Just as Saturday’s speech at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame was the second acceptance speech made this year by Elena Delle Donne, the same also applied to Candace Parker.
Parker walked up to the podium with a WNBA basketball – and had said ball on display as she gave her remarks. She began by mentioning how legends would mention to her over the years about the “heaviness” of being at the Hall of Fame.
And now, she is among those legends.
Parker described her odyssey with the game as a “love story.” Said story, she says began when she was in middle school. She brought up how Title IX became reality in 1972 and that it gave so many opportunities for women. Parker also shouted out Cheryl Miller who was one of her presenters for Saturday’s big occasion.
Miller was a 1995 enshrinee into the Hall. She represented the “first quarter” of Parker’s love story.
She broke the mold and set the stage for what was to come and what is today.
–Candace Parker, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Anyone growing up in the Chicago area as Parker did especially had a love story with the game considering it was the era of the six championships won by the Chicago Bulls. Of course, any hoops fan understands the marquee names from those glory days – Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Toni Kukoc, coach Phil Jackson.
Parker mentioned that it was actually Ron Harper who was her favorite player.
She credits her brothers for being inspirations for her as well.
I saw the journey that it took to get there. I saw the journey to greatness. I saw the grind and I began to learn at an early age that participation trophies were not accepted in our household.
–Candace Parker, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Parker retold a story of how one of her soccer teammates in Naperville scored a goal and the teammate’s father celebrated with her daughter – yet she did not receive the same praise for sailing multiple balls through the goalposts. That was a reflection of the high standards set in her family.
After all, she mentioned coming from a family of athletes and college graduates – as she mentioned in her remarks.
The idea of “Can do” was something that was a theme of her speech in Knoxville – in the shadow of the same University of Tennessee that made her into a national household name at the collegiate level. Parker mentioned how it came from her mother and that it gave her confidence to use her voice.
She has and will always be my number one fan.
–Candace Parker, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Parker credited her father – previously nicknamed the “modern day Joe Jackson” – with her playing point even though she was the tallest on the team. He knew she could dunk at an early age.
He saw things in me far beyond what I saw in myself. My family is truly the reason why I am here today.
–Candace Parker, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Parker mentioned how growing up watching the athletic achievements of women pushed her to want to get to the same point – including the 1996 Olympic team, the Houston Comets which won four championships and Brandi Chastain’s game-winning goal in the 1999 World Cup.
Chastain’s goal also was mentioned in her remarks in Knoxville.
The inspiration Parker gained from her household was a central theme of her remarks. A step in that love story occurred when her brother became a Philadelphia 76er in 1997 and played alongside Allen Iverson who was inducted into the Hall a decade ago. Iverson was the “second quarter” of Parker’s love story.
AI will always stand for Allen Iverson. I don’t care what today says. It will always stand for Allen Iverson.
–Candace Parker, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Parker credited how Iverson is still continuing to inspire generations – to even how her children model their hairstyles after the Sixers legend – and how surreal it was for him to be on stage wearing a blazer with her name and number from her Tennessee glory days.
Prior to those Tennessee glory days, it was Naperville – Naperville Central in particular that molded Parker into the player that would do big things with the Lady Vols under the tutelage of the late, great Pat Summitt.
Anyone who was around Tennessee around that time period has a Summitt story. The one Parker told during her remarks centered around how much emphasis she did on offensive rebounding. During a practice, Summitt saw that Parker was not doing this and the legendary coach was upset with Parker.
She was determined the next day to display to Summitt that this was an area of her game she would commit to being great at.
I learned a great lesson that day – that the greats continue to be the hardest workers and still lean into the little things that got them to the top. Coaches are so important and I’m super grateful for mine.
–Candace Parker, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Among those who received thanks from Parker included coaches and staff as well as former Tennessee athletic director Joan Cronan. Parker won two national championships with Tennessee.
I will always bleed orange.
