Candace Parker is eager to play for a 17th WNBA season next summer if she’s in good health, the Lady Vols basketball legend told the Associated Press on Thursday.
Parker was out of action during the latter part of the 2023 WNBA season, her first with the Las Vegas Aces, because of a foot fracture she underwent surgery for in July. Parker, at 37, was instrumental in the Aces’ impressive 21-2 season start, averaging 9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.5 steals, but missed Las Vegas’ historic run to a second straight WNBA Championship.
“I’ll weigh my options. If I feel really, really good then I’ll play,” Parker told The Associated Press. “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.”
Parker played through pain all season before her surgery. She continued through the pain and got an MRI on her left foot when she injured her right ankle and Achilles tendon, according to AP. Parker said her left foot was 89% fractured.
The three-time WNBA champion is a free agent, signing only for a year with the Aces, but mentioned going back to Las Vegas if she makes a return.
“Every day my foot doesn’t feel great walking,” Parker said. “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.”
Parker is the first player to win three WNBA championships with three different teams. She won her first in 2016 with the Los Angeles Sparks, the franchise that drafted her No. 1 overall in 2008. The second came with her hometown Chicago Sky when she joined them in 2021.
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Her resume boasts two WNBA MVP awards, WNBA Finals MVP, WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and 10 All-WNBA selections. Parker is the only player in league history to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season, and is the first to exceed 6,000 points, 3,000 rebounds, and 1,500 assists in her career.
Parker is one of the best players to have played for the Lady Vols. She was under Pat Summitt from 2004 to 2008 and secured back-to-back NCAA titles in 2007 and 2008.
Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @corahalll. If you enjoy Cora’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Lady Vols great Candace Parker wants to play 17th WNBA season if healthy
Rachel Adams is your WNBA insider, delivering comprehensive coverage of women’s basketball. With a commitment to highlighting the talent and achievements of WNBA players, she provides game analysis, player profiles, and inspiring stories from the league.
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