Candace Parker - The Creator
BASKETBALL - WNBA - CHICAGO SKY
ARCHETYPE: THE CREATOR
Day 40/135
Athletic Accomplishments
HAPPY WNBA DRAFT DAY, Y’ALL! Now, let’s kick off this exciting day with a throwback to the first pick of the 2008 WNBA Draft, Candace Parker.
Candace Parker spent 12 years playing with the LA Sparks, as one of the most dynamic and recognizable players in the WNBA. This year, she’s heading back to her hometown, to play for the Chicago Sky.
Parker arrived in the WNBA to a lot of fanfare and hype, which had followed her everywhere since her high school playing days. She was the first and only woman to win the Gatorade National Player of the Year two times (2003 and 2004) before heading to the University of Tennessee, where she’d play for legendary coach Pat Summit.
At Tennessee, Parker led her team to back-to-back NCAA Championships (2007 and 2008), and was voted consensus National Player of the Year and Final Four Most Outstanding Player twice. She was also the first woman to dunk in a college basketball game.
It was clear that Parker would live up to the hype. Immediately. In 2008, she was selected as both Rookie of the Year and MVP, the first to be selected for both awards in the same season. She went on to rack up all kinds of hardware and accolades, including:
2x WNBA MVP (2008, 2013)
WNBA Rookie of the Year (2008)
2x Olympic Gold (2008, 2013)
6x All-WNBA teams
5x WNBA All-Star
But none of this was complete until she won her first WNBA title in 2016 with the Sparks, after dedicating the season to the late, great Pat Summit, who had such an impact on Parker.
Character Archetype: The Creator
Candace Parker can beat you from anywhere—outside, inside, offense, defense, low post, high post. Needless to say, her game is versatile.
She can literally do it all. She’s a mom. A part owner of Angel City FC, the new NWSL club. An intelligent counterpoint to Shaquille O’Neal’s takes as a commentator on NBA on TNT. All of this, IN ADDITION to her day job, where she is still one of the very best in the league.
Parker was a leading MVP contender for last year’s WNBA “Wubble” season. While she didn’t win the award, she did prove to doubters that she still has everything it takes to dominate, which ultimately allowed her to steer her own path back home to Chicago, where the Sky is the limit.