Candace Nicole Parker (born April 19, 1986), nicknamed "Ace", is an American former professional basketball player. Widely regarded as one of the greatest WNBA players of all time, she was selected as the first overall pick in the 2008 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. 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. Parker is credited with growing the popularity of women's basketball. In June 2026, she was inducted into the Women Basketball Hall of Fame. She was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2026.
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. Parker played college basketball for the Tennessee Lady Vols, 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. After being selected in the WNBA Draft, Parker signed long-term endorsement deals with Adidas and Gatorade.
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. She won her third title in 2023 with the Aces. 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 was 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. Parker became the second player to dunk in a WNBA game on June 22, 2008.
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.
Following her retirement in spring of 2024, Parker was named president of Adidas women's basketball.
Contents
Early life
Parker was born on April 19, 1986, in St. Louis, Missouri. She has two older brothers, including former NBA basketball player Anthony Parker.
Parker moved with her family to Naperville, Illinois at the age of two, where she spent her childhood. Her family loved basketball and she began playing at age six. Her father Larry played basketball at Joliet West HS and the University of Iowa in the 1970s. The Parker family were also Chicago Bulls fans. Candace was worried about playing basketball, fearing she would not live up to the level of play her father and brother demonstrated, so she focused on playing soccer. It wasn't until the eighth grade that her family convinced her to play competitive basketball. Her father helped coach and critique her. Parker said of the experience, "He did things to make me mad, to challenge me, because I was so much more athletic and had so much more knowledge of the game than everyone else that sometimes I just coasted. If me and my dad went to a park and he didn't think I was practicing hard enough, he'd just get in the car and leave. And I'd have to run home. I mean run home. Once I figured that out, I'd always try to go to close-by parks."
High school career
Like her older brother Anthony Parker, she attended Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Illinois. Parker led her high school basketball team to Class AA state titles in 2003 and 2004, and compiled a school-record 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.
She is 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 2002 and 2003. In 2004, she was 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 scored nine points. She was also selected as the 'Ms. Basketball' player of the year in Illinois in 2002, 2003, and 2004, and was a four-year member of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association All-State first team.
On December 27, 2001, Parker dunked for the first time in competition as a 15-year-old sophomore at Naperville Central High School. This is believed to be the first slam dunk by a female athlete in Illinois. On March 29, 2004, Parker won the slam dunk contest at McDonald's All-American Game, becoming the first woman to win the event and beating the likes of Josh Smith and J. R. Smith.
On November 11, 2003, during her senior year, Parker announced her commitment to Tennessee on ESPNEWS, becoming the first women's player to announce the oral commitment live on the network.
In August 2004, Parker led the undefeated USA Junior World Championship team to a gold medal with 16.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. While training, Parker had a relapse of knee pain and was required to undergo surgery both the lateral meniscus and the lateral articular cartilage in her left knee.
She wears the number 3 on her jersey to honor former NBA player Allen Iverson who encouraged her during her high school career.
College career
Parker entered the University of Tennessee in the fall of 2004. On February 17, 2005, Tennessee announced Parker would redshirt her first season due to a knee injury she had suffered in a summer league game.
Parker started for the Tennessee Lady Vols during the 2005–06 season. She was listed on the roster as a forward, center, and guard. On March 19, 2006, in an NCAA tournament first-round game against Army, she became the first woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game, then became the first woman to dunk twice in an NCAA tournament game. She was the SEC Rookie of the Year (Coaches and AP) and helped the Lady Vols win the 2006 SEC tournament championship. With 17 seconds remaining in the SEC tournament championship game against LSU, Parker hit the game-winning shot. She was named tournament MVP and was named to the 2006 Kodak All-America team, making her one of the few to ever receive the award as a freshman. However, in the NCAA tournament regional finals against North Carolina, Parker got in early foul trouble and was out of the game for much of the first half. Tennessee ultimately lost the game.
Parker was the only college player named to the USA squad for the 2006 FIBA World Championship for Women in Brazil. The USA squad finished in third place.
In a January 28, 2007, away game against Alabama, in her sophomore season, Parker became the fastest player in Lady Vols history to score 1,000 career points. She achieved the record in 56 games, beating Chamique Holdsclaw's mark of 57 games and Tamika Catchings's of 58 games. On March 1, at the SEC tournament in Duluth, Georgia, Parker was named the 2007 SEC Player of the Year. On April 3, she led the Lady Vols to their first national championship since 1998, beating Rutgers 59–46. Parker finished the game with 17 points and earned the tournament's Most Outstanding Player honor.
On February 21, 2008, Parker announced that she would forgo her final season of eligibility at Tennessee in order to focus on the 2008 Olympics and pursue a professional career in basketball. On April 8, 2008, despite having suffered a dislocated shoulder in the regional final, Parker led the Lady Vols to their second straight NCAA women's title, the eighth championship for Tennessee and the last for legendary coach Pat Summitt. She was also named the Most Outstanding Player for the second consecutive NCAA tournament, joining Cheryl Miller, Chamique Holdsclaw, and Diana Taurasi as the only female players to have done so.
