In 2000, whispers of a 13-year-old phenom from Naperville, Ailing. — a Chicago suburb — started reverberating by the AAU circuit. Generational. Dominant. Placing. Maybe the best ladies’s basketball prospect ever. Candace Parker’s identify rang out far past her hometown.
Phrase quickly reached each elite faculty basketball program within the nation — from Durham, N.C., to School Park, Md., to Knoxville, Tenn. — every clamoring for her abilities. Few actually stood an opportunity.
“Her game at such an early age was something I had never seen in person,” mentioned Nikki Fargas, then an assistant coach at Tennessee. “To see her do it so young tells you a lot. … She was undeniable, and her presence was felt.”
Lengthy earlier than Parker’s illustrious skilled profession and her Sparks jersey retirement ceremony Sunday — three championships, two MVPs, rookie of the yr, defensive participant of the yr, Finals MVP, two Olympic golds, seven All-Star nods and 10 All-WNBA picks — she was merely “Ace,” a sweatband-wearing, bob-cut sporting teenager set to graduate.
Fargas, who received a nationwide title beneath legendary coach Pat Summitt, was Tennessee’s recruiting director in 2003 and was seeking to make a splash along with her firstclass. The second she noticed Parker in individual, she was sure: Parker could be a Woman Vol.
By her senior yr in highschool, Parker had grown right into a 6-foot-4 nationwide participant of the yr and state champion.
Candace Parker was thought of one of many prime faculty recruits whereas at Naperville Central Excessive in a suburb exterior of Chicago.
(Anne Ryan / Related Press)
Fargas attended all of Parker’s video games at Naperville Central Excessive, an almost 1,100-mile spherical journey. She sat within the Redhawks’ fitness center bleachers, decked out in Tennessee orange whereas sending a not-so-subtle message, usually with Summitt by her aspect.
Fargas made her closing pitch clear and direct: Parker might turn out to be the best beneath Summitt.
Becoming a member of Rocky High
Parker’s arrival despatched a jolt by Rocky High. At simply 18, she introduced weighty expectations — it was championship or bust. For a number of years, it had been bust for Tennessee, which hadn’t received a nationwide title because the late ’90s.
After lacking her freshman yr due to a knee damage, Parker proved to be higher than marketed, propelling the Woman Vols again onto the nationwide stage.
“Even in college, not only did she dunk, but she was able to pass, able to shoot at her position, able to do things that bigs weren’t doing,” mentioned Noelle Quinn, a former Southland prep star and head coach of the Seattle Storm. “It was easy for Candace. It was easy for that team.”
Tennessee coach Pat Summitt offers directions to Candace Parker in the course of the 2007 NCAA title recreation in opposition to Rutgers.
(Tony Dejak / Related Press)
Quinn skilled the Summitt-Parker period firsthand. In 2006, she led UCLA into an early-season conflict on the street in opposition to No. 1 Tennessee — the beginning of Parker’s first title run.
“It was an amazing environment to play in — a game I’ll never forget,” Quinn recalled. Parker and Quinn led their groups in scoring — Parker with 22 factors, Quinn with 20. Tennessee’s dominance with Parker on the helm was clear, Quinn mentioned.
On the top of the staff’s back-to-back championship runs, Fargas mentioned touring with the Woman Vols “was like traveling with rock stars.” Summitt’s fearless method — taking up anybody, wherever — saved Tennessee within the highlight, with Parker because the undisputed headliner.
“What we’re seeing right now with Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark — bringing awareness, getting people to watch and increasing attendance — Parker was doing that already,” Fargas mentioned. “Fans would be lined up at our hotel. Our bus would pull up and there were the fans.”
By the tip of her faculty profession, Parker had achieved every little thing — two-time AP participant of the yr, 2008 Naismith faculty participant of the yr, and most excellent participant throughout each nationwide title runs — the final of which was Summitt’s closing championship.
“She fits in at the top,” Fargas mentioned of Parker’s place in program historical past. “When you talk about Lady Vols, Parker is maybe the first of the names people talk about. … She was different.”
Massive L.A. desires
Parker was arguably the WNBA’s most anticipated prospect — a franchise-altering expertise. But one query loomed: Who would land her?
