Chasing ‘Superman’ Dwight Howard, Sue Bird autographs at Basketball Hall of Fame inductions
For the first time, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame enshrined three WNBA players in the Class of 2025.
All three players were honored previously in 2021 as members of the WNBA W25 team. That honor was for the 25 greatest WNBA players in the first 25 years in the league. The three enshrined in Springfield, Mass. were Sue Bird, Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles. That makes 15 WNBA W25 players who have been enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame. I would expect two to three more from that remaining group to be selected over the next two years. And 2026 brings the 30th season of the WNBA.
Sue Bird is regarded by many as the best WNBA guard of all time, with some saying she may be the best basketball guard of all time, men or women. Bird retired from the WNBA first in assists (3,234), first in games played (580), first in wins (336), and still holds those WNBA records.
Related Content:
Her assist record could be broken by Courtney Vandersloot, Alyssa Thomas or a healthy Caitlin Clark. Bird’s highest season assist total was 221, and those three have all eclipsed over 300 assists in a season. Vandersloot is only 347 assists away from the record.
Moore joined Bird with four WNBA titles. She showed her winning ways in college at Connecticut with a 150-4 NCAA record. Fowles retired with a WNBA record 4,006 rebounds. That record fell to Tina Charles before her Hall enshrinement, but Fowles still holds the WNBA record for field goal percentage (0.599).
In Bird’s enshrinement speech she talked about playing soccer as a youth and that there was no clear path for professional basketball. Bird was just 16 years old when the WNBA held its first draft and played its first game. Bird entered the league in 2002, the WNBA’s sixth season. Fowles entered in 2008 and Moore in 2011.
WNBA trading cards have changed quite a bit over the years. In 2002, the most popular base cards of Bird were the 2002 Fleer Ultra cards and the 2002 Fleer Authentix cards with base cards numbered to 2002. There is also a rare 2002 Fleer Authentix Sue Bird Front Row variation with a print run of only 100 copies. A PSA 9 version (#45/100) sold on eBay for $1,425 on Sept. 7. PSA 9 base versions sell for between $200-$400.
In Fowles’ 2008 rookie season, the cards of choice were printed by Rittenhouse and numbered to 444. In 2011, Rittenhouse again printed rookie cards for Moore, numbered to only 225. A PSA 9 of Moore’s rookie sold on eBay for $1,650 on Sept. 2.
Compare that to the countless Panini cards and variations of 2024 Caitlin Clark rookie cards—over 2,900 active eBay listings compared to 79 for Bird.
SUPERMEN
The 2025 Hall of Fame class included NBA at 75 and top 10 all-time scorer Carmelo Anthony and NBA great Dwight Howard. Both were honored as individual players and as members of the 2008 USA Team.
Howard was known as “Superman” after he sported a Superman cape during the 2008 Slam Dunk Contest. Howard was Superman and a fan favorite during Hall of Fame weekend, always talking with fans and signing autographs with a smile. More than a few fans asked for a “Superman” inscription at the autograph session. Howard was the best signer all weekend.
Howard also had an impressive presenter list that included Shaquille O’Neal, Robert Parish, Dominque Wilkens, and Patrick Ewing. Howard paid tribute in his speech to Kareem Abdul Jabbar (his GOAT), Bill Russell and Dikembe Mutumbo as he wanted to honor the history of great NBA centers.
Dennis Rodman was initially on the presenter list but was unable to attend. I asked Howard about the selection of Rodman as his presenter and he said: “Rodman was my Auntie’s favorite player, and early in my career I met his auntie.”
In his speech, he named Rodman as one of his favorite players. Parish was selected since his Grandma loved him and he was an early inspiration to Howard. Wilkens was selected after showing a keen interest in Howard early in his career and attended his first high school basketball game. Ewing was a coach and mentor to Howard in Orlando. Howard acknowledged O’Neal as the original Superman.
SUPER FRANCHISE
Micky Arison was enshrined as a contributor to the game of basketball. Arison purchased the Maimi Heat in 1995. Thirty years later, the Miami Heat has enjoyed a lot of success under his leadership. A few months after purchasing the team, he hired Pat Riley as coach and later team president. That was the start to 16 Division titles, seven Eastern Conference titles, and three NBA championships (2006, 2012, 2013). Early in Arison’s tenure, Riley acquired Hall of Famers Alonzo Mourning and Tim Hardaway. The 2006 championship team was led by Hall of Famers O’Neal, Mourning, Gary Payton, and Dwyane Wade.
And, of course, the 2012 and 2013 teams featured Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh— the “Big Three” from “The Decision.” All eight Miami Heat Hall of Fame players were in attendance along with Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra.
Not too bad for a franchise that began play as an expansion team in 1988–89. Since then, the Heat has been one of the league’s winningest franchises.
The Class of 2025 also featured NCAA and NBA coach Billy Donovan, NBA Referee Danny Crawford, and the 2008 USA Men’s Olympic Team. The 2008 Olympic team includes: Anthony, Howard, Bosh, Boozer, LeBron, Wade, Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Michael Redd, and Tayshaun Prince. All 11 living members were in attendance.
This was the first Hall of Fame enshrinement for LeBron. It won’t too long before the NBA’s all-time leading scorer is honored as an individual player.
SUPER COLLECTIBLES
I was able to add some nice autographed pieces to my collection over the four-day weekend. Here are eight items that I added to my collection.
• Dominque Wilkens, Isiah Thomas, Jason Kidd and Howard autographs to a signed Team USA Olympic jersey.
• Carmelo Anthony-signed Syracuse jersey.
• Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard-signed Class of 2025 Hall of Fame Basketball (part of my autograph ticket).
• WNBA W25 mini-basketballs of Bird, Moore and Fowles.
• UConn women’s head coach Geno Auriemma-signed 1,000th coaching win ticket.
• Stanford head coach Tara VanDerveer-signed 1,000th coaching win ticket.
• Soccer star Megan Rapinoe-signed Sportsperson of the Year magazine.
• Dwight Howard-signed Sports Illustrated Magazine.
Robert Kunz covers the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Pro Basketball Hall of Fame for Sports Collectors Digest.