History of Candace Parker in Timeline
Candace Parker, nicknamed "Ace", is a retired American professional basketball player, considered one of the WNBA's all-time greats. Drafted first overall in 2008 by the Los Angeles Sparks, where she played for 13 seasons, she later won championships with the Chicago Sky and Las Vegas Aces. Her career is marked by success and championships with multiple teams in the WNBA.
April 19, 1986: Candace Parker's Birth
On April 19, 1986, Candace Nicole Parker, nicknamed "Ace", was born. She would later become an American professional basketball player.
1997: Cynthia Cooper's Rookie Debut Record
In 1997, Cynthia Cooper set the record for most points in a rookie debut game with 25 points, before Parker broke the record in 2008.
1998: Lady Vols Last National Championship before 2007
Before Parker led the Lady Vols to the national championship in 2007, their last national championship was in 1998.
December 27, 2001: First Dunk in Competition
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.
2002: Illinois Player of the Year
In 2002, Candace Parker was a consensus pick as player of the year in Illinois.
2002: Sparks Last Championship
In 2016, Candace Parker led the Sparks to their first championship since 2002.
November 11, 2003: Commitment to Tennessee
On November 11, 2003, Parker announced her commitment to Tennessee on ESPNEWS, becoming the first women's player to announce the oral commitment live on the network.
2003: Class AA State Title in High School
In 2003, Parker led her high school basketball team to a Class AA state title.
2003: Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year
In 2003, Parker won the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year award.
2003: USA Today High School Player of the Year, Naismith Prep Player of the Year, and Gatorade Female Basketball Player of the Year
In 2003, Parker won the USA Today High School Player of the Year, Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award and Gatorade Female Basketball Player of the Year Award.
2003: Sparks Advanced to the WNBA Finals
In 2016, the Sparks advanced to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2003.
March 29, 2004: Won Slam Dunk Contest at McDonald's All-American Game
On March 29, 2004, Parker won the slam dunk contest at McDonald's All-American Game, becoming the first woman to win the event.
August 2004: Won Gold Medal at FIBA Americas Championship
In August 2004, Candace Parker, as a member of the USA Women's U18 team, won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, defeating Puerto Rico in the final. Parker was the team's leading scorer, averaging 16.6 points per game.
August 2004: Led USA Junior World Championship team to gold medal
In August 2004, Parker led the USA Junior World Championship team to a gold medal, averaging 16.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. She also had a relapse of knee pain and required surgery.
2004: Second Class AA State Title
In 2004, Parker led her high school basketball team to a second Class AA state title.
2004: Second Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year Award
In 2004, Parker won the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year, and became the only woman to receive a Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year award twice.
2004: Awards in 2004
In 2004, Parker won the USA Today High School Player of the Year and Gatorade Female Basketball Player of the Year for the second time. She was also named Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year, WBCA All-American and McDonald's All-American.
2004: Entered University of Tennessee
In the fall of 2004, Parker entered the University of Tennessee.
February 17, 2005: Redshirt Season Announcement
On February 17, 2005, Tennessee announced that Parker would redshirt her first season due to a knee injury she had suffered in a summer league game.
2005: Started for Tennessee Lady Vols
In 2005, Parker started for the Tennessee Lady Vols.
March 19, 2006: First Woman to Dunk in NCAA Tournament Game
On March 19, 2006, in an NCAA tournament first-round game against Army, Parker became the first woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game and the first woman to dunk twice in an NCAA tournament game.
2006: FIBA World Championship for Women
In 2006, Parker was named to the USA squad for the FIBA World Championship for Women in Brazil, where the team finished in third place.
January 28, 2007: Fastest Lady Vol to 1,000 Career Points
On January 28, 2007, Parker became the fastest player in Lady Vols history to score 1,000 career points, achieving the record in 56 games.
May 7, 2007: Named One of People's 100 Most Beautiful People
On May 7, 2007, Candace Parker was named one of People magazine's 100 World's Most Beautiful People.
December 2007: Academic Achievements Update
As of December 2007, Candace Parker had a 3.35 grade-point average and was a sports management major.
2007: National Championship with Tennessee
In 2007, as a college player for Tennessee, Parker led the team to a national championship and was named the Final Four's most outstanding player.