In 2006, the Sparks have been in championship rivalry, reaching the convention finals with MVP Lisa Leslie. However when Leslie missed the next season on maternity go away, the staff plummeted to 10–24 — tied for worst within the league.
With a 34.1% probability on the No. 1 choose, the pingpong balls bounced the Sparks’ approach.
Candace Parker, left, and Lisa Leslie crack jokes as they examine their top at a Sparks picture shoot in 2008.
(Damian Dovarganes / Related Press)
Questions swirled about how Parker and Leslie would coexist. Leslie says she by no means noticed an issue — solely potential. She referred to as herself “Smooth” and Parker “Silk,” and welcomed the function of hardening the rookie, likening it to “having another baby.”
For a time, Leslie lived just a few flooring from Parker within the staff’s participant housing, holding tabs on Parker’s habits. She’d make her oatmeal and slice up fruit as a result of Parker “wouldn’t eat well,” gently pushing by rookie stubbornness towards authority, nudging her towards the load room and stressing the significance of physique upkeep.
The knowledge of 1 MVP — and the liberty granted by Sparks coach Michael Cooper — helped ignite the best rookie season in WNBA historical past. Parker captured each rookie of the yr and MVP honors, becoming a member of an unique membership with NBA legends Wilt Chamberlain and Wes Unseld.
“Candace always showed greatness,” Leslie mentioned. “Each generation, we’ve done our part. You carry that torch as far as you can, and hand it off with grace.”
The torch was Parker’s to bear into the subsequent decade. However 9 seasons in, she was nonetheless chasing her first Finals look, not to mention a championship. Years of teaching modifications, early playoff exits and unmet expectations had left the franchise — and its star — and not using a title.
Brian Agler’s first yr as Sparks head coach began rocky with a 3–14 report, as Parker sat out the primary half of the 2015 season after enjoying abroad. Because the losses mounted, Parker ready for a return and referred to as Agler to rearrange a closed exercise.
“I think she wanted to play into me as, ‘OK, I’m gonna come back and get ready,’” Agler mentioned. “But in reality, she was sort of measuring me up.”
Agler believed it was a take a look at to see whether or not she thought he was the appropriate match — if he may lead the staff to a championship, simply as he had finished with the Seattle Storm in 2010.
Sparks ahead Candace Parker drives previous Lynx ahead Rebekkah Brunson throughout a recreation in 2012.
(Stacy Bengs / Related Press)
By the next season, with the items in play, contending for a championship appeared inside attain. However the 2016 season wasn’t with out turmoil for Parker. She was surprisingly left off the USA Olympic staff, confronted marital strife and mourned the lack of Summitt, who died of problems from Alzheimer’s.
On the court docket, Parker remained a pressure, and helped foster the rise of one of many league’s finest — former No. 1 total choose and MVP Nneka Ogwumike. Like Leslie had finished for her, Parker took Ogwumike beneath her wing.
“For the most part, I was someone who paid attention to what vets did, and I spent a lot of time watching what she did,” Ogwumike mentioned of Parker. “She helped me understand [the game] from a different lens, from a more advanced perspective coming in from college. We were able to develop some great chemistry.”
Agler mentioned their connection “was as special as I’ve seen,” including that Ogwumike “probably understood Candace better than most anybody.”
In Parker’s first WNBA Finals, she led the Sparks by a dramatic collection in opposition to the Lynx, capped by a 28-point and 12-rebound efficiency in Sport 5 to safe the title and Finals MVP.
By tears, she discovered the one phrases she might muster: “This is for Pat.”
“I’m sure it [the pressure] was there for her,” Agler mentioned. “I just remember when we won, how happy she was. She almost collapsed on the floor with joy. … That’s really the only time I’ve seen her that way in a public setting.”
Quickly after the championship run, a divide grew between Parker and the group. In her new e book, “The Can-do Mindset,” Parker displays on strained relationships with the entrance workplace, a carousel of head coaches and a rising mistrust that finally fractured her relationship with the Sparks.
“The culture was toxic, and whether I wanted to admit it or not, I was a part of that culture and had been absorbed in that toxicity,” Parker wrote in her e book, referring to the breakup. “I had to admit to myself that I didn’t like who I’d become in my years with the Sparks. It takes two to tango. So though I didn’t create the culture, I was still at fault in my own way.”
