There was a moment that happened not so long ago in the multi-billion-dollar, cutthroat athletic shoe business you may not have heard about. In many ways, it was seismic. In all ways, it was another example of the almost unparalleled greatness of Candace Parker.
Parker in May was named the first-ever president of women’s basketball at Adidas. It was a move that wasn’t heavily covered at the time but was nonetheless important. It was another moment, stacked on top of many others, which represented the continuation of the dominance of women’s sports.
“From high school to college to playing pro to now, this appointment by Adidas symbolizes a shared commitment to making impactful change and setting new benchmarks for the future of women’s sports,” Parker said in a statement at the time. “It’s not just about products; it’s about fostering a movement focused on innovation, representation, and access.”
The move by Adidas also represented something else. It was another indicator of what Parker means to American sports. She remains one of the most impactful athletes this country has ever produced. On the court, her career is almost unmatched. Off of it, she’s had a similar type of influence as Magic Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal.
Yet she isn’t as appreciated for all of the remarkable things she’s done as her male counterparts. Her legacy is the quietest of our superstars. We should all be blaring her name from the rooftops. Shame on us for not doing that.
And Parker is at it again.
Bill Haslam, the chairman of the Nashville Predators, who is also the former Tennessee governor, along with his wife Crissy, are attempting to bring an expansion WNBA team to Nashville, The Tennessean exclusively reported on Thursday morning. The bid was submitted to the league on Jan. 30, and if successful, the team would begin play in the summer of 2028 at Bridgestone Arena.
One of the named partners in the bid is, yeah, you guessed it, Candace Parker.
This project is likely extremely personal for Parker. The proposed team name is the Tennessee Summitt named after legendary coach Pat Summitt. She coached the Volunteers for 38 years and won eight national titles. Parker played for Summitt and the late coach is one of Parker’s heroes.
“Tennessee is the DNA of everything women’s basketball stands for,” Parker said in a statement. “I’m excited to be a part of the group working to bring a WNBA team to the state and honor Coach Summitt’s legacy.”
Over the years, Parker has spoken about Summitt’s influence on her. Parker recently said this about both Summitt and Parker’s father: ‘They knew what buttons to push, they knew when to back off. They knew when to question. Because if you question whether I can do something, I’m going to stay up all night, all day, trying to prove to you that I can.’
“I think coach Summit’s leadership style was she listened, she empowered her players, and she didn’t treat every player the same. She treated us with the same respect,” Parker said.
“We just clicked, and she just became like a second mom to me,” Parker has also said. “Every time I’m tired, I can hear her saying, ‘You’ve never arrived.’ You are always working towards something, and what got you to this point isn’t going to be what keeps you here … That’s the story I always remember about her, and it’s a story that continues to guide me.”
What emerged from Tennessee was a driven, formidable, exceptional human being. Parker remains one of the more important figures in sports who doesn’t get the credit she deserves.
Now, she could also be part of a new WNBA team.
If this works, they will be lucky to have her.