–Candace Parker, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026
When Parker got drafted first overall to the Los Angeles Sparks, she learned she did not have to wait to be great. She saw more greatness playing alongside Lisa Leslie and mentioned how coach “Showtime” Michael Cooper inspired her to be the best she can be.
That happened in 2008 where she became an Olympic gold medalist as well as WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year. She was also pregnant with her daughter, whom Parker referred to as her “favorite teammate.” Lailaa Williams is carving out an athletic career for herself as well.
She became number one. From sleepless nights nursing at halftime of games, her first steps on a road trip to Phoenix. We were a team and we shared the wins and the grind. Her sacrifice and support over the years is something that I do not take for granted.
–Candace Parker, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Parker described “quarter number 3” of her love story as being represented by “big sis” Tamika Catchings who she had an opportunity to play against when she arrived in the WNBA. One word that came up during her remarks was “despite” – her ability to still achieve great things despite setbacks such as injuries and surgeries.
A crowning moment of hers occurred in 2016 when the Sparks faced the Minnesota Lynx in a deciding Game 5 of that year’s WNBA Finals. Parker told a story of how prior to that game, she received a text message from Kobe Bryant.
He says do it the hard way. It’s always better that way.
–Candace Parker, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Parker mentioned how the irony of that game’s result went back to what Summitt told her years ago about offensive rebounds – an offensive board from Nneka Ogwumike won that game for the Sparks. Among those she thanked from her Los Angeles days included Eric Holoman, Brian Agler and Magic Johnson.
Quarter Number Four was denoted by another individual who can be considered Chicago hoops royalty – Dwyane Wade. Wade and Parker are both analysts for Amazon Prime Video’s basketball coverage.
Your support and your love and celebration and your greatness has always inspired me. Truly, I mean that. I love being your teammate now. It’s one of my favorite jobs and you’ve always had my back and looked after me even though my mid-post game might be a little bit better than yours. But I still studied your greatness.
–Candace Parker, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Parker also dropped a line about “changing teams both literally and figuratively” as part of her quarter four. It was during that quarter where she met her current wife, Anya.
An Olympian herself, champion and professional basketball player that sacrificed for me and our family. I’m forever, forever grateful.
–Candace Parker, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Love stories can have their ups and downs and Parker mentioned those downs during her speech – including being cut from the Olympic team. It was in 2021 when she had an opportunity to return home to Chicago to wear a Sky uniform.
She thanked James Wade, Michael Alter and the Sky organization for giving her a chance to win a WNBA championship in the very city where she first began perfecting her hoops craft.
The clock started ticking down and I knew. I knew it was close to the finish line. But no one, honestly, is ever ready. Full circle. I came in as a rookie with Lisa Leslie and her greatness, unknowing how time has wings. And I got to pass the torch to a GOAT in A’ja Wilson on my way out.
–Candace Parker, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Parker thanked Las Vegas Aces owner Mark Davis and coach Becky Hammon for bringing her into Las Vegas where she won one more championship before calling it a career. Among those also receiving thanks were doctors and officials from both the WNBA and NBA sides.
Other names she mentioned towards the close of her remarks included Tina Thompson, Kahleah Copper and Chelsea Gray. Parker’s current phase of life also includes being a successful businesswoman. She acknowledged those who have been integral to her at this stage of her life.
She also mentioned how the standard set by Magic Johnson for athletes looking to cross over into the business world has been a source of inspiration for her as well (hence her Adidas and Gatorade ventures). Parker also talked about continuing that family tradition of achieving greatness by instilling that into her sons.
It felt weird to walk onto the stage without the very reason why I’m here today – my muse.
–Candace Parker, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026
The ball she walked up to the podium with turned out to be very symbolic. Parker – with that leather basketball – achieved a lot, including traveling the world, having a signature shoe and being on the cover of NBA2K.
There will be others that follow. But my wish is may you grow it, may you love it, may you enjoy it and may you leave it better. Whether the beginning at 13 or now at 40, it was never about anything else. We were meant to be. A love story that began 27 years ago.
–Candace Parker, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026
