Candace Parker on coaching, commentating and coming out + Hardship contracts explained

Summary

Podcast Summary: No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show

Episode Title: Candace Parker on Coaching, Commentating, and Coming Out + Hardship Contracts Explained
Release Date: June 3, 2025
Hosts: Zena Keita, Chantel Jennings, Sabrina Merchant, and Ben Pickman
Guest: Candace Parker

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1. Introduction to the Episode

In this episode of No Offseason, The Athletic’s dedicated women's basketball show, hosts Zena Keita, Sabrina Merchant, and Ben Pickman delve into recent WNBA developments before engaging in an insightful conversation with basketball legend Candace Parker. The episode effectively balances game analysis with profound discussions on the league’s structure, media coverage, and personal narratives within the sport.

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2. Recap of Recent WNBA Games

Ben Pickman [02:39]:
Ben provides a detailed analysis of the recent game between the New York Liberty and the Connecticut Sun held at Barclays Center. He highlights the intense anticipation around potential records, noting, “I was sweating out, are we going to have history on our hands? And what kind of history are we going to have?" [02:39].

Zena Keita [03:15]:
Zena emphasizes the performance, stating, “It was real bad. 100 points to 52,” referencing the significant scoring margin, and discusses the Liberty’s impressive three-point shooting capabilities.

Sabrina Merchant [03:45]:
Sabrina clarifies the record-setting details, mentioning, “it is a regular season record that the Liberty set with 19, which they set earlier in the season. The all-time record is 22 set in a postseason game by the Las Vegas Aces” [03:48].

Discussion Highlights:

• Scoring Margin and Three-Point Records: The Liberty matched their own regular-season three-point record of 19 but fell short of the all-time postseason record.
• Promotions and Fan Engagement: Introduction of the “miss twice, get a Shake Shack” promotion aimed at enhancing fan experience [04:03].
• Minnesota Lynx Performance: Natisha Heideman's impactful plays and the Lynx’s consistent scoring margins are discussed, with Zena noting the tight game performances despite their undefeated streak [05:30].

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3. Understanding Hardship Contracts in the WNBA

Zena Keita [14:11]:
Zena transitions the conversation to the topic of player injuries and team roster management, prompting a discussion on hardship contracts.

Ben Pickman [15:01]:
Ben explains the specifics of recent injuries within the Indiana Fever, detailing how Sydney Colson and Sophie Cunningham's injuries have necessitated the signing of Arie McDonald under a hardship contract to maintain the minimum active player count [15:01].

Sabrina Merchant [16:52]:
Sabrina breaks down the two types of hardship contracts:

• Emergency Hardship Contracts: Used when a team has fewer than 10 available players, allowing the signing of temporary players to reach the required active roster limit.
• End-of-Season Hardship Contracts: Applied when multiple players are out for extended periods, requiring additional roster flexibility [16:52].

Key Points:

• Roster Flexibility: Teams must strategically manage player availability through hardship contracts to ensure they meet game requirements.
• Player Replacement Strategies: Decisions on which players to add are at the discretion of the clubs, often involving players from training camps or other teams needing temporary roster spots.

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4. In-Depth Interview with Candace Parker

A. Candace Parker’s Career Highlights and Book Introduction

Zena Keita [22:06]:
Zena introduces Candace Parker, highlighting her illustrious career and her new memoir The Can Do Mindset. She states, “...she was also pregnant for a portion of that season” [22:06], underscoring Parker’s resilience and multifaceted life.

Candace Parker [22:49]:
Candace expresses her gratitude for being part of the show and discusses the inspiration behind her memoir [22:49].

B. Coaching Dynamics and NBA Influence on the WNBA

Ben Pickman [23:45]:
Ben brings up Parker's observations from her book regarding the interplay between the NBA and WNBA, particularly in coaching roles. He questions the trend of hiring coaches with NBA backgrounds into the WNBA [23:45].

Candace Parker [24:43]:
Candace emphasizes the importance of prioritizing women, especially African American women, in coaching positions within the WNBA. She states, “I think that it is about making it a priority of having women be put in positions where they can be hired” [24:43]. She advocates for more women coaches to better represent and lead the predominantly African American league.

Sabrina Merchant [26:06]:
Sabrina inquires about the WNBA’s recent rule allowing a third assistant coach if they are former players [26:07], to which Candace agrees it’s a positive step for developing female coaching talent [26:14].

