Candace Parker
Naperville Central High School
Impact Statement
“I was always taught to dream extremely big, that nobody should have higher expectations for myself than myself.”
-Candice Parker
Biography
Parker, a 6’3″ center, has been thought by many to be the best player in the nation for the past three years. She will become a Tennessee Volunteer as a collegian, after finishing high school as a three-time Illinois Miss Basketball with 2,758 career points. Parker overcame an off-season knee injury to lead her squad to its second straight Class AA state title, averaging 24.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 3.5 blocks per game.
While at Tennessee Parker was the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player in 2007 and 2008. She was the SEC Freshman of the Year in 2006 and the SEC Outstanding Athlete of the Year in 2007 and 2008.
Parker was the #1 overall draft pick of 2018, being scooped up by LA Sparks. She was named Rookie of the Year and the Most Valuable Player. She is the first woman and only the third to relish with these two honors the same year (Wilt Chamberlain and Wes Unseld are the other two).
A two -time Olympic Gold Medalist, Parker was named the MVP of the WNBA again in 2013. In 2016 Parker led the Sparks to the WNBA Championship. She was also the MVP of the Finals.
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