Candace Parker biography

One of the most talented basketball players in history and two times championship winner Candace Parker has shown the power of determination. No wonder Candace Parker net worth is the talk of the town in such a short time.

Grown among basketball enthusiasts, Parker also has a knack for making such expressions that can leave anyone ROFL. And the best part- she enjoys it.

Early Life & Education

Candace Parker was born in St. Louis, Missouri in the United States and was raised there until the age of two. Her family then moved to Naperville, Illinois.

Growing up among the fans of the Chicago Bulls, she got her first basketball lessons from her father and brother. But Parker was in splits thinking about maintaining the same benchmark and keeping up with the expectations of her family or not. That’s why she picked soccer for herself.

But Parker’s father was keen to make her realize her true potential in basketball. So he went the whole nine yards to train and motivate her in the same field. It turns out that her father knew how far she could go. By the time she joined Naperville Central High School, everyone including Candace Parker was startled to see her performance. In 2001, she scored her first slam dunk for her school.

Endorsements

Candace Parker net worth is said to have a lion’s share of paychecks from her endorsement deals. Adidas, Gatorade, NBA 2K, Band-Aid, Capital One, CarMax, Modern Fertility, and JBL Audio. As a matter of fact, her annual endorsement earnings are higher than her collective league earnings from over a decade.

Candace Parker was the highest-paid female athlete in 2022 as per Forbes. Her net worth at that time was $7.2 Billion, out of which $7 Million was from endorsement deals. The same source confirms that she makes $8 Million from her endorsements alone.

Adidas and Parker have a strong tie-up for over a decade now. She did release her second collection Adidas ACE in July 2022. One of the most celebrated basketball players is oft-times seen wearing Adidas sneakers during her sports broadcast on television. The Candace Parker Collection launched under Adidas undoubtedly piles up Candace Parker net worth to a new level.

Parker came out as the first woman to get featured on the NBA 2K video game cover. She also did invest in Alt (a trading card exchange company).

Philanthropic Activities

Parker is a firm believer in giving back and she joined the Dicks Sporting Goods Foundation’s Sports Matter program held in 2020. She along with other sports enthusiasts gifted sports accessories to deserving candidates of the ABC Pilsen basketball organization of Chicago and praised their potential.

Candace Parker net worth also bestowed $25000 along with Gatorade, on a Fantasia Ariel painting that was featured in Gatorade’s Fuel Tomorrow initiative.

Candace Parker Personal Life

Candace Parker married NBA fame Shelden Williams in 2008. She gave birth to her daughter Lailaa Nicole Williams, the very next year. In 2016, the couple got divorced citing ‘irreconcilable differences,’ and both basketball players parted ways. Candace Parker wife agreed on joint custody of their daughter. The WNBA charm Candace Parker net worth shelled out $400,000 alimony.

In late 2021, Parker did break the news of her marriage to Russian Women’s Basketball Team player Anna Petrakova. Parker revealed they married in 2019 and together the couple welcomed their baby son, Airr Larry, in February last year.

Parker is a dog lover and has a dog named Prada. She also did an ad for PETA with her dog named Fendi.

What Team Does Candace Parker Play For ?

At the time of this writing, Candace Parker plays for Las Vegas Aces. She signed a one-year deal with Aces in February 2023. The 36-year-old is happy for her amalgamation with the team because she can focus on her career and family altogether. She took to her Instagram handle to share how right the deal feels to her at this point in her life. In addition, she showed gratitude towards the Chicago Bulls team, her supporters, and her family.

As per recent reports from The Associated Press, she will play for next season only if she feels at ease with her health. She said in the interview, “I’ll weigh my options. If I feel really, really good then I’ll play.” The father of two proceeded to say, “That’s a big if. I've got to get my foot right. My foot was really bad last year. I don’t want to cheat the game or cheat myself.” She further added, “Every day my foot doesn’t feel great walking.” “I continue to rehab and stuff. I can’t play in pain. It makes the game not fun. I realized on Halloween that I want to take my kids trick or treating. I don’t want to be sitting in the car because I can’t walk. I want to be able to go out to the beach. I love playing beach volleyball. I don’t know if one more season is worth risking that.”

Candace Parker Controversies

In a 2021 interview with the Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks, Candace Parker opened up about her rift with former USA coach and UConn legend Geno Auriemma. Speaking of that, she mentioned that their personal (not professional) relations were sour due to which she withdrew her name from the 2020 Tokyo Games. She said, "He doesn't like me," “I don’t like him.” The two-times WBNA gold medalist also said, "There's so many times where now looking back, especially after being cut, that they have this expectation that you just drop everything and just come and play in your one break," (Source: CBS Sports)

She emphasized she won’t like to mess up with her health. 

Candace Parker Most Memeable Faces

Candace Parker net worth isn’t the only reason she garners the limelight. Her hilarious expressions in between her leagues, commentary, and interviews leave the audience giggling. But she never minds, instead she said in an interview with the Insider- "I've always had memeable expressions," Parker said. "It's a gift and a curse. It just happens." 

Awards & Accolades

Here are a few awards and accolades received by Candace Parker-

• Gatorade Illinois State Player of the Year (2002-2004)
• Illinois Miss Basketball (2002-2004)
• Women's Sports Foundation High School Athlete of the Year (2004)
• SEC Freshman of the Year (2006)
• FIBA World Champions for Women Bronze Medal (2006)
• NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (2007, 2008)
• WNBA Rookie of the Year (2008)
• Beijing Olympics Gold Medal (2008)
• Championship of Russia (2010-2014)
• London Olympics Gold Medal (2012)
• WNBA All-Star Game MVP (2013)
• EuroLeague Women Final Eight MVP (2013)
• WNBA Top 20@20 (20 greatest players in league history) (2016)
• WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2020)
• The W25 (25 greatest players in league history) (2021)

Wrapping Up

Candace Parker net worth, which is 8.1 Million USD, is transpired to be the result of her never-ending hustle to be a better version of herself. She was a little hesitant to join basketball initially, but her father’s constant push and support made her realize she was born for it. Hopefully, she will keep on rocking the basketball championships globally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1.Who is Candace Parker?

Candace Parker is a professional basketball player known for her versatility, skill, and achievements in the WNBA.

Q2. How many championships has Candace Parker won?

As of 2024, Candace Parker has won three WNBA championships: in 2016 with the Los Angeles Sparks, in 2021 with the Chicago Sky, and in 2023 with the Las Vegas Aces.

Q3. Has Candace Parker won any Olympic medals?

Yes, Parker is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, winning with Team USA in 2008 (Beijing) and 2012 (London).