Insights:

• Diversity in Coaching: Candace stresses the need for more female coaches to reflect the league’s demographics.
• Coaching Acumen: The importance of coaches having a deep understanding of the WNBA’s unique style and player dynamics, rather than solely relying on NBA experience.

C. Media Coverage and Its Impact on the WNBA

Zena Keita [29:13]:
Zena shifts the focus to media coverage, referencing Candace’s statement about the WNBA stunting its growth through “gentle commentating” [29:13].

Candace Parker [30:18]:
Candace discusses the disparities between media coverage of the NBA and WNBA, emphasizing the need for increased visibility and knowledgeable commentary. She asserts, “We need to continue to educate ourselves about who's playing, what their strengths are” [30:18], advocating for a more informed and critical approach to covering women's basketball.

Zena Keita [32:10]:
Zena highlights the evolution of media interactions and the need for balanced critique without compromising the relatable aspects that fans appreciate [32:10].

Candace Parker [33:31]:
Candace reflects on her dual perspective as both a player and a broadcaster, stressing the importance of fact-based commentary and constructive critique. She shares an anecdote about the lasting impact of factual statements made during her broadcasting career [35:22].

Key Takeaways:

• Enhanced Commentary: Moving beyond superficial coverage to provide in-depth analysis that respects the skill and competitiveness of the WNBA.
• Media Responsibility: Broadcasters must balance entertainment with honest, insightful commentary to foster growth and respect for the league.

D. Personal Journey: Leaving the LA Sparks and Embracing Free Agency

Sabrina Merchant [35:17]:
Sabrina invites Candace to elaborate on her decision to leave the LA Sparks, touching on the toxic culture she experienced and her journey towards self-awareness [35:17].

Candace Parker [39:47]:
Candace openly discusses the challenges within the Sparks organization, her internal struggles, and the decisive factors that led her to opt for free agency. She reflects, “I couldn't bring my best self to the table... I had to leave” [39:47]. Her narrative underscores the importance of mental well-being and authentic self-expression in professional sports.

Zena Keita [42:24]:
Zena probes deeper into Candace's decision-making process, asking about the role of mentors and personal reflections [42:24].

Candace Parker [42:56]:
Candace credits her family, particularly her older brother, as her moral compass during pivotal career decisions. She emphasizes the value of family support and thoughtful decision-making [42:56].

Highlights:

• Self-Awareness: Candace’s realization of her inability to be her authentic self within the Sparks’ environment.
• Support Systems: The crucial role of family and close relationships in navigating career transitions.

E. Coming Out and Personal Reflections on Identity

Zena Keita [44:20]:
In honor of Pride Month, Zena addresses Candace’s journey with her identity and coming out [44:44].

Candace Parker [45:09]:
Candace candidly shares her struggles with accepting her sexuality and the societal pressures she faced. She highlights the importance of authenticity and the impact of coming out on her personal and professional life. “I had to come to grips with it myself” [45:09].

Zena Keita [47:19]:
Zena commends Candace’s honesty and the positive role models she provides for others [47:19].

Candace Parker [48:05]:
Candace underscores the necessity of visibility and honest conversations to support those grappling with their identities. She reflects on the evolution of acceptance and the ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in sports [48:05].

Key Messages:

• Authenticity: The importance of being true to oneself amidst societal expectations.
• Role Modeling: Candace’s journey serves as a beacon of hope and guidance for others facing similar struggles.

F. Evolving Image of Femininity in Basketball

Zena Keita [48:05]:
Zena introduces the topic of evolving perceptions of femininity in basketball, referencing the term "pretty baller" and its significance [48:05].

Candace Parker [48:39]:
Candace discusses the shift in societal attitudes towards female athletes, highlighting the empowerment brought by social media and increased opportunities for women to express their individuality. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity, stating, “You just gotta be you” [48:39]. Catherine touches on the double standards female athletes face regarding appearance and athleticism, advocating for a broader acceptance of diverse female representations in sports.

Insights:

• Social Media Empowerment: Platforms allow female athletes to showcase their personalities and styles without conforming to traditional expectations.
• Breaking Stereotypes: Encouraging diverse representations challenges outdated notions of femininity in sports.