February 21, 2008: Announcement to Forgo Final Season at Tennessee
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.
April 8, 2008: Led Lady Vols to Second Straight NCAA Title
On April 8, 2008, Parker led the Lady Vols to their second straight NCAA women's title, earning the tournament's Most Outstanding Player honor for the second consecutive time.
April 9, 2008: Selected First Pick in WNBA Draft
On April 9, 2008, Candace Parker was selected as the first pick in the 2008 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks, one day after winning the NCAA title.
May 2008: Graduation
In May 2008, Parker graduated with her incoming class.
May 17, 2008: Debut Game Against Phoenix Mercury
On May 17, 2008, in her debut game against the Phoenix Mercury, Parker had 34 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists, breaking Cynthia Cooper's record for a rookie in a debut game.
May 28, 2008: First 5x5 Stat Line in WNBA History
On May 28, 2008, Parker posted 16 points, 16 rebounds, 6 blocks, 5 assists, and 5 steals, becoming the only woman in WNBA history to post a 5x5 stat line.
June 22, 2008: Second WNBA Dunk
On June 22, 2008, Candace Parker became the second player to dunk in a WNBA game.
June 24, 2008: First Player to Dunk Twice in WNBA Career
On June 24, 2008, Parker became the first player to dunk twice in their WNBA career during a regulation game against the Seattle Storm.
July 9, 2008: Career-High 40 Points
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.
July 2008: Hanns-G 'Go Beyond' Rookie of the Month Award
In July 2008, Parker was named the Hanns-G 'Go Beyond' Rookie of the Month.
July 21, 2008: Suspension in Sparks-Shock Brawl
On July 21, 2008, Parker was one of 11 people suspended in the Sparks-Shock brawl.
August 2008: Olympic Gold Medal
In August 2008, Parker won a gold medal at the Summer Olympics with the US team, averaging 9.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
October 3, 2008: WNBA Rookie of the Year and MVP Awards
On October 3, 2008, Parker became the first WNBA player to win both the Rookie of the Year and the Most Valuable Player awards in the same season.
November 13, 2008: Marriage to Shelden Williams
On November 13, 2008, Candace Parker married Shelden Williams, a former college basketball player at Duke University and NBA player, marking the beginning of their marriage.
2008: First Olympic Gold Medal
In 2008, Candace Parker played for Team USA and won her first gold medal as the USA defeated Australia 92–65.
2008: Drafted into WNBA
In 2008, Candace Parker was selected as the first overall pick in the WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks.
2008: Second National Championship with Tennessee
In 2008, Parker led Tennessee to their second consecutive national championship, and was named the Final Four's most outstanding player for the second time.
2008: Brand Partnership with Adidas
Since 2008, Candace Parker had a long-running brand partnership with Adidas that included a signature sneaker line.
July 5, 2009: First Game Back from Maternity Leave
On July 5, 2009, Parker played her first game back from maternity leave.
2009: Birth of Daughter Lailaa Nicole Williams
In 2009, Candace Parker and Shelden Williams welcomed their daughter, Lailaa Nicole Williams, into the world.
2009: Invited to USA Basketball Training Camp
In the fall of 2009, Candace Parker was invited to the USA Basketball Women's National Team training camp, a step towards selection for the 2010 FIBA World Championship and the 2012 Olympics.
2010: Played for UMMC Ekaterinburg
From 2010 to 2015, Candace Parker played for UMMC Ekaterinburg of the Russian League during each WNBA off-season.
2010: Sidelined with Shoulder Injury
In 2010, Parker played only 10 games and was sidelined for the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury, also missing the playoffs.
2010: Selection for 2010 FIBA World Championship
The team selected to play for the 2010 FIBA World Championship was usually chosen from these players.
2011: Best Field Goal Percentage Since 2011
During the 2020 WNBA season, Candace Parker posted a 51% field goal percentage, her best since 2011.
2011: Torn Meniscus and All-Star Game Missed
In 2011, Parker sustained a torn meniscus in her right knee, causing her to miss the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game.
2012: Second Olympic Gold Medal
In 2012, Candace Parker played for Team USA at the Summer Olympics, leading the team in rebounds and blocks, and helping them secure another gold medal by defeating France 86–50.
