Her historic 2008 year started by winning her second NCAA National Championship. She then was selected first overall in the WNBA Draft. She was part of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Championship in Beijing. After the season, she was the first to be named the Rookie of the Year and the Most Valuable Player.

Now, Candace Parker has become a household name.

In her very first WNBA game, the 6’4 forward recorded the best rookie debut in history. She posted 34 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists and helped the Sparks to a victory against the defending champion Phoenix Mercury. Parker won the 2008 May and July Rookie of the Month awards, and led all rookies in scoring (18.5 ppg.), rebounding (9.5 rpg.), blocks (2.3 bpg.) and minutes (33.6 mpg.). She also led the league in double-doubles (17) and rebounds, was second in blocks and fifth in points.

Parker played for Naperville Central High School in her hometown of Naperville, Ill. She was twice chosen as both the Naismith and Gatorade Prep Player of the Year, and became the first woman to ever win a slam-dunk contest when she won the 2004 PowerAde Jam Fest as part of McDonald’s All-American Game festivities. In that contest, Parker bested several NBA dunkers including J.R. Smith and Rudy Gay.

The 2008 CoSIDA Academic Athlete of the Year earned her degree with a major in sports management and a minor in psychology from the University of Tennessee after arguably three of the greatest seasons in NCAA history. Parker won two NCAA titles with the Volunteers, and was twice named the National Player of the Year by each major award committee.

Parker’s brother Anthony plays guard for the NBA’s Toronto Raptors. The duo is one of only two brother-sister combos between the NBA and WNBA. The other is the Sparks’ own Marta Fernandez and her brother Rudy, a guard for the Portland Trailblazers.

• 2008 WNBA MVP
• 2008 WNBA Rookie of the Year
• 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist
• On both the 2008 All-WNBA and All-Rookie Team
• 2008 league leader in rebounds (9.5 per game) and double doubles (17)
• Rookie of the Month in May and July 2008
• First pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft

• First pick in the WNBA Draft
• First player to earn WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season
• First team All-WNBA and All-Rookie Team
• Rookie of the Month, May and July 2008
• Led the league in rebounds per game (9.5) and total rebounds (313)
• Second in blocks per game (2.3) and total blocks (75)
• Third in total points (610) and fifth in points per game (18.5)
• Became second player to dunk in the WNBA regular season on 6/22/08 vs. Indiana. Dunked two nights later vs. Seattle on 6/24/08