History of Candace Parker in Timeline
Candace Parker, nicknamed "Ace", is a retired American professional basketball player considered among the WNBA's all-time greats. Drafted first overall in 2008 by the Los Angeles Sparks, she played 13 seasons with them. She further played two seasons with the Chicago Sky, and one season with the Las Vegas Aces. Notably, Parker won a WNBA championship with each of these three teams, a testament to her impact and skill.
April 19, 1986: Candace Parker's Birth
On April 19, 1986, Candace Nicole Parker, nicknamed "Ace", was born. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest WNBA players of all time.
1997: Cynthia Cooper's Debut Record
Cynthia Cooper's debut record for points scored was broken by Candace Parker in 2008.
December 27, 2001: First Dunk in Competition
On December 27, 2001, Candace 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: Last WNBA Title for Sparks Before 2016
Candace Parker led the Sparks to their first WNBA Finals title since 2002 in 2016.
2002: Illinois Player of the Year
In 2002, Candace Parker was a consensus pick as player of the year in Illinois.
2002: Sparks Claimed Championship
In 2002, The Sparks claimed their first championship since 2002, marking a significant milestone in the team's history.
November 11, 2003: Commitment to Tennessee
On November 11, 2003, Candace Parker announced her commitment to Tennessee on ESPNEWS, becoming the first women's player to announce an oral commitment live on the network.
2003: High School State Title
In 2003, Candace Parker led her high school basketball team to a Class AA state title.
2003: Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year Award
In 2003, Candace Parker won the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year award, becoming only the second junior to receive this honor.
2003: USA Today High School Player of the Year
In 2003, Candace 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 Last WNBA Finals Appearance Before 2016
In 2003, the Sparks made their last appearance in the WNBA Finals before their return in 2016, highlighting the significance of their advancement that year.
March 29, 2004: Slam Dunk Contest Winner
On March 29, 2004, Candace Parker became the first woman to win the slam dunk contest at the McDonald's All-American Game.
August 2004: Parker Wins Gold Medal at FIBA Americas Championship
In August 2004, Candace Parker and the USA Women's U18 team won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, with Parker leading the team in scoring, averaging 16.6 points per game.
August 2004: Gold Medal in USA Junior World Championship
In August 2004, Candace Parker led the undefeated USA Junior World Championship team to a gold medal. While training, Parker had a relapse of knee pain and was required to undergo surgery in her left knee.
2004: Enrolls at the University of Tennessee
Candace Parker entered the University of Tennessee in the fall of 2004.
2004: High School State Title
In 2004, Candace Parker led her high school basketball team to a Class AA state title.
2004: Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year Award
In 2004, Candace Parker won the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year, becoming the only woman to ever win the award twice.
2004: USA Today High School Player of the Year
In 2004, Candace Parker won the USA Today High School Player of the Year, Gatorade Female Basketball Player of the Year Award and Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year.
February 17, 2005: Redshirt Season Announcement
On February 17, 2005, Tennessee announced that Candace Parker would redshirt her first season due to a knee injury.
2005: Lady Vols Season
Candace Parker started for the Tennessee Lady Vols during the 2005–06 season.
March 19, 2006: First Woman to Dunk in NCAA Tournament Game
On March 19, 2006, in an NCAA tournament first-round game against Army, Candace Parker became the first woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game and then the first woman to dunk twice in an NCAA tournament game.
2006: FIBA World Championship for Women
In 2006, Candace Parker was the only college player named to the USA squad for the FIBA World Championship for Women in Brazil. The USA squad finished in third place.
January 28, 2007: Fastest Lady Vol to 1,000 Career Points
On January 28, 2007, Candace Parker became the fastest player in Lady Vols history to score 1,000 career points.
May 7, 2007: Parker Named to People's 100 World's Most Beautiful People List
On May 7, 2007, People named Candace Parker to its 100 World's Most Beautiful people list, recognizing her public image and appeal.
December 2007: Academic Statistics
As of December 2007, Candace Parker had a 3.35 grade-point average.
2007: National Championship with Tennessee
In 2007, Candace Parker led the Tennessee team to a national championship and was named the Final Four's most outstanding player.
February 21, 2008: Announcement to Forgo Final Season
On February 21, 2008, Candace Parker announced that she would forgo her final season of eligibility at Tennessee to focus on the 2008 Olympics and pursue a professional career in basketball.
April 8, 2008: Led Lady Vols to NCAA Title
On April 8, 2008, Candace Parker led the Lady Vols to their second straight NCAA women's title and was named the Most Outstanding Player for the second consecutive NCAA tournament.
April 9, 2008: Drafted #1 Overall to Los Angeles Sparks
On April 9, 2008, Candace Parker was selected as the first pick in the 2008 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks.
May 2008: Graduation
In May 2008, Candace Parker graduated with her class.