2012: Re-signed with Sparks and Playoff Loss
In 2012, Parker re-signed with the Sparks and helped the team reach the playoffs, but they lost in the Western Conference Finals to the Minnesota Lynx.
2012: Selection for the 2012 Olympics
The team selected to play for the 2012 Olympics is usually chosen from these players.
July 27, 2013: WNBA All-Star MVP
On July 27, 2013, Candace Parker played in her first All-Star game, scoring 23 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, leading the West to a comeback victory. She was named the WNBA All-Star MVP for her performance.
2013: Purchase of Los Angeles Home
In 2013, Candace Parker and Shelden Williams purchased a 7,000-square-foot home in Encino, Los Angeles, for $3.56 million.
2013: WNBA All-Star Game MVP Award and WNBA Most Valuable Player Award
In 2013, Parker won a WNBA All-Star Game MVP Award and a WNBA Most Valuable Player Award.
January 2014: Williams Group Holdings Relinquishes Ownership of Sparks
In January 2014, Williams Group Holdings abruptly announced they would relinquish their ownership of the Sparks, putting the Sparks future in Los Angeles in jeopardy.
2015: Played for UMMC Ekaterinburg
From 2010 to 2015, Candace Parker played for UMMC Ekaterinburg of the Russian League during each WNBA off-season.
January 2016: Signed with the Guangdong Dolphins
In January 2016, during the 2015-16 WNBA off-season, Candace Parker signed with the Guangdong Dolphins to replace Yelena Leuchanka during the WCBA playoffs.
November 2016: Divorce Filing by Shelden Williams
In November 2016, Shelden Williams filed for divorce from Candace Parker after eight years of marriage, citing "irreconcilable differences."
2016: Not Selected for the 2016 Summer Olympics
Despite her previous Olympic performance, Candace Parker was not selected to play for Team USA in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
2016: WNBA Finals Title and MVP
In 2016, Candace Parker led the Los Angeles Sparks to win their first WNBA Finals title since 2002 and won the WNBA Finals MVP Award.
2016: Won First WNBA Championship and Finals MVP
In 2016, Candace Parker led the Sparks to their first championship since 2002, winning the WNBA Finals MVP. In Game 5, she scored a game-high 28 points with 12 rebounds and dedicated the win to Pat Summitt. She was also named in the WNBA Top 20@20.
2016: Re-signed with the Sparks and Pat Summitt's Death
In 2016, Candace Parker re-signed with the Sparks as an unrestricted free agent. Later that year, in 2016, Parker's college coach and mentor, Pat Summitt, passed away. Parker dedicated her season to Summitt after an emotional victory against the Dallas Wings, where she scored 31 points.
February 2017: Signed with Fenerbahçe
In February 2017, Candace Parker signed a 2-month contract with Fenerbahçe of the Turkish Super League.
February 2017: Signed Multi-Year Contract Extension with Sparks
In February 2017, Candace Parker signed a multi-year contract extension with the Sparks, securing her future with the team.
July 28, 2017: Recorded a Triple-Double
On July 28, 2017, Candace Parker achieved a triple-double in a game against the San Antonio Stars, scoring 11 points, tying her career-high of 17 rebounds, and achieving a career-high 11 assists.
December 2017: Signed with the Xinjiang Magic Deer
In December 2017, Candace Parker signed with the Xinjiang Magic Deer of the Chinese League for the 2017–18 WNBA off-season.
2017: Declined Invitation to National Team Training Camp
In 2017, USA Basketball extended an invitation to Candace Parker for the 2017–2020 national team training camp, but she declined due to her exclusion from the Rio games.
July 10, 2018: Achieved Unique Stat Line in WNBA History
On July 10, 2018, Candace Parker made history with 21 points, 10 assists, 9 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 blocks in an overtime victory against the Seattle Storm, becoming the first WNBA player to achieve such a stat line.
July 15, 2018: Scored Season-High 34 Points
On July 15, 2018, Candace Parker scored a season-high 34 points, along with 11 rebounds and 9 assists, in a victory over the Las Vegas Aces.
