Strategic Bonus Selection Based on Your Bankroll

Players with smaller bankrolls benefit more from lower bonus tiers with reduced wagering requirements, even though the absolute bonus amount is smaller. A $100 bonus with 18x wagering requires completing $1,800 in wagers, which is manageable for most play sessions. Conversely, the $200 bonus with 25x wagering demands $5,000 in total wagers, creating substantial risk of depleting your bankroll before completion if you experience normal variance.

RocketPlay Casino’s bonus structure delivers real value only when carefully matched to your playing style, preferred game categories, and available bankroll for completing requirements. Success depends on understanding that bonuses represent conditional funds rather than gifts, with completion obligations directly affecting your overall profitability.

Finding a reliable AI meeting note taker can feel like an impossible task when patient privacy is on the line. For healthcare providers, the “clinician’s burden” is a very real, very exhausting reality. You spend your day balancing the delicate needs of your patients with the relentless requirement for precise documentation. Too often, this leads to “pajama time”—hours spent after a long shift finishing charts that should have been completed during the visit.

Manual note-taking doesn’t just eat your time; it interferes with the doctor-patient relationship. When your head is buried in a laptop or notebook, you miss the non-verbal cues and subtle emotional shifts that are critical to high-quality care. This is where healthcare transcription powered by VOMO transforms the clinical experience. By automating the capture of consultations, VOMO acts as an intelligent AI scribe, allowing you to focus on the patient, not the paperwork.

The Technical Foundation: How Vomo.ai Ensures 99% Accuracy

In a medical setting, “close enough” is never good enough for a transcript. Our technical foundation is built on the Nova-2 model, a cutting-edge speech-to-text engine that delivers up to 99% accuracy even in complex environments. This high-fidelity audio-to-text conversion is specifically designed to handle real-world audio, including background noise and various accents.

VOMO excels at medical documentation because it handles the nuances of healthcare interactions:

• Speaker Diarization Our AI intelligently identifies and labels different speakers. It can distinguish between the physician, the patient, and any family members present, ensuring the medical record accurately reflects who said what.
  
  
• Advanced Medical Terminology The Nova-2 model is trained to recognize complex jargon, ensuring that pharmacological names and diagnostic terms are transcribed correctly the first time.
  
  
• Multi-Language Support We support over 50 languages, including Spanish, French, Chinese, and Arabic. This allows you to provide accurate documentation for a diverse patient population without needing a human translator for every note.
  
  

Security First: Protecting Sensitive Patient Information

Trust is the most important component of any medical tool. VOMO is built with a “Security First” architecture that meets the strict demands of HIPAA compliance and global privacy standards. We understand that patient data is the most sensitive information you handle.

• Enterprise-Grade Encryption All data, from the moment it is recorded until it is stored in the cloud, is protected via HTTPS and end-to-end encryption.
  
  
• Strict Privacy Controls We follow global data protection regulations such as GDPR. Your recordings and transcripts are never shared with third parties, and files are managed according to rigorous security protocols.
  
  
• Confidentiality by Design VOMO transforms your discussions into actionable records while ensuring that the data remains secure and private at all times.
  
  

Versatility Beyond the Clinic: Research and Education

VOMO’s power as an AI scribe extends far beyond the consultation room. In modern medicine, knowledge is constantly being created through webinars, research interviews, and lectures.

Doctors and researchers often need to transcribe YouTube video content from medical conferences or surgical tutorials to stay up to date. Students can record lectures and use VOMO to turn complex medical theories into organized study notes.

For those on the go, our mobile apps for iOS and Android are indispensable. You can easily transcribe voice memo recordings made during hospital rounds or after a research interview, ensuring that your insights are captured and synchronized with the VOMO web platform for further analysis.

Step-by-Step Guide: Implementing an AI Scribe in Your Workflow

Integrating VOMO into your daily routine is simple and requires no complex technical setup:

1. Secure Recording Use the VOMO app on your phone or the web platform to record the consultation or upload a pre-recorded file.
   
   
2. AI Transcription VOMO automatically processes the audio, using speaker diarization to create a clear, verbatim record of the interaction.
   
   
3. Knowledge Management with Ask AI Using GPT-4o integration, you can ask VOMO to:
   
   
   • Generate a concise summary of the patient’s chief complaint and history
   • Extract a list of recommended medications and dosage instructions
   • Create a to-do list for follow-up tests or specialist referrals
4. Export and Integration Once finalized, export your notes as a PDF, DOCX, or TXT file to be securely uploaded into your EHR system.
   
   

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Is Vomo.ai HIPAA-compliant? A: Yes. VOMO prioritizes data privacy by using industry-standard encryption and strict privacy controls to meet the rigorous standards of healthcare providers.

Q2: How does the AI handle complex medical jargon? A: Our system is powered by the Nova-2 model, which is specifically designed for high-fidelity transcription. It excels at identifying medical terminology and various accents, achieving up to 99% accuracy with clear audio.

Q3: Can I use the tool for medical lectures and webinars? A: Absolutely. VOMO supports file uploads of almost any length and can even import YouTube links to transcribe and summarize educational content for your research or study.

Conclusion: Focus on the Patient, Not the Paperwork

Using an AI scribe isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about restoring the human element of medicine. When you trust VOMO to handle the documentation, you are free to be present with your patients, listen to their concerns, and provide the best possible care.

Don’t let manual note-taking dictate your schedule. Try Vomo.ai today—start your first secure recording and reclaim your time for what matters most. No credit card is required to get started.

February in the NHL means a change in focus. The standings still matter, but the gap between teams fighting to survive and teams built to contend becomes impossible to miss. It’s a separation that shows up clearly in the odds.

