Candace Nicole Parker (born April 19, 1986), nicknamed "Ace",[1] is an American former professional basketball player. Widely regarded as one of the greatest WNBA players of all time,[2][3] she was selected as the first overall pick in the 2008 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks.[4] She spent 13 seasons on the Sparks, two seasons with the Chicago Sky, and one season with the Las Vegas Aces, winning a championship with each team.
A versatile player, Parker mainly played the forward and center positions. In high school, Parker won the 2003 and 2004 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year awards, becoming just the second junior and the only woman to receive a Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year award twice. As a college player for Tennessee, she led the team to two consecutive national championships (2007, 2008), was named the Final Four's most outstanding player in both occasions and was a two-time consensus national player of the year. As a redshirt freshman, she became the first woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game and the first woman to dunk twice in a college game.[5] After being selected in the WNBA Draft, Parker signed long-term endorsement deals with Adidas and Gatorade.[6][7]
In 2016, Parker led the Sparks to win their first WNBA Finals title since 2002 and won the WNBA Finals MVP Award. In 2021, she helped the Sky win their first title. Parker won two WNBA Most Valuable Player Awards (2008, 2013), a WNBA All-Star Game MVP Award (2013), two Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012), and the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award (2008). She got selected to six All-WNBA teams and five All-Star teams, and was the first player to win the Rookie of the Year and the MVP awards in the same season.[8] Parker became the second player to dunk in a WNBA game on June 22, 2008.[9][10]
Since 2018, Parker has been an analyst and commentator for TNT Sports, providing coverage for NBA games on TNT and NBA TV and for the NCAA men's basketball tournament.[11]
Following her retirement in spring of 2024, Parker was named president of Adidas women's basketball.[12][13]
- ^ Creative, Paradowski. "Adidas". Paradowski Creative. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ "Ranking the 25 greatest players in WNBA history". ESPN.com. September 21, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ Singh, Abhishek (January 31, 2022). "Top 10 Greatest WNBA Players of all Time". Chase Your Sport. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ "2008 WNBA Draft". WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
- ^ "Offseason 2008-09: Overseas Roster". Wnba.com. January 8, 2009.
- ^ Rovell, Darren (April 22, 2008). "Parker Signs With Adidas and Gatorade". CNBC. Archived from the original on July 18, 2008.
- ^ "Candace Parker Signs Endorsements With Gatorade, Adidas". www.sportsbusinessdaily.com. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
- ^ "Sparks' Parker wins MVP, rookie of year honors". ESPN.com. October 3, 2008. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
- ^ "Parker has opportunity to declare for '07 WNBA draft". Sports Illustrated. March 22, 2007. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2007.
- ^ Gutierrez, Melody (April 2, 2007). "College stars boost WNBA draft suspense". The Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on February 7, 2008. Retrieved April 4, 2007.
- ^ "Candace Parker, Turner Sports reach multiyear extension". NBA.com. September 9, 2019. Archived from the original on May 10, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
- ^ Hess, AJ (May 8, 2024). "Retiring WNBA legend Candace Parker is the new president of Adidas women's basketball (exclusive)". Fast Company. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
- ^ Richard, Brandon (May 8, 2024). "WNBA legend Candace Parker earned her stripes in long partnership with Adidas". Andscape. ESPN Enterprises, Inc. Retrieved May 10, 2024.