WNBA career
Los Angeles Sparks (2008–2020)
Parker was selected as the first pick in the 2008 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks on April 9, 2008, one day after winning the NCAA title. She played alongside Olympic teammates Lisa Leslie and DeLisha Milton-Jones. Shannon Bobbitt, Parker's teammate at Tennessee, joined the Sparks after being drafted in the second round.
On May 17, 2008, in her debut game against the Phoenix Mercury, she had 34 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists. Her 34 points broke the record for a rookie in a debut game, previously held by Cynthia Cooper with 25 points in her debut game in 1997. It is a record that still stands as of 2025.
On May 29, 2008, Parker posted a 16 points, 16 rebounds, 6 blocks, 5 assists, and 5 steals, becoming the only woman in WNBA history to post a 5x5 stat line.
On June 22, 2008, she became the second woman in WNBA history—after her teammate Lisa Leslie—to dunk during a regulation WNBA game, against the Indiana Fever. The dunk was on the same basket as Lisa Leslie's. On June 24, 2008, she became the first player to dunk twice in their WNBA career, during a regulation game against the Seattle Storm.
Parker was named the Hanns-G 'Go Beyond' Rookie of the Month for the months of May and July 2008.
On July 9, 2008, Parker scored a career-high 40 points, along with 16 rebounds and 6 assists, in an 82–74 overtime win against the Houston Comets.
Parker was one of 11 people suspended in the Sparks-Shock brawl on July 21, 2008.
In July and August 2008, the WNBA suspended play for a couple of weeks to allow their players to join the national teams at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Parker was selected to go, and the US team cruised with eight straight victories to win the gold medal. Parker averaged 9.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, and scored 14 points in the final game.
Chicago Sky (2021–2022)
In 2021, Parker became an unrestricted free agent. She chose to leave the Sparks after 13 seasons, signing a 2-year deal with the Chicago Sky. The move to the Sky gave her the opportunity to play a little closer to home and compete for another championship. Parker stated "Chicago is where my family raised me; where I first learned the game of basketball; and where I first fell in love with this orange ball.....I am excited to continue the next chapter of my career where it all began. To my new teammates, my new organization, and my new fans: I'm home."
During the season, Parker was named to The W25, consisting of the 25 players considered by a panel of media and pioneering women's basketball figures to have been the best and most influential in the league's 25 seasons. The regular season ended with Parker and the Sky earning the #6 seed in that season's playoffs. They won two single elimination games, followed by an upset of the Connecticut Sun in the semifinals, before beating the Phoenix Mercury to win the 2021 WNBA Finals.
Las Vegas Aces (2023)
In February 2023, Parker signed with the Las Vegas Aces. She underwent surgery for a foot fracture in July and was out indefinitely. Although she did not participate in the playoffs, she still captured her third championship and was awarded a ring when the Las Vegas Aces won the 2023 WNBA Finals against the New York Liberty, taking the series 3–1.
Due to the previously mentioned foot fracture, Parker's final WNBA game was played on July 7, 2023 when the Aces lost to the Dallas Wings 78 - 80. In her final game, Parker recorded 10 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block.
On February 7, 2024, Parker re-signed with the Aces on a one-year contract but ended up not playing any games that season.
Retirement
On April 28, 2024, Parker announced her retirement from professional basketball via her Instagram account. On May 8, 2024, Adidas declared that Parker would become the brand's president of women's basketball; she has had a long-running brand partnership with the shoe company dating back to 2008 that included a signature sneaker line.
National team career
Parker was a member of the USA Women's U18 team which won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. The event was held in August 2004, when the USA team defeated Puerto Rico to win the championship. Parker was the leading scorer for the team, averaging 16.6 points per game.
Parker played for Team USA in 2008, winning her first gold medal as USA beat Australia 92–65.
Parker was invited to the USA Basketball Women's National Team training camp in the fall of 2009. The team selected to play for the 2010 FIBA World Championship and the 2012 Olympics is usually chosen from these players. At the conclusion of the training camp, the team traveled to Ekaterinburg, Russia, where they competed in the 2009 UMMC Ekaterinburg International Invitational.
Parker played for Team USA at the 2012 Summer Olympics. She led the team in rebounds and blocks throughout the Olympics, helping them win another gold medal, defeating France 86–50 in the gold medal game.
Despite her performance in the previous Olympics and participation in the national team training into the summer of 2016, Parker was not selected to play for Team USA in the 2016 Summer Olympics. USA Basketball extended an invitation to Parker for the 2017–2020 national team training camp, but she declined, in light of her exclusion from the team for the Rio games.