Chasing extra titles and possession 
Candace Parker, middle proper, celebrates with Chicago Sky teammates after successful the 2021 WNBA title.
(Paul Beaty / Related Press)
After 13 years, Parker determined to depart the Sparks. It’s a transfer Leslie referred to as “unfortunate,” including she had “no idea how they let her get away.” However Parker introduced she was prepared to search out “a sense of peace,” signing with the Chicago Sky — shifting as near her native Naperville as attainable.
Throughout free company, Parker referred to as Azurá Stevens, who had simply wrapped her first season with the Sky. Curious concerning the staff and open to a recent begin, Parker requested about Stevens’ expertise. Stevens nonetheless describes the dialog as “surreal,” thrilled by the concept of sharing the court docket along with her childhood idol.
Rising up, Stevens — now the Sparks’ beginning ahead — modeled her recreation after Parker. Standing 6-foot-6, she admired Parker’s versatility and poise, and now, the 2 could be teammates in the identical beginning lineup.
“We had an up-and-down year and went through a lot that season,” Stevens remembers of the staff ending .500. “Candace definitely led the way. … A strong veteran presence for us to keep us level-headed. And once we got to the playoffs, we flipped the switch.”
Seattle Storm guard Lexie Brown — like Stevens — adopted Parker’s profession. Lastly enjoying alongside her in Chicago, what stood out wasn’t simply Parker’s expertise, however her relentless devotion whereas juggling motherhood, a broadcasting profession and a championship run. “I remember watching her on TNT the night before, and she’d pull up to practice with some of her makeup still on,” Brown mentioned. “She was really dedicated to helping us win. That was a special season for me.”
Within the twilight of her profession, Parker nonetheless confirmed flashes of the as soon as baby-haired murderer who shook up the WNBA.
“It was a homecoming for the whole year,” Stevens mentioned of Parker’s transfer to Chicago. “Being able to go back home and then bring a franchise its first championship is really special. The city really showed out for her.”
After two seasons in Chicago, Parker determined to reunite with Fargas — the coach who recruited Parker to Tennessee and finally grew to become president of the Las Vegas Aces.
With a championship pedigree and legacy to match, Parker’s new function was now not the star however the connector. Her signing was meant to raise A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Younger — all former No. 1 picks — to their fullest potential.
“She brought a calmness to our team,” Fargas mentioned. “We already had a high-powered offense. … But having her on our team definitely helped raise and bring a championship culture.”
Candace Parker received her third WNBA championship with the Las Vegas Aces in 2023.
(Lindsey Wasson / Related Press)
The result? A 3rd championship with a 3rd totally different staff — one other WNBA first.
However the victory got here with a bittersweet edge. An ankle damage sidelined Parker for a lot of the season. “She did everything in her power to get back to us. … I know that was very difficult for her,” Fargas mentioned.
With put on and tear piling up, Parker introduced her retirement — opening with a borrowed line from a Jay-Z verse on the observe “Dear Summer”:
“Dear Summer, I know you gon’ miss me …”
“I love his lyrics, but I love how he’s redefined what rappers are capable of,” Parker mentioned of Jay-Z throughout an interview with ESPNW in 2023. “That’s what I hope to do for women’s basketball players. … I want to be that business leader, that business mind.”
Quickly after retiring, Parker joined an funding group aiming to deliver a WNBA franchise to Tennessee. Billionaire and former Gov. Invoice Haslam — now chairman of the NHL’s Nashville Predators — and his spouse, Crissy, led the Nashville-based bid. They’ve assembled a star-studded roster that features Parker, Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Peyton Manning and nation music icons Tim McGraw and Religion Hill.
“When I called her the first time, I said, ‘Candace, we’d love you to be involved, and we don’t just want your name,’” Haslam recalled. “She was really quick to say, ‘Well, that’s great, because that’s the only way I would be involved.’”
With the WNBA set to develop to 16 groups by 2028, the group submitted its formal bid in January. The group proposes calling the staff Tennessee Summitt.
“To see Candace join an ownership group — why not?” Fargas mentioned. “Why aren’t there more opportunities for the players who helped shape this league? Why aren’t there those opportunities to allow them to not only play the game, but also invest in it?”
