Lady Vols great Candace Parker's journey to Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

Candace Parker, a basketball legend, never envisioned her career would lead her to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Her journey to this prestigious honor began in her childhood, playing with her two older brothers in a park in Naperville, Illinois. Parker's love for the game soon took her around the world, with some moments standing out more than others.

Instead of flashy arenas or championship parades, it was that park or the fitness center in Naperville where she first dunked, and Stokely Athletic Center, where she trained before Tennessee's new practice facility was built during her senior year, that held a special place in her heart.

Parker may not have aspired to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but she aspired to see her name etched in the rafters of the Lady Vols, with more banners hanging for her contributions. Her love for the game was evident as she hung two national championship banners before playing 16 seasons in the WNBA. Throughout her career, she faced numerous challenges, including 10 knee surgeries and a string of injuries after giving birth in 2009.

Nevertheless, Parker's determination and resilience led her to win three WNBA titles and an additional MVP, alongside her second MVP when she guided the Los Angeles Sparks to a title in 2016.

In 2026, Parker was inducted into both the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. She expressed her gratitude to legendary coach Pat Summitt, who was alive to attend the ceremony. Parker mentioned, "I’ll be honest, going in a class with (Holdsclaw), I think Pat’s definitely smiling down, I think she’d definitely be super proud." In addition to her own remarkable achievements, Parker is excited to pass the torch to her two sons, Airr and Hartt, who aspire to play basketball too.