G. Future Predictions and Closing Thoughts

Sabrina Merchant [50:38]:
As the episode nears conclusion, Sabrina poses a quick WNBA prediction to Candace regarding the potential finals contenders for 2025 [50:38].

Candace Parker [50:48]:
Candace predicts a showdown between New York and Minnesota but remains open to other strong contenders like Vegas and Phoenix. She compares Minnesota's system to the "modern day Spurs," praising their consistency and strategic prowess [50:59].

Zena Keita [52:31]:
Zena wraps up the discussion, thanking Candace for her insights and encouraging listeners to engage with the WNBA [52:31].

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5. Conclusion

This episode of No Offseason offers a comprehensive exploration of the current state and future of the WNBA through the lens of one of its most influential figures, Candace Parker. From analyzing recent games and understanding roster management to delving into deeply personal narratives and the evolution of media coverage, the discussion provides valuable insights for both avid fans and newcomers to women’s basketball. Candace’s candid reflections on her career, identity, and the broader landscape of the WNBA underscore the league’s ongoing growth and the pivotal role of its athletes in shaping its future.

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Notable Quotes:

• Ben Pickman [02:39]: “I was sweating out, are we going to have history on our hands? And what kind of history are we going to have?”

• Zena Keita [03:15]: “It was real bad. 100 points to 52.”

• Candace Parker [24:43]: “I think that it is about making it a priority of having women be put in positions where they can be hired.”

• Candace Parker [30:18]: “We need to continue to educate ourselves about who's playing, what their strengths are.”

• Candace Parker [22:49]: “Thanks for having me. I'm great. I appreciate you guys allowing me to join you today.”

• Candace Parker [39:47]: “...I couldn't bring my best self to the table, I had to leave.”

• Candace Parker [45:09]: “I had to come to grips with it myself.”

• Candace Parker [48:39]: “You just gotta be you.”

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Hosts and Production Team:

• Hosted by: Zena Keita, Chantel Jennings, Sabrina Merchant, and Ben Pickman
• Produced by: Tanika Burrell
• Executive Producers: Andrea B. Scott and Cassius Fleming
• Theme Music: Marcus Bagala
• Video Editor: Monica Compton
• Managing Editor of Women's Basketball at The Athletic: Shannon Ryan
• Head of Audio: Jesse Burton
• Director of Audio Operations: Tim McMaster

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Connect with "No Offseason":

Stay updated with the latest in women’s basketball by subscribing to No Offseason on platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Engage with the hosts on social media and visit Yahoo Sports Hub for more in-depth coverage.

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This summary captures the essence of the episode, focusing on the substantive discussions and insights shared by the hosts and Candace Parker. For a more immersive experience, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode.

Transcript

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[Zena Caida]

Hello everyone and welcome to no off season presented by MassMutual. I'm Zena Caida.

[Sabrina Merchant]

I'm Sabrina Merchant.

[Ben Pickman]

And I'm Ben Pickman.

[Zena Caida]

And I sound like a car salesman because I'm so excited. Today on the show we are joined by someone who has won nearly everything there is to win in women's basketball championships. MVP titles. All the things. All of the things. Literally. It is Candace Parker. That is why my baby hairs are perfectly laid intricately ready for our guest today. But if you're listening on the pod, I'm sorry you can't see this. That's why you should go to YouTube and subscribe. That's the plug right there with Candace. We are going to be diving into some big questions for the current and future of the WNBA and get her thoughts on a hot take or two. I can't wait. Let's go ahead and get started because it's also Tuesday which means we gotta go back in time and look at the games from last weekend. Ben, you start.

[Ben Pickman]

Well, it is another busy weekend in the wnba. Things, though are starting to mellow out. And look, I was at Barclays center on Sunday afternoon to watch the New York Liberty play the Connecticut sun so very much throughout the fourth quarter. I was sweating out, are we going to have history on our hands? And what kind of history are we going to have? Is it going to be a all time record for largest scoring margin? Spoiler alert. It wasn't. But it still was a pretty good performance for the New York Liberty and the Connecticut Sun. You know, throw that tape out and learn from it, but never really dive back into it because it was just that bad.

[Zena Caida]

It was real bad. 100 points to 52. And there was also. You talk about the scoring margin. So they didn't hit that. And they also didn't hit making it over the most amount of threes in a game, which the record is 19. They matched 19. It was surreal seeing the amount of New York Liberty players that apparently can shoot beyond the arc like it was an avalanche. And it was painful and I felt for Tina Charles the entire time. Sabrina, did you watch that game?

