As a sophomore, Parker became the first woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game. Parker was one of the most highly recruited players in girls basketball history: she chose Tennessee, coached at the time by the late Hall of Famer Pat Summitt. She became the first female to win the dunk contest at the McDonald’s High School All-American Game, beating out future NBA players like J.R. She was the Gatorade Girl’s High School Player of the Year in 2003-2004 she is still the only girl’s basketball player to receive this accolade in back-to-back years. A college recruiter once visited the Parker home, trying to woo Anthony Candace, who was 6 or 7, told the coach about his team’s defensive shortcomings. At age 5, at a Chicago Bulls game, she told everyone in earshot that Michael Jordan’s team had no shot at winning unless they rebounded better. She attended her first basketball game-a middle school contest featuring older brother Anthony, who would later play nine years in the NBA-when she was less than two weeks old. Her message, plus her continued accomplishments on the floor-in May, at 36, she became the oldest WNBA player to record a triple-double before he got another one in June-her strong performances on TV, and her ability to manage the demands of motherhood and a full-time sports career, have set her up to become one of the key figures in American sports and culture, for years to come. Parker’s announcement resonated with both her family and the LGBTQ+ community. I don’t want her to ever think that I’m ashamed or not proud of our family. And I can’t say that to her if I’m not doing it myself. And I always tell my daughter to speak for herself and speak up for those that she loves. “I always tell my daughter to be proud of who she is. “I always tell my daughter to be herself,” says Parker. Plus, she wanted to send a strong message to her daughter Lailaa, now 13. But with a baby now on the way, Parker and Petrakova felt the timing was right. One reason she and Petrakova kept their marriage under wraps Russia’s anti-LGBTQ+ policies: Petrakova was concerned she’d be subject to discrimination. 17, Parker, 36, reflected on her decision to take her relationship public. Their son, Airr Larry Petrakov Parker, was born in February.ĭuring an interview in suburban Chicago on an off-day for the Sky, who are in first place in the Eastern Conference heading into the WNBA playoffs starting Aug. ![]() Parker also announced that the couple was expecting a child. ![]() 14, 2019 wedding-which 50 guests, plus workers, were required to keep secret. ![]() Parker, who was previously married to former NBA player Shelden Williams, shared pictures from the couple’s Dec. On Instagram, she revealed publicly, for the first time, that she had been married for two years to Anna Petrakova, a former Olympic basketball player from Russia who played with Parker on a pro team there. Then, late last year, her journey took another significant turn.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |