Candace Parker set to have first of 2 jersey retirements this weekend in Los Angeles
Associated Press
Candace Parker has been on the go since she announced her retirement from the WNBA in 2024.
From broadcasting college and pro games to taking over as the president of Women's Basketball for Adidas, the future Hall of Famer has been busy. She's also had more time for what she calls her most important job — being a mom to her daughter Lailaa and sons Airr Larry and Hartt Summitt.
'I am doing more now than I have. I used to be able to use basketball as a crutch,' Parker said in an interview with The Associated Press. 'Now it's like, you ain't going to rest up for nothing. I think this first year of retirement has kind of been my like 'What do I want to do more of in this first year?' My main priority is being there for my family. My daughter's going to be a junior next year and is going to start to get recruited for volleyball.'
Next up for Parker is the Los Angeles Sparks game on Sunday to have her jersey retired. She brought a championship to the franchise in 2016 and the Sparks will be playing Chicago, Parker's hometown team that she went to and helped win a title for in 2021.
The Sky will retire her No. 3 jersey later this summer, making her only the second WNBA player to have her number retired by two different teams. Lindsay Whalen had her jersey retired by both Connecticut and Minnesota.
'It's surreal to be honest,' Parker said of the two jersey retirements. 'I would be lying if I didn't say that when I go into an organization, I want to be one of the best. I want to be remembered as one of the best. And sometimes one of the best doesn't always get their jersey retired.'
Parker, who also wrote a book "The Can-Do Mindset" that was just published, said when she was drafted by Los Angeles No. 1 in 2008 she wanted to win championships there.
'My main thing when I look up into the rafters is like, I want to hang a banner, I wanted to hang banners,' she said.
She brought one title to Los Angeles.
Coming to Chicago she wanted to help her hometown win its first championship. It was something she accomplished in her brief time there.
'To be able to do that and walk around the city and know you have a championship, I think is super special for me,' she said.
Parker never wanted a retirement tour when she decided to end her playing career before the start of last season.
'I never got a chance to stop and like, really live in the moment and be where my two feet were,' she said. 'Now I'm able to. And because of that, I realized how much I missed out on by not stopping and, like, smelling roses. And so now I'm, like, smelling every flower, every rose, every letter.'
One area that Parker is trying to get into, but hasn't had success yet is WNBA ownership. She was part of the expansion bid put in by Nashville.
'I can't think of why the league wouldn't want a team in Nashville. I feel like it's kind of the birthplace of women's basketball,' Parker said. 'In terms of Pat Summitt and what she's meant to the rest of women's basketball, why can't or why shouldn't we have a team in Tennessee. I think it would be a state team and wouldn't just be a team from Nashville.'
If Nashville was to get an expansion team, that would just add more to Parker's plate which is quite full right now.
She's busy trying to make women's basketball at Adidas into the next big thing.
'Where women's basketball is in general, it was looked at as a negative balance, and now it's actually looked at as a business. It is the future of where sports are. We at Adidas have to be on our horse and make sure we understand the power of the dollar sign behind women. Women sell the numbers. That's the thing that's changed with women's sports. It went from being looked at as a charity to now it's a runway.'