[Sabrina Merchant]

No, I didn't really feel the need. Sorry.

[Zena Caida]

But you are perfectly.

[Sabrina Merchant]

To be clear, it is a regular season record that the Liberty set with 19, which they set earlier in the season. The all time record is 22 set in a postseason game by the Las Vegas Aces. So I'm sure that is a number that the Liberty still have their eye on.

[Zena Caida]

There you go.

[Ben Pickman]

The real drama in the fourth quarter was there was three things. One, will they set the record? New York Two for. For most points, you know, scoring margin. Two was the three point record that is at stake. And a lot of fans were chanting like one more three. And number three, the Liberty this year debuted a. I guess the easiest way to describe it is the miss twice, get a slice promotion that we see in Las Vegas. It's a famous promotion where if an opposing player misses free throws, then like everyone in the arena gets some free food. We see that sometimes in the NBA with like chicken. The Liberty have a partnership now with Shake Shack where if an opposing player misses two free throws in the fourth quarter, everyone gets free Shake Shack across the street. So that was another piece of drama, but that's about it, you know.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Well, Ben, don't leave us hanging. Did they actually get the Shake Shack?

[Ben Pickman]

No, Shake Shack was provided. The Connecticut sun did make their free throws as necessary.

[Zena Caida]

Yeah, do want to shout out the Shake Shack in Times Square? One of the best that I've had. They stay up late and they deliver. Unfortunately, Unlike the Liberty did this weekend. Anyways, the Liberty did deliver in a big way, and there were a lot of other big wins in big ways, including Natisha Heideman's three to keep the streak going for Minnesota. That was crazy. 1. I think the fact that Minnesota was in that position, in general, they're one of the teams. Even though they're One of the two undefeated teams, their scoring margin has been like six points or less in these. In their last four wins.

[Sabrina Merchant]

1.

[Zena Caida]

Did you guys watch that shot? Did you hear Natisha Heideman break down that shot? I think that's more entertaining.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Did you hear Kellen McBride laugh at Natisha Heideman breaking down the shot is really the answer to that question.

[Zena Caida]

And Alana Smith just being like, oh, my God. Basically being like, please keep the mic away from her. But I'm wondering. I mean, Nafisa Collier did not play in that game. She had, like, a precautionary sitting out for a knee injury that's been kind of bothering her for a while. But even in the games that she has played, it's still been pretty close. Sabrina, what are you seeing with Minnesota? Yes, they have the streak going, but why are these games so close?

[Sabrina Merchant]

I mean, their overall scoring margin is still about plus 9.7, last I checked. Like 10.3, actually, after yesterday's win over the Valkyries. So, I mean, it looks bad compared to the Liberty, I'll tell you that. But it's still pretty good, you know, what are they above 10? 25.7 right now. 25.1. I'm sorry.

[Zena Caida]

48 points will help that.

[Sabrina Merchant]

It'll.

[Candace Parker]

It'll help.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Yeah. No, I think Minnesota looks the part of a contender. If it weren't for the New York Liberty, just absolutely. Just, you know, kicking ass, taking names, that sort of thing to start the season.

[Zena Caida]

Yeah, correct. They're just demolishing, folks. Also, shout out to Ellie. She's been looking good lately. Heard she got some work done. I don't know if that's true. Ellie, if you'd like to join our podcast, give your take, we'd love to have you. But, Sabrina, I'm happy we talked about Minnesota, because it's time for the Sabrina scale. Ooh, it sounds so good now that it's official. So we gotta check on it. And first off, Sabrina, the Liberty are at the top, and they remain at the top. I don't see them shifting, especially after the games they had this weekend. They're just crushing it. 7 0. And some people were like, we don't know what's gonna happen with this team. I don't know who those people were, especially cuz they added. Natasha Cloud if you're one of those people, you clearly don't listen to this podcast. But it's okay. We're inviting you in. So what are you seeing in this team right now?

[Sabrina Merchant]

What aren't we seeing really is the question.

