The Chicago Sky are the 2021 WNBA Champions. Candace Parker has come through on her promise. Parker has brought a championship to the city of Chicago. It hasn’t always been pleasant for Parker; she’s been called overrated, attitudinal, been scrutinized for not living up to her potential. Overall, Parker isn’t respected.
Through it all, Parker has dusted herself off, remained focused and continued pushing. Even when there are conversations about the great players of all time, Parker’s name is barely discussed. Now, with another championship under her belt, it’s time to recognize the greatness of Candace Parker.
This championship run with Chicago led people to inspect Candace Parker’s game and greatness, but truly, the greatness has always been there.
From the very moment she stepped on the court, Parker has dazzled. Parker had the best Rookie debut in WNBA history after earning her 2nd national championship with Tennessee.
In that same season, Parker won not only Rookie of the Year but also Most Valuable Player. Parker’s the only player to ever do that in WNBA history. She is also the only player in league history to have a 5×5 game, in which she recorded five or more items in each statistical category.
So, why is it that Parker’s greatness for these past 14 years is going unnoticed? Maybe it’s because in civilization, individuals have a habit of noticing the negative about an individual instead of the positive.
In Parker’s case, it was her lack of securing a championship. For example, in 2013, Parker won her second MVP, but the focus was on her first-round playoff exit.
Even after obtaining her first championship in 2016, the pressure was on Parker to secure another to cement her basketball legacy.
Since the infamous benching in 2019, Parker earned Defensive Player of the Year, named as an All-Star for the sixth time and brought a championship to Chicago.
Parker has handled every knock to her name and legacy with grace. Even this year, she was chosen as an All-Star, but wasn’t seen as one of the best. Both All-WNBA Teams didn’t include Parker. Maybe it’s a championship thing. In 2016 she was left off both teams, along with the USA National Team.
Candace Parker has won many awards during her career. Any award you can think of, she’s earned it. Just look at Parker’s overseas career. While playing in Russia for several years, Parker became a five-time Russian League Champion, a four-time Russian Cup winner and Europe League Champion.
The accomplishments of Candace Parker don’t only translate on the court. Off the court, Parker’s a businesswoman, a mother, and an NBA analyst. In a press conference after the Sky’s championship win, coach James Wade stated that people don’t understand the load and pressure Parker carries as a face of the WNBA.
The Blueprint she is leaving behind for the next generation of stars will one day allow them to stay in their home state, and not travel overseas to make money.
Parker has always said she wants to leave the game better than when she started. At the tail end of her career, Candace Parker has left an imprint on the game of basketball that will be seen for years to come.
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She has always been the best as far I am concerned. She has deserved every reward she has won. A little jealousy maybe??
So, so true! CP truly is the most critiqued player ever and quite frankly it’s a bit puzzling. It is a weird flex to focus on what you feel person is not versus celebrating the greatness of what they are! Who else gets that kind of treatment…constantly? Typically players are lauded for doing one thing great (scoring, rebounding, passing) which is awesome but how is someone who can do all of those things well, not doing enough? Who has consistently filled up the stat sheet? Who has lead her teams in multiple statistical categories each year? .Who is 1 of 2 players to be at least top 12 during the regular season and top 7 in post season in the core statistical categories? Catchings is the other player and both of them are all-around greats! Side note: CP accomplished those feats in 97 less regular season games and 10 less in the post season games. What other big not just passes the ball well but runs point and has been able to break folks down with her handles throughout her career? The typical criticism is that she doesn’t work hard or have a high motor which can be seen as more of a preference for a hard nose gritty player which she is not and does not have to be. She is a finesse player with elite all-around skill and can “choose her weapon” as needed. Like all of us, she is not perfect and she admits to having to grow and adjust in some areas but the excitement and relevance she has brought not only to women’s basketball but to the sport’s landscape is unmatched.
Heck, it took me a sec to see what the hype was all about but in my opinion, the hype was and is warranted and as a sports fan and supporter…watching her go through the setbacks, comebacks (after child birth and injuries), criticisms, weight of expectations, etc. have made her victories so much sweeter. Her story is an amazing sport’s story and Lord knows, we need a 30 for 30 for last season alone! lol! She is the personification of position-less basketball and a model for what an athlete can do and be on and off the court. The game is much better for having her in it!