Tag: Candace Parker

How a 16th WNBA team in Nashville could happen by 2028 (Candace Parker!)

Here’s why Nashville could be a viable city for expansion.

A WNBA team in Nashville, Tennessee, could happen thanks to a pretty familiar name—Candace Parker.

Yep. That’s right, WNBA icon Candace Parker.

Parker, Peyton Manning, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, and Bill Haslam are part of a star-studded ownership group that wants to bring a team to the city.

As if that weren’t enough, the group already has a name for a possible new franchise: the Tennessee Summitt.

Legendary Tennessee Volunteers basketball coach Pat Summitt inspired the name. The play on words and nod to Summitt’s legacy is fitting, and there’s seemingly even a pre-selected color scheme. (Look away, Chicago Sky fans.)

https://www.instagram.com/p/DFdKq4WuKcJ/?igsh=N2Iyc3AyZm52cGx0

That’s pretty cool. Right? Then, there’s the big question:

How could a team in Nashville actually happen?

Well, technically, the city has been on the list of possible expansion sites for a while now, which means that this has been thought about, and the ownership group is well aware of what it would take to make a team work.

Per Paul Skrbina of the Nashville Tennessean, that includes the cost of a privately financed team (likely more than $100M in funds), a place to play (Bridgestone Arena is an option, along with games in Knoxville, Memphis and Clarksville, Tennessee) and a practice facility.

Of course, Haslam, who is leading the charge, mentioned that having more investors down the road to bring the team to fruition would also help. “This is not contingent upon the city doing anything for us,” he said.

When would a team realistically be ready to play basketball in Nashville? The target is 2028, following the debut of the Golden State Valkyries in 2025 and the Toronto Tempo and Portland expansion teams in 2026.

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5 awesome Candace Parker photos back in Knoxville for Tennessee-Alabama

“It feels like home,” the Tennessee alum said.

Saturday’s game between No. 7 Alabama and No. 11 Tennessee was appointment TV as a Week 8 rivalry game that could have a significant impact on the College Football Playoff picture.

Of course, it’s a big game no matter what — cigars and all — and the college football fans who were lucky enough to attend the game in person at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville got to see WNBA star Candace Parker hype up the Tennessee crowd.

One of the greatest players ever, Parker is a Tennessee alum who went on to become a three-time WNBA champion before retiring ahead of the 2024 season.

“It feels like home,” Parker said about going back to Knoxville. “Every time I come back, it’s just like another feeling of just being at home and seeing everybody and being proud to wear orange. It’s surreal, honestly.”

So here are five photos of her looking like she was having a great time before the game kicked off.

Lady Vols legend Candace Parker during an SEC conference game between Tennessee and Alabama in Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.

MORE WNBA:

Candace Parker shared a beautiful snippet of her mentoring Kobe Bryant’s daughter at basketball

What a beautiful gesture by Candace Parker.

After Sabrina Ionescu’s coaching turn, Candace Parker is the latest WNBA star to take her turn at mentoring the late Kobe Bryant’s daughter at basketball.

READ MORE: Q&A with Candace Parker about an unexpected hurdle for Caitlin Clark

In an Instagram story, Parker shared a beautiful snippet of her coaching Bryant’s daughter, Bianka, during a recent private teaching session. It’s a delightful, heartwarming peak at one of the greatest basketball players of the modern era, taking a child of another legend under her wings.

You know this was especially meaningful to Parker, given the wonderful caption referring to herself as “Aunty Candace,” who was helping along the “Mini Mamba.”

We simply can’t get enough of this kind of precious work:

Featured image: @candaceparker on Instagram

Four former Notre Dame stars compete in Seattle Storm-Chicago Sky game

Second meeting for these teams in three days.

For the second time in three days, the Seattle Storm hosted the Chicago Sky. Together, the teams boast five players who once represented Notre Dame. The Storm won the third and final matchup between the teams for the regular season, 84-71.

The Storm’s [autotag]Jewell Loyd[/autotag] led the former Irish players with 20 points despite shooting only 6-of-20 from the field. [autotag]Skylar Diggins-Smith[/autotag], Loyd’s fellow starting guard, scored 15 points and led all players with eight assists.

For the Sky, [autotag]Marina Mabrey[/autotag] and [autotag]Lindsay Allen[/autotag] tied for the team lead with six assists apiece. Mabrey scored 14 points but had a game-high four turnovers. Allen made a single basket on two field-goal attempts.

[autotag]Brianna Turner[/autotag], who played on her 28th birthday when these teams met the other night, was left on the bench for the third time in four games.

This game also was notable for Angel Reese recording her WNBA-record 13th straight double-double, breaking a record previously held by Candace Parker. We’ll see if she can wrestle Rookie of the Year honors away from Caitlin Clark.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

A’ja Wilson set WNBA records in Aces’ dominating win over Lynx

A’ja Wilson produced 29 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Aces to a dominating over the Lynx on Wednesday.

The Las Vegas Aces dominated the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday, winning 80-66. A’ja Wilson recorded her fifth consecutive 20-point, 10-rebound game with 29 points and 15 rebounds, breaking the WNBA record for the longest streak in history.

The previous record of four straight such performances was held twice by Sylvia Fowles and once by Tina Charles and Glory Johnson, respectively. This was Wilson’s 81st career double-double, which ranks fourth among active players.

Wilson not only played offensively, but her defensive performance was also notable, setting rebounding and blocking records. Wilson finished the game with 15 rebounds, which means she has 10 or more rebounds in five straight games, the longest active streak in the league. WNBA legend Candace Parker is the only player with more consecutive double-digit rebound performances, with 12. Additionally, Wilson has blocked at least one shot in 14 straight games, the longest active streak in the WNBA.