July 19, 2018: Fifth WNBA All-Star Nomination
On July 19, 2018, Candace Parker was voted into the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game, earning her fifth all-star nomination.
2018: Analyst and Commentator for Turner Sports
In 2018, Candace Parker started working as an analyst and commentator for Turner Sports during the 2018-19 NBA season. Her primary role was on Tuesday night NBA games under the Players Only brand.
May 2019: Hamstring Injury
In May 2019, Candace Parker suffered a hamstring injury during the Sparks' first preseason game, sidelining her for 3–5 weeks.
June 18, 2019: Season Debut
On June 18, 2019, Candace Parker made her season debut, scoring 3 points in a loss to the Washington Mystics.
August 4, 2019: Season-High 21 Points
On August 4, 2019, Candace Parker scored a season-high 21 points in a victory over the Seattle Storm.
2019: Marriage to Anna Petrakova
In 2019, Candace Parker married Anna Petrakova, although the announcement was made later in December 2021.
2019: Multi-Year Extension with Turner
In 2019, Candace Parker signed a multi-year extension with Turner to continue as an analyst and commentator. She contributed to the NBA on TNT's rebranded Tuesday coverage, NCAA Tournament coverage on TNT and CBS Sports, and joined NBA TV.
October 2020: Part of Angel City FC Ownership
In October 2020, Candace 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.
2020: Declined Invitation to National Team Training Camp
In 2017, USA Basketball extended an invitation to Candace Parker for the 2017–2020 national team training camp, but she declined due to her exclusion from the Rio games.
2020: Named Defensive Player of the Year
In the 2020 WNBA season, shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Candace Parker was named Defensive Player of the Year for the first time in her career. She led the league in rebounding and double-double performances.
December 14, 2021: Announcement of Marriage to Anna Petrakova and Pregnancy
On December 14, 2021, Candace Parker announced that she had married Anna Petrakova in 2019 and that they were expecting a baby.
2021: Signed with the Chicago Sky
In 2021, Candace Parker became an unrestricted free agent and signed a 2-year deal with the Chicago Sky after 13 seasons with the Sparks. The move allowed her to play closer to home.
2021: Won the 2021 WNBA Finals with the Chicago Sky
In 2021, Parker was named to The W25. Parker and the Sky earned the #6 seed and ultimately won the 2021 WNBA Finals, defeating the Phoenix Mercury.
February 11, 2022: Birth of Son Airr Larry Petrakov Parker
On February 11, 2022, Anna Petrakova gave birth to a son, Airr Larry Petrakov Parker, with Candace Parker.
2022: Angel City FC begins competing
In 2022, Angel City FC, the Los Angeles-based team co-owned by Candace Parker and her daughter, began competing in the National Women's Soccer League.
February 2023: Signed with the Las Vegas Aces
In February 2023, Candace Parker signed with the Las Vegas Aces, marking another chapter in her career.
December 14, 2023: Announcement of Second Pregnancy
On December 14, 2023, Candace Parker announced that she and Anna Petrakova were expecting another child.
2023: First Woman Color Commentator for NBA All-Star Game
In 2023, Candace Parker became the first woman to serve as a color commentator for an NBA All-Star Game, marking a significant milestone in her broadcasting career.
February 7, 2024: Re-signed with the Aces
On February 7, 2024, Parker re-signed with the Aces on a one-year contract, extending her time with the team.
April 28, 2024: Retirement Announcement
On April 28, 2024, Candace Parker announced her retirement from professional basketball via her Instagram account, marking the end of her illustrious playing career.
May 8, 2024: President of Women's Basketball at Adidas
On May 8, 2024, Adidas declared that Candace Parker would become the brand's president of women's basketball, expanding her role with the company.
May 21, 2024: Birth of Son Hartt Summitt Petrakov Parker
On May 21, 2024, Anna Petrakova gave birth to a second son, Hartt Summitt Petrakov Parker.
2024: President of Adidas women's basketball
Following her retirement in the spring of 2024, Candace Parker was named president of Adidas women's basketball.
2025: Joins Prime Video
In 2025, Parker will become a game and studio analyst for Prime Video, leading the streaming service's WNBA coverage, marking a new chapter in her broadcasting career.
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