LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame Honors Coach, NBA Star, More

Anthony Nicodemo spent years coaching basketball while hiding who he really was, terrified that coming out would cost him his career. Now the New York athletic director is joining the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame's 2026 class, proving that courage pays off in ways he never imagined.

"Getting up every morning and being something you're not is a very difficult thing to do," Nicodemo said at the announcement ceremony in Chicago. "In a lot of ways, I was living this fraudulent life."

Nicodemo came out in 2013 after watching Jason Collins become the first openly gay NBA player. Collins is also being inducted this year, and the two have since become friends.

The plot twist? Nicodemo's coaching record actually improved after he stopped hiding. "I've won more games since I came out than I did before I came out, and I think there's a correlation there," he said.

The 2026 class announced at Chicago's Center on Halsted showcases decades of courage across sports. At 99 years old, Maybelle Blair is being honored for her groundbreaking career as a pitcher. Her story helped inspire the TV series "A League of Their Own."

Robin Roberts, the Good Morning America co-anchor and former college basketball star, will also be inducted. Her visibility as an openly gay broadcaster has made her a household name beyond sports.

Why This Inspires

Scott Bova, the Hall of Fame chair, says celebrating these trailblazers sends a powerful message to athletes still living in fear. "The world of sport for us has always been a place where you don't feel fully comfortable," he explained. "These individuals have made it easier for myself, for many of us to find a place and live our authentic life."

The Hall of Fame launched in Chicago 13 years ago to honor LGBTQ athletes and advocates who changed sports through visibility and courage. Each year's class shows how much progress has been made while acknowledging how far sports culture still needs to go.

The induction ceremony takes place in New York City this June, giving honorees and fans a chance to celebrate together. Next year, the ceremony returns home to Chicago, where it all started.

For Nicodemo, the honor validates a difficult choice that transformed his life and career in ways he couldn't have predicted when he first decided to live openly.