Former Aces Center/Forward Candace Parker (3) - Trevor Ruszkowski/USA TODAY Sports
On Sunday, Apr. 28, 2024, one of the most influential women’s basketball players, Candice Parker retires from the WNBA.
She is one of the most iconic and humble role models looked up to by young women basketball players today.
Candice Parker (38) retired from WNBA on a very high note, and has left the game better than when she first entered the league.
She was recently named the President of Adidas Women’s Basketball.
How it all Started
Parker may now be considered one of the greatest WNBA players of all time, but just like the great ones in any sports league, she had to start small.
As a young high schooler, Parker was named the National Gatorade player of the year in 2003 and 2004. After high school, the athletic forward committed to and attended the University of Tennessee to play for the Lady Volunteers.
University of Tennessee and Back-Back National Championship Appearances
While playing for the late great head coach Pat Summitt, Parker led the Lady Vols to the 2007 National Championship Title.
They defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 59-46 and the former WNBA player was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
In 2008, the Adidas Women’s Basketball President won another NCAA championship ring, but this time over the Stanford Cardinal 64-48.
After an amazing college career, Parker declared for the 2008 NBA Draft.
Number 1 Overall Pick in 2008 WNBA Draft
The Los Angeles Sparks selected the former WNBA player with the Number one overall choice in the 2008 WNBA draft. Little did Parker know she would spend most of her career in LA.
She played for the Sparks for 13 seasons and won a WNBA title over that time span. She also averaged a career high 20.6 points per game in 2010.
In 2016 the blazing star won the WNBA championship in dedication to the late Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt, who passed away from Alzheimer’s earlier that year.
Other Accomplishments to Her Resume
While Parker did many great things in the WNBA, she had many other great accomplishments that inspired many young women following in her footsteps.
The celebrated basketball player also competed in and earned two Olympic gold medals and was also designated as one of the Times 100 Most Influential People of the Year in 2022.
Candice Parker Retires from WNBA
After a long, spectacular career in the WNBA and breaking all kinds of barriers, Parker retired from women’s basketball on Apr. 28, 2024 at 38 years old.
She will leave as being honored as one of the greatest WNBA players in this decade, and will now pave the way for younger stars like Caitlin Clark, and Angel Reese to write their own pages in their careers.
Parker is now the President of Adidas Women’s Basketball and is now going to continue to make a difference. It will be different seeing her as a businesswoman and not strictly as a WNBA player.
The incredible Parker had a great basketball career. It is no wonder that she has won so many awards and honors. I’m sure that it didn’t come easy for her, but in the end, she deserved it.
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