The Aces’ next game is on the road on May 31 against the Atlanta Dream.

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Shaquille O’Neal offers high praise for Candace Parker after her retirement

Former LSU basketball star Shaquille O’Neal had kinds words with Candace Parker following her retirement .

Former LSU basketball player [autotag]Shaquille O’Neal[/autotag] had some kind words for Candace Parker following her recent retirement announcement.

Parker joined TNT’s “Inside the NBA” on Wednesday night to talk with Shaq and the crew.

“I just want to say: you know how I feel about you. I love you. I’m so proud of you. Good luck in your new endeavor. And I appreciate our friendship very much and I’m so proud of you,” O’Neal said.

Parker replied, thanking O’Neal for being a role model.

“I’m trying to be a businesswoman, like you, so thank you for raising the bar and continuing to be a great friend and partner for me,” Parker said.

Parker is hanging it up after 16 seasons in the WNBA. The former first-overall pick from Tennessee averaged 16 points and 8.5 rebounds per game over her lengthy career.

She won MVP twice and finished top five in voting 10 times.

Shaq played three seasons with LSU from 1989-92. He was one of the nation’s most dominant players throughout his time in Baton Rouge, averaging 21.6 points per game.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Candace Parker could change the shoe game for women’s basketball forever

Parker is now stepping off the court and into the boardroom full time.

Candace Parker is a WNBA legend as her 16-year WNBA career shows. She is now stepping off the court and into the boardroom full time as she was recently announced as president of Adidas women’s basketball.

In this new role she will have the ability to change the women’s side of the game once again, but this time with executive authority over Adidas women’s basketball products lines. Parker has her own signature shoe line with Adidas and was the ninth player in WNBA history to have a signature shoe.

“Stepping into this new leadership role is a deeply personal next step in my journey with Adidas,” said Parker. “From high school to college to playing pro to now, this appointment by Adidas symbolizes a shared commitment to making impactful change and setting new benchmarks for the future of women’s sports. It’s not just about products; it’s about fostering a movement focused on innovation, representation and access.”

Parker will be tasked with building upon the brand’s storied women’s roster, creating a powerful platform aimed at influencing and elevating the future of women’s sports and evolving the Adidas women’s basketball business and catalyzing a new era of growth and credibility for the brand.

In fact, despite the WNBA having record-breaking performances and an overwhelming increase in viewership, there have only been 12 players with their own signature shoes bearing their names. It was recently announced Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark will be receiving a signature shoe deal, which will raise the number to 13, but superstar A’ja Wilson has yet to receive one.

With Parker in a role like this, we will likely begin to see a positive evolution in the way apparel and shoe brands view and appreciate women’s basketball players. The time is now to change the game, and Parker is the perfect person to do it.

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A’ja Wilson secures Gatorade sponsorship, is a signature shoe deal likely to follow?

It is reported to be a multiyear endorsement deal and Wilson will take place in her first campaign later this spring.

Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson added another coveted sponsor to her roster of endorsement deals. This time, it is the sports-hydration company Gatorade. The announcement comes a few weeks after Wilson was named to Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024 list.

It is reportedly a multiyear endorsement deal and will launch with her first campaign later this spring.

“We’re thrilled about the addition of A’ja Wilson to our elite athlete roster ahead of the 2024 WNBA season,” Jeff Kearney, Gatorade’s head of sports marketing, said. “A’ja has already had an outstanding career full of many accomplishments, and we’re excited to be fueling her as she furthers her impact within the sport and beyond.”

Despite the accolades, awards and accomplishments in college and the WNBA, Wilson still does not have a signature shoe deal. It was recently announced that Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark is getting a signature shoe. But the two-time WNBA MVP, two-time champion and Olympic gold medalist — among many other titles — isn’t in the same boat.

Before it was announced that Clark would have a signature shoe deal, on average, there had been .44 shoe deals per WNBA season. That simply isn’t enough based on the demand. However, the situation could be changing in the athletic shoe arena. It was announced that former WNBA superstar Candace Parker, who recently retired, had been named the president of Adidas women’s basketball.

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Shaq had a beautiful message for Candace Parker after announcing her retirement

This was lovely.

Candace Parker has retired from the WNBA, and now she’s off to be the president of Adidas women’s basketball.

And after we’ve seen her be awesome on TV with the Inside the NBA crew on TNT, which has included some must-see moments between her and Shaquille O’Neal, she got a lovely tribute with Shaq on Wednesday night.

He started off singing Hail to the Chief and then talked about how he appreciated their friendship and that he loves her and appreciates their friendship. And then she explained why she was leaving the game behind.

This is just lovely, especially after what we saw Shaq do to Nikola Jokic earlier.

The Aces set up a joke shrine to Candace Parker on her old locker to celebrate her retirement

OK, the crutch is a hilarious touch.

An all-time legend of the game, Candace Parker walked away from the WNBA as one of the greatest basketball players in history. She achieved virtually everything significant in her career and definitively left the game a better place for the next generation.

So of course her old Las Vegas Aces teammates were going to be sad about her departure. Kudos to them for showing a great sense of humor about it, too.

In a new video courtesy of Sydney Colson, the two-time defending champions have set up a joke shrine to Parker in her old locker. It’s set to emotional music and features various Aces players, such as A’ja Wilson and Alysha Clark, dropping off specific mementos about Parker, like a crutch and what appears to be wine.

It’s very well done and perfectly tongue-in-cheek:

Now that is one proper (and amusing!) way you say goodbye to an icon of the game.