Candace Parker
Candace Parker
Candace Nicole Parkeris an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association. She is the younger sister of former NBA player Anthony Parker. She attended the University of Tennessee and was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2008. She may be best known for being the first woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game and the first woman to dunk twice in a college game—she set both milestones as a redshirt...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBasketball Player
Date of Birth19 April 1986
CitySt. Louis, MO
CountryUnited States of America
From my first dunk at 14 years old to my second NCAA Championship at the University of Tennessee, my intense training with my dad was always to credit.
It was just 1-on-1 with me and her, and I knew I had the height advantage over her, so I just took it and shot over her. Fortunately it went in.
I'm not going to force anything. If it's a close game, a two- or three-point game, I'll make the decision that's best for the team.
I just went up and did it. I didn't really think about it.
I'm very stubborn. I feel like I'm going to play this season.
I've grown a lot as a player and as a person. I just play and don't think about that.
It seemed like every time we came at them they answered. Every time we were almost over the hump, they seemed to come back with a run or a steal or a three.
We just looked like we were uninspired. (At halftime), we got on each other.
We're the only team ever to be part of a coach winning 900 games.
I've only dunked in one game. I don't want that to be my identity. I want to be known for an all-around game.
Coach told me to dribble some time off, then we went into our isolation play. I knew they would not double down because of our outside shooters. I was taller so I just shot the ball over her.
You never want to go out with a loss. We just have to use this as motivation.
This is huge. This is a great experience, and I just came into this thing wanting to learn and wanting to grow and to take everything in. This is a really great experience for me, and I just want to learn from it.
She anchors our defense and our offense. She runs the show. We've held it down while she's gone, but that would be a huge boost.