Amanda Knapp
Candace Parker, born on April 19, 1986, in St. Louis, Missouri, is a former professional basketball player. She is regarded as one of the greatest WNBA players of all time and was selected as the first overall pick in the 2008 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. Parker's basketball journey began at a young age, influenced by her family's love for the sport. Despite initial fears of not living up to the level of play of her father and brother, she eventually took up competitive basketball in the eighth grade. At Naperville Central High School, Parker showcased her talent, leading her team to back-to-back state championships in 2003 and 2004. Her impressive performances earned her multiple accolades, including the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year awards in both years. Parker's success continued at the University of Tennessee, where she became the first woman to dunk in an NCAA game and led her team to consecutive NCAA championships in 2007 and 2008.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Candace Nicole Parker |
| Nickname | Ace |
| Date of Birth | April 19, 1986 |
| Birthplace | St. Louis, Missouri, US |
| Parents | Larry and Sara Parker |
| Siblings | Marcus Parker, Anthony Parker |
| High School | Naperville Central High School, Naperville, Illinois |
| College | University of Tennessee |
| Height | 6-foot 4-inch (1.93-metre) |
| Positions | Forward, Center, Guard |
| Teams | Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky, Las Vegas Aces |
| Awards | WNBA Champion, WNBA Finals MVP, 2x WNBA MVP, 2x Gold Medalist, WNBA Rookie of the Year, 2x USA Today High School Player of the Year, 2x Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year, Naismith Award, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
Early life and family influence
Candace Parker, born on April 19, 1986, in St. Louis, Missouri, is the youngest of Sara and Larry Parker's three children. She grew up in Naperville, Illinois, with her two older brothers, Marcus and former NBA player Anthony Parker. Parker's family was passionate about basketball, with her father having played basketball at the University of Iowa in the 1970s, and the family being avid Chicago Bulls fans.
Initially, Parker was hesitant to play basketball, fearing she wouldn't live up to the standards set by her father and brother. Instead, she focused on soccer. However, in the eighth grade, her family convinced her to play competitive basketball, and her father became her coach and mentor.
Parker's talent became evident at Naperville Central High School, where she led her team to back-to-back Class AA state championships in 2003 and 2004. She was named the USA Today High School Player of the Year in both those years and won several other accolades, including the Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award and Gatorade Female Basketball Player of the Year Award. In 2004, she became the first female to win the slam dunk contest at the McDonald's All-American Game, showcasing her exceptional skills.
Following her stellar high school career, Parker committed to the University of Tennessee in 2004. However, she redshirted her first season due to a knee injury. In her freshman year during the 2005-06 season, Parker made history as the first woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game, achieving this feat twice in a single game on March 19, 2006. She also led the Tennessee Lady Vols to back-to-back NCAA championships in 2007 and 2008, showcasing her exceptional talent and earning numerous awards along the way.
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High school basketball career
Candace Parker, born on April 19, 1986, is one of the most decorated female basketball players. She grew up in Naperville, Illinois, and started playing basketball at a very early age. Her father, Larry, a former basketball player at the University of Iowa, coached her from the time she was six years old. Parker attended Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Illinois, and began her high school basketball career there.
As a 15-year-old sophomore, Parker became a national sensation at Naperville Central High School, leading her team to back-to-back Class AA state championships in 2003 and 2004. She compiled a school-record of 2,768 points (22.9 points per game) and 1,592 rebounds (13.2 rebounds per game) while starting 119 of the 121 games in which she played. Parker's outstanding performance continued, and she became the only two-time award winner of the USA Today High School Player of the Year, winning the award in 2003 and 2004.
Parker also won the Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award and Gatorade Female Basketball Player of the Year Award in both 2003 and 2004. In 2004, she achieved further success by being named Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year, WBCA All-American, and McDonald's All-American. She participated in the 2004 WCBA All-America Game, where she showcased her skills and scored nine points. Parker's talent was recognised, and she was a consensus pick as player of the year in Illinois in 2002, 2003, and 2004, and was a four-year member of the All-State first team.
Parker's high school basketball career was remarkable, and she quickly became a rising star in the basketball world. Her achievements and awards during her high school years set the foundation for her future success as one of the greatest players in the WNBA.
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University of Tennessee
Candace Parker entered the University of Tennessee in 2004 as a highly decorated high school basketball player. She was a two-time national high school player of the year and the first female high school player to dunk in a sanctioned game.
