NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Southern Connecticut State University women's basketball and field hockey alum Carol Stiff '83, '89 was announced as a member of the 22nd Class of Inductees to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. Stiff earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Southern Connecticut in 1983 before completing her master's degree in human performance/physical education in 1989. As an undergraduate, Stiff was a member of the women's basketball and field hockey teams.

Stiff is regarded as one of the most influential person in women's college sports as ESPN's vice president of women's sports programming. Stiff guided ESPN and the NCAA to exclusivity rights to the NCAA Tournament. In her current role she leads ESPN's efforts in NCAA women's basketball and the WNBA as well as integrating espnW content on ESPN's platforms.

Stiff joined ESPN in 1990, advancing through several programming roles to her current position with ESPN. Among her many accomplishments with premier sports network, Stiff coordinated scheduling on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU including NCAA women's basketball, NCAA championships, Football Championship Series, College World Series, Women's College World Series, WNBA and professional softball.

In 2018, Stiff coordinated the first espnW panel discussion focusing on women that have played a major role in college athletics on the campus of Southern Connecticut State University that featured Donna Lopiano '86, Kateema Rietti '03 and Angela Ames McKirryher '02.

The 2020 Induction will mark the 22nd Class of Inductees to be honored by the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, which held its grand opening and inaugural induction in 1999. The Class of 2020 will be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, receiving their coveted Eastman Trophy and Baron Championship Induction Ring, on June 13, 2020, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tickets for the ceremony are on sale now. For more information regarding tickets click here. 

The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Directors serves as the selection committee in determining which individuals will be inducted each year and which groups will be honored as "Trailblazers of the Game." Voting is based on minimum candidate requirements, which include record of performance, national or international recognition, and contributions to the game of women's basketball.