___
AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
Wimbledon 2025: Monday's matchups, how to watch on TV, betting odds and more to know
Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Get ready for Monday's start of Wimbledon with a guide that tells you everything you need to know about how to watch the third Grand Slam tennis tournament of 2025 on TV, what the betting odds are, what the schedule is, who the top seeds and defending champions are and more: When does Wimbledon start? Play begins Monday at 11 a.m. local time, which is 6 a.m. ET. The first match on Centre Court — which will be two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz against Fabio Fognini — is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. local (8:30 a.m. ET). Barbora Krejcikova, the 2024 women's champion, opens Centre Court on Day 2 against Alexandra Eala. Where can I watch Wimbledon on TV? — In the U.S.: ESPN/ABC (live coverage) and Tennis Channel (match re-airs). — Other countries are listed here. Who are the defending champions at Wimbledon? A year ago, Krejcikova got past Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in the final for her second Grand Slam title and first at the All England Club. Alcaraz beat seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4) to win his second consecutive trophy at the grass-court major — defeating Djokovic each time — and fourth Slam title overall, a total Alcaraz now has raised to five at age 22. Who are the top seeds at the All England Club? Aryna Sabalenka is the top-seeded woman, and Jannik Sinner is the top-seeded man. They are the players who are ranked No. 1, and the tournament seedings — which were officially released Thursday — follow the WTA and ATP rankings. For the women, French Open champion Coco Gauff is No. 2, Jessica Pegula No. 3 and Paolini No. 4. For the men, Alcaraz is No. 2, Alexander Zverev No. 3 and Jack Draper No. 4. Who are the betting favorites at Wimbledon this year? Sabalenka and Alcaraz are listed as the money-line favorites to win the singles trophies, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Sabalenka is at +275, with 2022 champion Elena Rybakina next at +550 and Gauff the third choice at +800. Alcaraz is at +115, ahead of Sinner (+190) and Djokovic (+650). Who else plays at the All England Club on Monday? Sabalenka will begin the Day 1 schedule at No. 1 Court at 1 p.m. local time (8 a.m. ET) against Carson Branstine, a California-born 24-year-old who represents Canada and helped Texas A&M win the 2024 NCAA women's championship. Other players in action Monday include three-time major finalist Alexander Zverev against Arthur Rinderknech at Centre Court, 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu against Mingge Xu in an all-British matchup at No. 1 Court, and 2021 U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev, 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys, 2024 Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini and 2024 U.S. Open runner-up Taylor Fritz, all at No. 2 Court. Who does Coco Gauff play in her first Wimbledon match and when? Gauff was drawn to face Dayana Yastremska, a 2024 Australian Open semifinalist, in the first round. That match will be Tuesday, when all of the women in the bottom half of their bracket are scheduled to play. Other basic facts about the grass-court Grand Slam tournament Wimbledon is played outdoors on grass courts at the All England Club in southwest London; there are retractable roofs at Centre Court and No. 1 Court. Women play best-of-three-set matches with a first-to-10 tiebreaker at 6-all in the third; men play best-of-five with a tiebreaker at 6-all in the fifth. Unlike at the other three major tennis tournaments — the U.S. Open, Australian Open and French Open — there are no night sessions; there is an 11 p.m. curfew at Wimbledon. This is also the last Grand Slam event with 14 days of competition; later this year, the U.S. Open will join the Australian Open and French Open as a 15-day event that begins on Sunday instead of Monday. What is new this year at Wimbledon? The All England Club will use electronic line-calling during matches for the first time, replacing line judges. That puts Wimbledon in line with the Australian Open and U.S. Open, leaving the French Open as the last major with humans making in or out calls — at least as of now. Another change in 2025: The times for the two singles finals are moving later, with both now starting at 4 p.m. (11 a.m. ET). What is the singles schedule at Wimbledon? — Monday-Tuesday: First Round (Women and Men) — July 2-3: Second Round (Women and Men) — July 4-5: Third Round (Women and Men) — July 6-7: Fourth Round (Women and Men) — July 8-9: Quarterfinals (Women and Men) — July 10: Women's Semifinals — July 11: Men's Semifinals — July 12: Women's Final — July 13: Men's Final Key stories to read before play begins at Wimbledon — Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka tell the world they're on good terms via social media — Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz are young stars leading tennis into the future — Novak Djokovic sees Wimbledon as his best chance for a 25th Grand Slam trophy — No. 1 Jannik Sinner splits with 2 team members shortly before Wimbledon — Arthur Ashe's 1975 triumph is among the anniversaries at Wimbledon this year — Alcaraz-Raducanu is just one of the star-studded mixed doubles teams for the US Open — Coco Gauff won her second Grand Slam title at the French Open — Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner bring their rivalry from France to England What is the prize money at Wimbledon in 2025? Total player compensation at Wimbledon is 53.5 million pounds (about $72 million), a jump of 7% over last year. The two singles champions each earn 3 million pounds (about $4 million). ___ AP tennis:
