GLEN ALLEN, Va. (WAVY) — It’s well-known that some of the best athletes to play or coach in their respective sports have passed through Hampton Roads at one point. Over the weekend, Portsmouth’s own LaShawn Merritt and William & Mary’s Jill Ellis were among nine big names inducted into the 2024 class of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.
The ceremony was held in Henrico County Saturday night. This was the first year the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame held the induction outside Hampton Roads.
Ellis played at William & Mary in the 80’s, scoring 32 goals and earning All-American honors during her four years with the Tribe.
Merritt was best known for the 400m dash, winning two gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics, and his third gold during the 2016 Summer Olympics. He’s won a total of four Olympic medals, including a bronze medal in the 400m at the 2016 games.
Other inductees include Chris Long, a two-time Super Bowl champ, and Monica Wright Rogers – a three-time WNBA champion.
Both Long and Wright-Rogers are University of Virginia grads. To this day, Wright-Rogers is the all-time leading scorer in UVA basketball history — men’s and women’s.