Overseas career
During each WNBA off-season from 2010 to 2015, Parker played for UMMC Ekaterinburg of the Russian League, winning five consecutive championships with the team. Parker played with teammate Kristi Toliver in her final off-season with the team. During the 2015-16 WNBA off-season, Parker signed with the Guangdong Dolphins in January 2016, to replace Yelena Leuchanka during the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) playoffs. In February 2017, Parker signed a 2-month contract with Fenerbahçe of the Turkish Super League. In December 2017, Parker signed with the Xinjiang Magic Deer of the WCBA for the 2017–18 WNBA off-season.
Broadcasting career
In 2018, Parker began serving as an analyst and commentator for Turner Sports during the 2018–19 NBA season, primarily working Tuesday night NBA games under the Players Only brand. She also served as a analyst for the 2019 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. In 2019, she signed a multi-year extension with Turner to continue as an analyst and commentator for the NBA on TNT's rebranded Tuesday coverage and NCAA Tournament coverage on TNT and CBS Sports, while also joining NBA TV. In 2023, she became the first woman color commentator for an NBA All-Star Game.
Parker will join Prime Video as a game and studio analyst during the 2025-26 season, while also leading the streaming service's WNBA coverage.
Personal life
On May 7, 2007, People named Parker to its 100 World's Most Beautiful people list.
On November 13, 2008, Parker married Shelden Williams, who played college basketball at Duke University and also played in the NBA. The couple have a daughter, Lailaa Nicole Williams, born in 2009. In 2013, the couple purchased a 7,000-square-foot (650 m2) home in Encino, Los Angeles, for $3.56 million. In November 2016, the couple split up after eight years of marriage when Williams filed for divorce, citing "irreconcilable differences".
In October 2020, Parker and her daughter became part of the ownership group of Angel City FC, a Los Angeles–based team in the National Women's Soccer League that began competing in 2022.
On December 14, 2021, Parker announced that she had married former basketball player Anna Petrakova in 2019 and that they were expecting a baby. Petrakova gave birth to a son, Airr Larry Petrakov Parker, on February 11, 2022. On December 14, 2023, Parker announced that she and Petrakova were expecting another child. Petrakova gave birth to a second son, Hartt Summitt Petrakov Parker on May 21, 2024.
Parker has a dog named Prada. She previously had a St. Bernard mix named Fendi, whom she appeared with in an anti-fur ad for PETA.
Parker is a lesbian.
Career statistics
College
Source
Awards
WNBA
3× WNBA champion (2016, 2021, 2023)
WNBA Finals MVP (2016)
2× WNBA MVP (2008, 2013)
7× WNBA All-Star (2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022)
WNBA All-Star Game MVP (2013)
7× All-WNBA First Team (2008, 2012–2014, 2017, 2020, 2022)
3× All-WNBA Second Team (2009, 2015, 2018)
2× WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2009, 2012)
WNBA Rookie of the Year (2008)
WNBA All-Rookie Team (2008)
WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2020)
WNBA assists leader (2015)
3× WNBA rebounding leader (2008, 2009, 2020)
2× WNBA blocks leader (2009, 2012)
WNBA turnovers leader (2016)
3× WNBA peak performer (2008, 2009, 2020)
WNBA anniversary teams (20th, 25th)
No. 3 retired by Los Angeles Sparks
No. 3 retired by Chicago Sky
College
NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (2007, 2008)
Academic All-America of the Year award (2008)
Naismith College Player of the Year (2008)
USBWA Women's National Player of the Year (2007, 2008)
Associated Press Women's College Basketball Player of the Year (2008)
Wade Trophy (2007)
John R. Wooden Award (2007, 2008)
Honda Sports Award, basketball (2007, 2008)
Honda-Broderick Cup, (2007)
SEC Athlete of the Year (2007, 2008)
SEC Player of the Year (2007)
SEC Tournament MVP (2006, 2007)
SEC Freshman of the Year (2006)
High school
All-State Team (2001-2004: AP, Chicago Sun Times, News-Gazette, Chicago Tribune, IBCA)
Gatorade Illinois State Player of the Year (2002-2004)
Illinois Miss Basketball (2002-2004)
Illinois State Player of the Year (2002-2004: Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, Daily Herald, Naperville Sun, News-Gazette)
First Team All-American (2002-2004: Nike, Parade, Street & Smith's, USA Today, 2004: McDonald's)
Gatorade Female Basketball Player of the Year (2003-2004)
Naismith Prep Player of the Year (2003-2004)
USA Today High School Player of the Year (2003-2004)
2004 Powerade Jam Fest Winner
2004 Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year
2004 Women's Sports Foundation High School Athlete of the Year
USA Basketball
2004 FIBA U18 Americas Championship
2006 FIBA World Champions for Women Bronze Medal
2007 FIBA Americas Championship
2008 Beijing Olympics Gold Medal
2012 London Olympics Gold Medal
UMMC Ekaterinburg
Championship of Russia (2010-2014)
Cup of Russia (2010-2014)
EuroLeague Women Champion (2013)
EuroLeague Women Final Eight MVP (2013)