Candace Parker

Candace Parker
SusanLesch · CC BY 4.0 · source
Name	Candace Parker
Position	Forward / Center
Weight lb	190
League	WNBA
Team	Las Vegas Aces
Birth date	November 19, 1986
Birth place	St. Louis, Missouri
College	Tennessee
Draft year	2008
Draft team	Los Angeles Sparks

Candace Parker is an American professional basketball player, broadcaster, and two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player. She has played for the Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky, and Las Vegas Aces, won WNBA championships, and earned Olympic and NCAA honors while becoming a prominent media analyst for major networks.

Early life and education

Parker was born in St. Louis, Missouri and raised in Naples, Florida, the daughter of former Kansas City Kings draft pick Michelle and former Pittsburgh Pipers guard Anthony Parker. She attended Naples High School and later St. Thomas Aquinas High School, where she played under coaches connected to USA Basketball and competed against future professionals from Oak Hill Academy, Mater Dei, and Christ the King Regional High School. As a top recruit she participated in events including the McDonald's All-American Game, the Jordan Brand Classic, and the Nike Hoop Summit, drawing interest from University of Tennessee, University of Connecticut, Baylor University, and Duke University.

College career

Parker attended University of Tennessee and played for coach Pat Summitt with teammates who competed in NCAA Division I events and faced programs such as UConn, Baylor, Stanford, and Notre Dame. She won the Naismith College Player of the Year, the Wade Trophy, and the USBWA Women's National Player of the Year while leading Tennessee to the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament Final Four and earning Southeastern Conference honors against rivals like Louisiana State University and University of Kentucky. Her college résumé included matchups with future WNBA stars from Baylor, Rutgers, Texas, and Penn State.

WNBA career

Selected first overall in the 2008 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks, Parker quickly joined stars such as Lisa Leslie and competed in the WNBA All-Star Game while earning WNBA Rookie of the Year Award and subsequent WNBA Most Valuable Player Award honors. With the Sparks she won a WNBA championship and played against franchises including the Phoenix Mercury, Connecticut Sun, Seattle Storm, and Minnesota Lynx. Later she signed with the Chicago Sky, teaming with players who faced clubs like the Washington Mystics, Indiana Fever, New York Liberty, and Dallas Wings, before joining the Las Vegas Aces and contributing to playoff runs alongside competitors from the Atlanta Dream and San Antonio Stars. Parker has been selected to multiple All-WNBA teams and participated in international loan arrangements typical of WNBA veterans alongside contemporaries like Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings, and Maya Moore.

Overseas and international play

Parker represented the United States women's national basketball team at competitions including the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup and the Summer Olympics, earning gold medals while playing alongside teammates from USA Basketball such as Skylar Diggins-Smith, Breanna Stewart, Elena Delle Donne, and A'ja Wilson. Her overseas club career included contracts in Russia and China, participating in leagues that feature imports from EuroLeague Women and clubs like those associated with Dynamo Moscow, UMMC Ekaterinburg, and teams that have signed Americans including Candice Wiggins and Tina Charles.

Playing style and achievements

Parker is noted for her versatility as a forward/center with post moves reminiscent of Pau Gasol and passing vision comparable to guards such as Nneka Ogwumike and Caitlin Clark; commentators have compared her rebounding and shot-blocking to players like Sylvia Fowles and Brittney Griner. She routinely recorded double-doubles and registered triple-doubles, joining elite company with players like Sheryl Swoopes and Lisa Leslie, and has accumulated WNBA records, All-Star selections, MVP trophies, and Olympic medals. Analysts referencing her collegiate and professional milestones compare her impact to legends from WNBA history and international icons like Lauren Jackson and Diana Taurasi.

Personal life and media career

Off the court, Parker has appeared as a commentator and analyst for networks including ESPN, TNT, CBS Sports, and NBA on ESPN, contributing to coverage alongside analysts like Rebecca Lobo and Carmelo Anthony. Her personal life has been covered in profiles referencing relationships and family matters with connections to communities in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Las Vegas, and she has engaged in charitable partnerships with organizations similar to Make-A-Wish Foundation, Girls Inc., and Special Olympics. Parker's public presence includes sponsorships and endorsements with brands that have also supported athletes like LeBron James, Serena Williams, and Stephen Curry.

Category:American women's basketball players Category:Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball players Category:WNBA Most Valuable Player Award winners