May 17, 2008: WNBA Debut
On May 17, 2008, in her debut game against the Phoenix Mercury, Candace Parker scored 34 points, had 12 rebounds, and 8 assists. Her 34 points broke the record for a rookie in a debut game.
May 28, 2008: 5x5 Stat Line
On May 28, 2008, Candace Parker became 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 to Dunk Twice in WNBA Career
On June 24, 2008, Candace 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 in Points
On July 9, 2008, Candace 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: Rookie of the Month
Candace Parker was named the Hanns-G 'Go Beyond' Rookie of the Month for the months of May and July 2008.
July 21, 2008: Suspension in Sparks-Shock Brawl
On July 21, 2008, Candace Parker was one of 11 people suspended in the Sparks-Shock brawl.
August 2008: Summer Olympics Gold Medal
In August 2008, Candace Parker was selected to the US team and won a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics, averaging 9.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
October 3, 2008: Rookie of the Year and MVP
On October 3, 2008, Candace 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: Parker Marries Shelden Williams
On November 13, 2008, Candace Parker married Shelden Williams, a former college and NBA basketball player.
2008: Second Consecutive National Championship with Tennessee
In 2008, Candace Parker led Tennessee to their second consecutive national championship. She was also named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player for the second time.
2008: Parker Wins First Olympic Gold Medal
In 2008, Candace Parker played for Team USA and won her first gold medal at the Olympics, as the USA beat Australia 92–65.
2008: Drafted #1 Overall to Los Angeles Sparks
In 2008, Candace Parker was selected as the first overall pick in the WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks.
2008: Parker Partners With Adidas
In 2008, Parker began 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, Candace 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.
2009: Parker 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 key step towards selection for future international competitions.
2010: Shoulder Injury
In 2010, Candace Parker played only 10 games and was sidelined for the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury.
2010: Parker played for UMMC Ekaterinburg
In 2010, Parker played for UMMC Ekaterinburg of the Russian League
2010: Team Selection Year
In 2010, the team selected to play for the FIBA World Championship.
2011: Torn Meniscus
In 2011, Candace Parker tore her meniscus and missed the All-Star Game.
2011: Parker posted a 51% field goal percentage
In 2011, Parker last posted a 51% field goal percentage before achieving it again in 2020, marking a return to form.
2012: Parker Wins Second Olympic Gold Medal
In 2012, Candace Parker played for Team USA at the Summer Olympics. She led the team in rebounds and blocks, helping them win another gold medal, defeating France 86–50 in the gold medal game.
2012: Playoff Loss to Minnesota Lynx
In 2012, Candace Parker re-signed with the Sparks and helped her team to a 24–10 record, making the playoffs as the second seed in the west, losing to the Minnesota Lynx.
2012: Olympic Gold Medal
In 2012, Candace Parker won an Olympic gold medal.
2012: Team Selection Year
In 2012, the team selected to play for the Olympics.
July 27, 2013: All-Star MVP
On July 27, 2013, Candace Parker played in her first All-Star game, scored 23 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and was named WNBA All-Star MVP.
2013: Purchase of Home in Encino, Los Angeles
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
In 2013, Candace Parker won the WNBA All-Star Game MVP Award.
2013: WNBA Most Valuable Player Award
In 2013, Candace Parker won the 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 team's future in jeopardy.
2015: Parker played for UMMC Ekaterinburg
In 2015, Parker played for UMMC Ekaterinburg of the Russian League, winning five consecutive championships with the team.
January 2016: Parker Signed with the Guangdong Dolphins
In January 2016, Parker signed with the Guangdong Dolphins in January 2016, to replace Yelena Leuchanka during the WCBA playoffs.
November 2016: Parker and Williams Split Up
In November 2016, Candace Parker and Shelden Williams split up after eight years of marriage, with Williams filing for divorce due to "irreconcilable differences".
2016: Parker Not Selected for 2016 Summer Olympics
Despite her performance in the previous Olympics, Candace Parker was not selected to play for Team USA in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
2016: WNBA Finals Title and MVP Award
In 2016, Candace Parker led the Sparks to win their first WNBA Finals title since 2002 and was named the WNBA Finals MVP.
2016: Parker Re-signs with Sparks and Dedicates Season to Pat Summitt
In 2016, Candace Parker re-signed with the Sparks as an unrestricted free agent. Later that year, Parker's college coach, Pat Summitt, passed away, and Parker dedicated her season to her mentor. The Sparks finished with a 26-8 record, advancing to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2003.
2016: Parker wins first Championship and Finals MVP
In 2016, Candace Parker won her first WNBA championship with the Sparks, defeating the Minnesota Lynx in a thrilling Game 5. Parker also won the Finals MVP award. She dedicated the championship win in honor of Pat Summitt. Also in 2016, Parker was named in the WNBA Top 20@20, a list of the league's best 20 players ever.
February 2017: Parker Signs 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.
February 2017: Parker signed a 2-month contract with Fenerbahçe
In February 2017, Parker signed a 2-month contract with Fenerbahçe of the Turkish Super League.
July 28, 2017: Parker Records Triple-Double Against San Antonio Stars
On July 28, 2017, Candace Parker recorded a triple-double in an 85–73 win over the San Antonio Stars, scoring 11 points, tying her career-high of 17 rebounds along with a career-high 11 assists, becoming the sixth player in league history to achieve this.
December 2017: Parker signed with the Xinjiang Magic Deer
In December 2017, Parker signed with the Xinjiang Magic Deer of the Chinese League for the 2017–18 WNBA off-season.
2017: USA Basketball Invitation
In 2017, USA Basketball extended an invitation to Parker for the 2017–2020 national team training camp.
July 10, 2018: Parker Achieves Unique Stat Line in Overtime Victory
On July 10, 2018, Candace Parker achieved a historic stat line of 21 points, 10 assists, 9 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 blocks in a 77–75 overtime victory against the Seattle Storm, becoming the first player in WNBA history to reach such numbers.
July 15, 2018: Parker Scores Season-High 34 Points Against Las Vegas Aces
On July 15, 2018, Candace Parker scored a season-high 34 points along with 11 rebounds and 9 assists in a 99–78 victory over the Las Vegas Aces.
July 19, 2018: Parker Voted into 2018 WNBA All-Star Game
On July 19, 2018, Candace Parker was voted into the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game, marking her fifth all-star nomination.
2018: Parker Begins Analyst Role for NBA on TNT
In 2018, Candace Parker began serving as an analyst and commentator for NBA on TNT broadcasts of Tuesday games during the 2018–19 NBA season, expanding her career into sports media.
2018: Analyst and Commentator for TNT Sports
Since 2018, Candace Parker has worked as an analyst and commentator for TNT Sports, covering NBA games on TNT and NBA TV, and the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
May 2019: Parker Suffers Hamstring Injury
In May 2019, Candace Parker suffered a hamstring injury during the Sparks' first preseason game and was ruled out for 3–5 weeks.
June 18, 2019: Parker Makes 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: Parker Scores Season-High Against Seattle Storm
On August 4, 2019, Candace Parker scored a season-high 21 points in a victory over the Seattle Storm.
2019: Parker Signs Multi-Year Extension with Turner Sports
In 2019, Candace Parker signed a multi-year extension with Turner Sports to be an analyst and commentator for NBA on TNT, NBA TV, and NCAA Tournament coverage on CBS Sports.
October 2020: Parker Becomes Part of Angel City FC Ownership Group
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: Invitation for the 2017-2020 national team training camp
In 2020, USA Basketball extended an invitation to Parker for the 2017–2020 national team training camp.
2020: Parker Named Defensive Player of the Year
In the 2020 season, Candace Parker was named Defensive Player of the Year for the first time in her career. The season was shortened and took place in a bubble due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
December 14, 2021: Marriage and Expecting a Baby
On December 14, 2021, Candace Parker announced that she had married Anna Petrakova in 2019 and that they were expecting a baby.
2021: WNBA Title with Chicago Sky
In 2021, Candace Parker assisted the Sky to win their first title.
2021: Parker and the Sky win the 2021 WNBA Finals
In 2021, Parker was named to The W25. The regular season ended with Parker and the Sky earning the #6 seed in that season's playoffs. They beat the Phoenix Mercury to win the 2021 WNBA Finals.
February 11, 2022: Birth of Son
On February 11, 2022, Anna Petrakova gave birth to a son, Airr Larry Petrakov Parker.
2022: Angel City FC Begins Competing
In 2022, Angel City FC, of which Candace Parker is part owner, began competing in the National Women's Soccer League.
February 2023: Parker signs with the Las Vegas Aces
In February 2023, Parker signed with the Las Vegas Aces, marking another chapter in her WNBA career.
December 14, 2023: Expecting Another Child
On December 14, 2023, Candace Parker announced that she and Anna Petrakova were expecting another child.
2023: Parker Became The First Woman Color Commentator
In 2023, Parker became the first woman color commentator for an NBA All-Star Game, marking a historic moment in sports broadcasting.
February 7, 2024: Parker Re-Signs With The Aces
On February 7, 2024, Candace Parker re-signed with the Aces on a one-year contract, continuing her WNBA career.
April 28, 2024: Parker Announces Retirement From Professional Basketball
On April 28, 2024, Candace Parker announced her retirement from professional basketball, marking the end of her remarkable playing career.
May 8, 2024: Parker Appointed President of Women's Basketball at Adidas
On May 8, 2024, Adidas declared that Parker would become the brand's president of women's basketball, transitioning into a leadership role within the company.
May 21, 2024: Birth of Second Son
On May 21, 2024, Anna Petrakova gave birth to their 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.
