SAN JOSE, CA – The San Jose Sports Authority will celebrate the 31st anniversary of the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame presented by Citizens Business Bank by inducting four new members this November at SAP Center at San Jose. Together, the Class of 2026 represents excellence across professional sports, collegiate athletics and Olympic competition.
The San Jose Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Inductees are:
- Leslie Osborne (Soccer): In 2001, Osborne helped lead Santa Clara University to its first NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship before becoming one of the most decorated players in program history. A three-time All-American and U.S. Women’s National Team midfielder, she later co-founded Bay FC, helping shape the future of women’s professional soccer in the Bay Area.
- Mike Montgomery (Basketball): Transformed Stanford into a national basketball powerhouse, becoming the program’s all-time winningest coach while leading the Cardinal to 16 postseason appearances, the 1998 NCAA Final Four and four Pac-10 championships. A legendary Bay Area coach, he later guided rival Cal to six consecutive postseason berths.
- Joe Thornton (Hockey): Known throughout hockey as “Jumbo Joe,” Thornton transformed the San Jose Sharks into one of the NHL’s premier franchises. The Hart and Art Ross Trophy winner led the Sharks to their first Stanley Cup Final, won Olympic gold with Canada, and earned induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
- Brenda Villa (Water Polo): Among the most accomplished athletes in women’s water polo history, Brenda Villa is one of only two players to win four Olympic medals. The longtime Team USA captain also won three world championships, led Stanford to its first NCAA title and finished her legendary career with Olympic gold in 2012.
Each inductee will be permanently recognized with a bronze plaque displayed on the SAP Center at San Jose concourse, joining generations of South Bay sports legends whose achievements have shaped the region’s athletic heritage. With the addition of the Class of 2026, the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame continues its tradition of preserving the stories of the athletes, coaches and pioneers who have defined sports in Silicon Valley.
“The San Jose Sports Hall of Fame represents far more than wins, championships and statistics,” said John Poch, Executive Director of the San Jose Sports Authority. “It celebrates the people whose passion and excellence have strengthened our community and elevated San Jose’s place in the sports world. Leslie Osborne, Mike Montgomery, Joe Thornton and Brenda Villa have each built extraordinary legacies, and we are proud to honor them alongside the greatest names in our city’s sporting history.”
In addition to the Class of 2026 Inductees, the November ceremony features the best athletes of the year from Santa Clara County high schools, universities and the Special Olympics.
The 2026 San Jose Sports Hall of Fame Honorees are:
High School Athletes of the Year
- Moses Mendoza, Gilroy High School – Wrestling
- McKenna Woliczko, Archbishop Mitty High School – Basketball
Amateur Athletes of the Year
- Jasmine Aikey, Stanford University – Soccer
- Aden Valencia, Stanford University – Wrestling
Special Olympian of the Year
- Trisha Singhal, Special Olympics Northern California