A small group of contenders is shaping the NHL betting landscape. Colorado’s dominance has set the pricing standard, while Tampa Bay’s surge keeps forcing adjustments across the board.

Carolina’s depth makes them steady to project, Edmonton’s star power keeps matchups dangerous, and Vegas brings a playoff-style edge even in February. These teams aren’t just leading, they’re shaping how oddsmakers set numbers every night.

Colorado Avalanche: The League’s Pricing Benchmark

Colorado has been the most focused team in hockey this season, and that dominance is shaping the odds board almost daily. Their consistency has made them the standard oddsmakers build around.

The Avalanche enter the break with a league-best goal differential and steady week-to-week control. Oddsmakers have priced them as one of the NHL’s heaviest regular-season favorites, often pushing bettors toward puck lines or totals instead of simple moneylines.

Nathan MacKinnon’s scoring pace has turned Colorado games into high-event markets, while Cale Makar’s presence keeps the Avalanche driving play for long stretches on both ends of the ice, forcing opponents into constant defensive adjustments and rushed mistakes.

Colorado’s impact goes beyond their own games, shaping Western Conference pricing across the board. That impact is clear in the updated FanDuel NHL odds, where the Avalanche often set the nightly standard.

Tampa Bay Lightning: The Streak That Moved the Market

Few teams have reshaped expectations in recent weeks like Tampa Bay, whose surge has quickly pushed them back into the league’s inner circle. Their form has made every Lightning matchup feel playoff-relevant almost overnight.

An 18-1-1 run doesn’t just boost a team in the standings, it forces oddsmakers to reprice them almost immediately. Tampa’s games have become some of the most closely watched from a betting perspective.

Nikita Kucherov has been at the center of it all, producing at an MVP level and making the Lightning one of the most dangerous offensive teams in hockey. That firepower impacts totals just as much as it impacts win probabilities.

Tampa’s rise has the team breathing down the neck of Colorado and also compressed overall Eastern Conference pricing. When a contender gets this hot in February, it doesn’t just change their own numbers, it shifts the market around them.

Carolina Hurricanes: The Consistency Oddsmakers Trust

Carolina shapes NHL odds in a different way. The Hurricanes may not always be the flashiest team on the board, but they are one of the most stable to project. Oddsmakers consistently respect their structure and consistency each night.

Depth is the reason. Carolina rolls four lines that can defend, pressure, and generate volume. That balance makes them less prone to wild swings, which is why they are often priced as steady favorites even when they aren’t playing in headline matchups.

Recent additions like K’Andre Miller and Nikolaj Ehlers have only strengthened that profile, giving Carolina more finishing ability to match their structure. Those moves have made them tougher to price as anything but a contender.

Staying updated on lineup changes, form trends, and team momentum is essential when evaluating clubs like the Hurricanes. Bettors diving into resources like NHL team news and analysis will have an edge through a deeper understanding of why Carolina remains one of the league’s most dependable contenders.

Edmonton Oilers: Star Power That Keeps Odds Tight

Edmonton remains one of the most fascinating teams for oddsmakers because their pricing is so closely tied to superstar upside.

Connor McDavid leading the league in points changes the expectations of any matchup. Even when Edmonton’s defensive play wobbles, the Oilers are rarely priced as an underdog for long because they’ve been known to flip a game in minutes.

Special teams play a major role here. Edmonton’s power play is operating at over 31 percent, which keeps their games highly sensitive to penalties and situational swings.

A quick snapshot of what drives Edmonton’s market impact:

• Elite scoring ceiling in any matchup, 
• Power play dominance that affects totals and live lines, 
• Defensive inconsistency that creates volatility, 
• A team capable of dramatic swings night to night. 

No contender shapes “high-upside” pricing more than the Oilers. One explosive stretch from their stars can flip a market in minutes.

Vegas Golden Knights: The Team That Warps Matchups

Vegas doesn’t always dominate the spotlight, but they affect NHL odds because of how difficult they are to play against. Oddsmakers rarely give opponents an easy number against their style.

The Golden Knights bring a heavier, structured style that often lowers scoring environments and makes games feel tighter. Oddsmakers reflect that in shorter totals and more competitive pricing, even against top opponents.

Vegas is also the kind of team that becomes more dangerous late in the year, when physicality rises and games resemble playoff hockey. Their grinding approach tends to travel well in tight postseason-style matchups.

Matchups against Vegas tend to be priced with extra respect, because their style travels well and rarely collapses. Even elite opponents often face tighter spreads than expected.

The Olympic Break Creates a Pause and a Reset

The NHL’s Olympic hiatus is a unique moment for the odds landscape.

A roster freeze limits major movement, meaning markets may stay relatively steady for a couple of weeks. Injuries or fatigue coming out of Olympic play, however, could reshape projections quickly.

The restart will also compress the final stretch, making seeding battles and division races more intense and more influential in nightly pricing. Every game will carry sharper implications for both teams and lines.

For bettors, this break is a checkpoint. The league’s top teams have already shaped the market, but the second half will determine whether those numbers were justified.

The Teams Setting the NHL’s Betting Tone

Colorado, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Edmonton, and Vegas aren’t just piling up wins, they’re shaping how the NHL is priced night after night. Their dominance, streaks, depth, and star power drive the league’s biggest matchups and most influential totals.

Odds are ultimately a measure of trust, and these contenders have earned more of it than anyone else right now.

When play resumes after the break, the margins will only tighten. The teams at the top aren’t simply chasing a championship, they’re defining the betting landscape along the way.