However, her freshman year at Tennessee was marred by a knee injury, which resulted in her redshirting the season. Parker had to undergo surgery for a torn ACL, and her recovery was not straightforward. She experienced setbacks and had to work hard to regain her strength and range of motion. She credits Tennessee's Head Athletic Trainer and Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine, Jenny Moshak, for getting her through the rehab process.
Parker started playing for the Tennessee Lady Vols during the 2005-06 season, making an immediate impact. She became the first woman to dunk in an NCAA game and the first to dunk twice in a single NCAA game. In her first season, she was named the SEC Rookie of the Year, and she helped the Lady Vols win the 2006 SEC tournament championship, hitting the game-winning shot against LSU.
Parker's success continued in her sophomore season, where she became the fastest player in Lady Vols history to score 1,000 career points, achieving the feat in just 56 games. She led the Lady Vols to back-to-back NCAA championships in 2007 and 2008, and she was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player in both tournaments. She was also a two-time consensus national player of the year.
In February 2008, Parker announced that she would forgo her final season at Tennessee to focus on the 2008 Olympics and pursue a professional career. She graduated with a degree in sports management and was named University Division I Academic All-American of the Year in women's basketball for 2008. She ended her collegiate career on a high note, leading the Lady Vols to their second straight NCAA women's title and the eighth championship for Tennessee.
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WNBA career
Candace Parker was selected as the first overall pick in the 2008 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. She spent 13 seasons with the Sparks, during which she won the MVP award again in 2013 and led the team to the Western Conference Finals in 2009. Parker also missed the 2009 WNBA season due to maternity leave and parts of the 2010 season due to a shoulder injury. In 2015, she started playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg of the Russian league during the WNBA off-seasons, winning five consecutive championships with the international club. In 2017, she signed with the Xinjiang Tiashan Deers Chinese franchise for the 2017-2018 off-season.
In 2021, Parker signed as a free agent with the Chicago Sky, leading the team to its best record in franchise history (26-10) in 2022. However, she suffered a foot injury that year, causing her to miss the rest of the team's championship season. The following year, she signed with the Las Vegas Aces, winning the WNBA championship with them in 2023. In April 2024, Parker announced her retirement as a player, finishing with career totals of 6,574 points, 3,467 rebounds, and 619 blocked shots.
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International career
Candace Parker's international career began with her participation in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. As the youngest member of the U.S. women's basketball team, she helped secure the gold medal. Four years later, Parker was again a key member of the U.S. women's basketball team, this time at the 2012 London Olympics, where she led Team USA to victory, clinching another gold medal with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
During the WNBA off-seasons from 2010 to 2015, Parker travelled to Russia to play for UMMC Ekaterinburg in the Russian league, winning five consecutive championships with the international club. In the 2017-2018 off-season, she signed with the Xinjiang Tiashan Deers Chinese franchise.
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Frequently asked questions
Candace Parker started playing basketball at an early age. Her family moved to Naperville, Illinois, when she was two years old, and she grew up in a basketball-loving family. Her father, Larry, played basketball at the University of Iowa in the 1970s, and her older brother, Anthony Parker, played in the NBA. Despite her natural talent, she was hesitant to play basketball at first, thinking she might not live up to her father and brother's level of play. She focused on soccer instead, but her family eventually convinced her to play competitive basketball in the eighth grade.
While Candace Parker showed a talent for basketball from a young age, she did not always want to be a professional basketball player. In fact, she was initially hesitant to play basketball due to the pressure of living up to her family's athletic legacy. However, her father started coaching and critiquing her in the eighth grade, and she began to develop her skills. She went on to play competitive basketball in high school and then at the University of Tennessee, where she became a basketball superstar.
Yes, Candace Parker played basketball at Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Illinois. She led her high school basketball team to back-to-back Class AA state titles in 2003 and 2004. She also won several individual awards during her high school career, including the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year Award in 2003 and 2004, making her the only woman to receive this award twice.
Yes, Candace Parker played basketball at the University of Tennessee under legendary head coach Pat Summitt. She began playing for the Tennessee Lady Vols during the 2005-06 season. In her first season, she made history by becoming the first woman to dunk in an NCAA game and the first to dunk twice in a single game. She led the Lady Vols to back-to-back NCAA championships in 2007 and 2008 and won numerous awards during her collegiate career.
Candace Parker became a professional basketball player when she was selected as the first overall pick in the 2008 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. She quickly established herself as one of the league's premier players, winning the MVP and Rookie of the Year awards in her first season. She played for the Sparks for 13 seasons and then played for the Chicago Sky and the Las Vegas Aces, winning a championship with each team.
