Full Name
Candace Parker
Company
2x WNBA Champion, Broadcaster, Mom, and Activist
Speaker Bio
As one of the most decorated women’s basketball players of all-time, Candace Parker has already solidified herself as one of the most influential athletes of this generation. Both on and off the court, Parker has continued to build a legacy that she hopes will inspire others to break through glass-ceilings as she has.
After 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks, Parker returned to her home city of Chicago to join the Chicago Sky where she led the team to win the 2021 WNBA championship. The win marked the franchise’s first WNBA championship ever, and her second WNBA championship.
In 2008, Parker was selected as the No.1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks, following a champion career at Tennessee where she led the Lady Vols to consecutive NCAA championships in 2007 and 2008. Parker went on to become the first player to earn WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season and was later named Finals MVP after leading the Sparks to the 2016 WNBA title.
Throughout her WNBA career, Parker has built an outstanding honors list which includes six WNBA All-Star nods, including the 2013 WNBA All-Star Game MVP Award, nine All-WNBA selections, two WNBA MVP Awards, and the 2020 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. Parker also led Team USA to gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.
Off the court, Parker launched the first season of her podcast “Moments with Candace Parker.” Produced in partnership with Wonder Media Network and Robin Roberts, "Moments” celebrates parenthood to the fullest -- the smallest victories, the messiest failures and the bravest decisions. Each week, Candace chats with friends you might recognize, about stories you've never heard before. The podcast launched on August 10, 2021, on all podcast platforms to tons of fan love.
Additionally, Parker was the first WNBA player to appear on the cover of an NBA 2K game when she was featured on the cover of the NBA 2K22 WNBA 25th Anniversary Special Edition. It was the latest installment of firsts for Parker with 2K Sports as she was also the 1st WNBA player to sign with 2K when she helped bring the WNBA onto the platform for the first time in 2019. She also became the first active player – male or female – to be an in-game analyst in the 2K broadcast booth as part of 2K21.
Currently, Parker has endorsement deals with Adidas, 2K Sports, Band-Aid, Capital One, Gatorade and JBL Audio. In 2019, Parker closed a multi-year deal to serve as an analyst and commentator for the NBA on TNT, NBA TV and NCAA Tournament coverage and is seen as a rising star on the broadcast world. Most recently, Parker and her 12-year-old daughter became co-owners of the Angel City FC National Women's Soccer League expansion team that is expected to begin play in 2022.
As a mother and a Black woman, Parker has developed into a bold, insightful, and inspiring thought leader who is passionate about the importance of women’s rights, voters’ rights, and Black Lives Matter. In September of 2020, Parker was the first women to join the Social Change Fund, the mission of which is to invest in and support organizations that are working to liberate Black people and advocate for indigenous people and communities of color through the lens of policy solutions, community representation and narrative change. With her heart, passion and competitiveness, Parker is already a role model for so many with much more to come.
After 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks, Parker returned to her home city of Chicago to join the Chicago Sky where she led the team to win the 2021 WNBA championship. The win marked the franchise’s first WNBA championship ever, and her second WNBA championship.
In 2008, Parker was selected as the No.1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks, following a champion career at Tennessee where she led the Lady Vols to consecutive NCAA championships in 2007 and 2008. Parker went on to become the first player to earn WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season and was later named Finals MVP after leading the Sparks to the 2016 WNBA title.
Throughout her WNBA career, Parker has built an outstanding honors list which includes six WNBA All-Star nods, including the 2013 WNBA All-Star Game MVP Award, nine All-WNBA selections, two WNBA MVP Awards, and the 2020 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. Parker also led Team USA to gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.
Off the court, Parker launched the first season of her podcast “Moments with Candace Parker.” Produced in partnership with Wonder Media Network and Robin Roberts, "Moments” celebrates parenthood to the fullest -- the smallest victories, the messiest failures and the bravest decisions. Each week, Candace chats with friends you might recognize, about stories you've never heard before. The podcast launched on August 10, 2021, on all podcast platforms to tons of fan love.
Additionally, Parker was the first WNBA player to appear on the cover of an NBA 2K game when she was featured on the cover of the NBA 2K22 WNBA 25th Anniversary Special Edition. It was the latest installment of firsts for Parker with 2K Sports as she was also the 1st WNBA player to sign with 2K when she helped bring the WNBA onto the platform for the first time in 2019. She also became the first active player – male or female – to be an in-game analyst in the 2K broadcast booth as part of 2K21.
Currently, Parker has endorsement deals with Adidas, 2K Sports, Band-Aid, Capital One, Gatorade and JBL Audio. In 2019, Parker closed a multi-year deal to serve as an analyst and commentator for the NBA on TNT, NBA TV and NCAA Tournament coverage and is seen as a rising star on the broadcast world. Most recently, Parker and her 12-year-old daughter became co-owners of the Angel City FC National Women's Soccer League expansion team that is expected to begin play in 2022.
As a mother and a Black woman, Parker has developed into a bold, insightful, and inspiring thought leader who is passionate about the importance of women’s rights, voters’ rights, and Black Lives Matter. In September of 2020, Parker was the first women to join the Social Change Fund, the mission of which is to invest in and support organizations that are working to liberate Black people and advocate for indigenous people and communities of color through the lens of policy solutions, community representation and narrative change. With her heart, passion and competitiveness, Parker is already a role model for so many with much more to come.
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