CANDACE PARKER has already solidified herself as one of the most influential athletes of this generation. Born in St. Louis, Missouri and raised in Naperville, Illinois, Parker emerged as a standout talent early on, becoming one of the most highly decorated high school players in the country before going on to a historic collegiate career at the University of Tennessee. While at Tennessee, she led the Lady Volunteers to back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 2007 and 2008, earned two National Player of the Year honors, and became the first woman to dunk in an NCAA Tournament game, reshaping the possibilities of the women’s game at the collegiate level.

After being selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks, Parker made history as the first player to earn WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season. Over the course of her career, she captured three WNBA championship titles and two Olympic gold medals, redefining versatility and excellence in the sport. Parker was recently announced as a headlining inductee in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

Off the court, Parker’s impact is equally profound. First and foremost, she is a wife and mother of three children (and three dogs), grounding her success in family. Since retiring from professional basketball, she has built a dynamic second act as an author, public speaker, activist, entrepreneur, and studio broadcaster covering both men’s and women’s basketball. Her recent book, The Can-Do Mindset: How to Cultivate Resilience, Follow Your Heart, and Fight for Your Passion, offers an inside look at the principles that have driven her success, providing a blueprint for resilience and purpose both on and off the court.