Still fresh of being crowned a WNBA champion for the first time in her illustrious career with the Los Angeles Sparks, the WNBA’s version of CP3 recently made an appearance on Kevin Garnett’s Area 21 segment on TNT.
After delving into some NBA-related news, Kenny “The Jet” Smith brought up Parker’s snub from the Rio 2016 Olympic team and how she handled that throughout the course of this past season.
“There’s a lot more that goes into it. I didn’t understand it either, but it’s something that, it happened. And, it’s something that I had to deal with and move on. And, honestly, I believe everything happens for a reason. And I was able to, kind of, focus on what I really wanted—and that’s a WNBA championship.”
–Candace Parker on Area 21
They also talked about losing Pat Summitt, her coach at Tennessee, and what she instilled in Parker as a player that has stayed with her throughout her WNBA career. She said what she managed to endure this past season is all attributed to what she learned from Summitt.
“Everything that I went through this year, and was able to, kind of overcome, was because of her. Coach [Summitt] was one that didn’t just talk the talk, she walked the talk. And you meet very few people in life that do that through the good and the bad. And when she was at her worst, she still had a positive attitude and really believed that everything happened or a reason, and it’s not what happens to you, it’s how you react to it.”
–Candace Parker on Pat Summitt
There was also this…The Big Ticket also asked Parker who she saw as similar to her in the WNBA. Her answer—Elena Delle Donne.
Who is similar to Candace in the women’s game?
“@De11eDonne… We have whole defenses designed to stop her.” https://t.co/R6Ifytschr
— KG’s Area 21 (@KGArea21) December 9, 2016
In addition, Parker and KG mentioned a bit about how she is able to balance her WNBA career with what she describes as her “most important job”—being a mother.
“Being a mother is my most important job” – Real talk from @Candace_Parker https://t.co/ReNbprl1Mo
— KG’s Area 21 (@KGArea21) December 9, 2016
Also mentioned was how former WNBA player Becky Hammon broke through into the coaching ranks of the NBA as a woman.
“It takes an organization like the @Spurs to be the first to do it” – @Candace_Parker on women coaches in the #NBAhttps://t.co/LsEBg1QscI
— KG’s Area 21 (@KGArea21) December 9, 2016
CP3 has made her mark! ? #KGArea21 pic.twitter.com/0rvQJkeRsd
— KG’s Area 21 (@KGArea21) December 9, 2016
(Side note…if anyone remembers KG as a player, how he gets through entire segments without swearing like a sailor is an accomplishment in itself. The Area 21 studio is decorated with a “cuss button” for a reason…)
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