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
Cristiano Ronaldo prioritizing a record 6th World Cup over the Club World Cup
Associated Press Resting up to play in a record sixth World Cup was more important to Cristiano Ronaldo than switching teams to play in the Club World Cup. 'I had some offers to play (Club) World Cup but I think it didn't make sense because I prefer to have a good rest, a good preparation, because this season will be very long, because this is the season of the World Cup, at the end of the season,' Ronaldo said in an Instagram video posted by his Saudi Arabian club, Al Nassr, after signing a two-year extension. 'So I want to be ready not only for Al Nassr but also for the national team.' The 40-year-old Ronaldo helped Portugal to the Nations League trophy with a penalty shootout win over Spain three weeks ago as speculation swirled that he would transfer to another club to play in the Club World Cup currently being contested in the United States. He and longtime Argentina rival Lionel Messi could be the first players to appear in six World Cups at next year's tournament co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. In Qatar three years ago, Ronaldo became the first male player to score at five World Cups. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner's extension with Al Nassr means he will play on until at least the age of 42. ___ AP soccer: recommended
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Bet365 Bonus Code WEEK365: Claim $150 Signup Bonus For MLB, WNBA, Soccer
The bet365 bonus code WEEK365 will deliver a $150 signup bonus for new users to play on MLB, WNBA and soccer games Sunday. The bet365 bonus code WEEK365 will deliver a $150 signup bonus for new users to play on MLB, WNBA and soccer games Sunday. Use the bet365 bonus code WEEK365 to capitalize on Sunday's MLB games and the Round of 16 games in the Club World Cup. Click here to sign up for a new account and receive your choice of $150 in bonus bets or a $1,000 first bet safety net offer. Every team will be in action for Sunday's MLB slate, and the Cubs-Astros game is one of the most notable matchups. The Round of 16 games in the Club World Cup also provide new users with additional betting markets to take advantage of either offer. bet365 Bonus Code WEEK365: Secure $150 MLB, Soccer Bonus Bet365 Bonus Code WEEK365 New User Offer Bet $5, get $150 Bonus OR $1,000 first bet safety net In-App Promos MLB 30% SGP Boost, WNBA SGP Boost, Soccer Safety Net, Soccer Free-To-Play Game, etc. Terms and Conditions New Customers - 21+ in Eligible States Bonus Last Verified On June 29, 2025 Information Confirmed By Newsweek Sports Betting Staff The $150 bonus offer has an extra step to it, so let's run through how you can redeem that reward with any of Sunday's betting markets. All you need to do is place a $5 bet to start your account. The outcome of that bet does not matter, and you will get your $150 in bonus bets before that wager even settles. Those bonuses could then be used on any other markets that appeal to you on Sunday. If you prefer to be more aggressive and use the $1,000 first bet safety net, you can wager up to that amount and get your stake back if you lose. Maybe you want to wager $700 on the Cubs to beat the Astros on Sunday. If the Cubs do win, you will receive a large payout. If your bet loses, you will get your $700 stake refunded in the form of a bonus to use later on. Register With bet365 Bonus Code WEEK365 For $150 Reward Redeem this new welcome offer from bet365 by clicking here and setting up a new account. Enter the bonus code WEEK365 to claim the welcome offer, then enter basic personal information to secure your account. This information includes your name, age, email, address, etc. The next step is to make a deposit to cover your first wager. This can be done with a credit card or any other secure payment method that bet365 accepts. From there, just place your initial bet. Any bonus bets you receive will be eligible to be used on any market for seven days before they expire. bet365 In-App Offers For MLB, Club World Cup When you are up and running with your new bet365 account, you can secure additional offers within the app on top of your welcome offer. These are available for various sports each day. For Sunday, you can claim same game parlay boosts to use for MLB games. There are similar offers for other sports, like the WNBA. You can also get an early payout promo, which gives you your winnings if the team you bet on goes up by five runs at any point. For the Club World Cup games, you can play the tournament predictor challenge for a chance to win cash prizes. Sign up today before the games start to maximize all of these offers. Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. See the sportsbook operator's terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