[Zena Caida]

Thank you.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Admittedly, you know, they did lose Kayla Thornton, who's been good for the Valkyries. They lost Benijelini Hamilton to injury. Those are two important pieces of their title winning team. I don't think it's unreasonable to think that they would have missed them and yet they have not. Kennedy Burke has been really good. Natasha Cloud it's been an absolute flamethrower. You know, Kevin Pelton at ESPN.com does wins over replacement rankings and you've got four Liberty players in the top 10 right now, which is obscene. So yeah, everybody's playing well. They're hitting a lot of threes. The five out offense is working and when Jonquil Jones plays like you can't even get within single digits of this team, it's, it's a machine. It's an absolute machine.

[Zena Caida]

I'm trying to remember, do the New York Liberty right now have four players in double digits, averaging double digits?

[Ben Pickman]

I'm sure that they do. Zeno. Yes.

[Zena Caida]

Yeah. That is ridiculous. This is just like the efficiency that New York is putting out. And you're right, Kennedy Burke coming off the bench is like, it just feels unfair. Like you were just sitting there all year. You were sitting there all last year and now coming out and Basically Kayla Thornton 2.0. With the size and also the ability to shoot outside, uh, it's been a lot of fun to watch New York and they just look like they are not missing a beat. Now you gotta compare this team for me to the 2023 Aces because that team also felt like what is there to question about what they're doing? How do you feel in comparison to those two teams?

[Sabrina Merchant]

Well, I think, you know, both of them come off of a title winning year where it was like, yeah, they won a title, but you know, in New York's case, really, really close series against Minnesota. In Las Vegas's case, it was, well, you know, they didn't have to play Chicago because Chicago lost in the round before and that was the defending champion. And there's just a little bit of chip, you know, on your shoulder after winning a title. Everybody has it right. And the Aces come in with the Aces versus everybody mantra. New York has, I don't know what their slogan is frankly, but whatever it is, it seems to be working. You know, they've won their first seven games to start. They've outscored their opponents by 144 points over this stretch. The Aces at that time were 112. You know, New York ads proven champion Natasha Cloud. Vegas had added proven champions Alicia Clarke and Candace Parker. It's just a lot of similar dominance, similar, just untouchability. The Aces started that season 16 1. New York could start the season 16 and one of you know, maybe they can start at 17 and 0, who knows. But improving off of a title winning season and leaving no doubt about the validity of that title is really what, you know, reminds me of these two teams now.

[Zena Caida]

I think the slogan that I remember from the playoffs last year and I think it's in their ring, the details like we all we got, we all we need. I remember them saying that as like their chant before coming out. So I think that might be their slogan. And you right, you guys have everything you need to play well. That is why you're at the top of the Sabrina scale. But however other teams are in the league. Sabrina, who else is on your scale? Who's rising, who's fallen? What's going on with some other teams?

[Sabrina Merchant]

Yeah, let's talk about one quick riser. That would be the Atlanta dream who just went 40 on a West coast road trip. 17 point comeback against Seattle. You know, good win against the Sparks earlier this week. Just a lot of contributions from up and down the roster. You know, you think about their starting lineup with Bree Jones and BG Manning the middle but you know, Nia Coffey coming off the bench, Nas Hillman coming off the bench. Tory Walker Kimbrough coming off the bench. Might be the best shot blocker on that team. Just, just a really, super, super deep team. Everybody that comes onto the court, you're like, damn. How is this person also on the Atlanta Dream roster?

[Zena Caida]

Yeah, they stacked up and it's almost like secretly like I don't, I mean we knew some of these teams that were already there but their off season, one of the busiest but like also one of the ones that fell under the radar. Like I think we were blinded by the amount of bigs Ben that came to Atlanta and I don't think we had a really good grasp of just how well rounded they ended up being with this 12 woman roster.

[Ben Pickman]

I mean, I'll say this, I don't think we've been like quiet about the Atlanta Dream I feel like compared to a lot of other people, we have talked about them. I went down to Atlanta during training camp and wrote a profile of Brittney Griner in this new Look Dream that you can read online and then in the print copy of the New York Times last week. I mean, they were my sleeper team. I think, like, the Dream are a little bit underrated because, you know, they're one of these independent franchises in the league. Though they play in a big market, their arena is still, you know, smaller capacity than, you know, Barclays Center. Then Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the Fever play. Though they've made the playoffs in each of the past two years, they haven't had a winning season since 2018. But this dream team is very different than past dream teams, and we've seen it. The easiest metric to look at is just their offensive rating, right? Last year they were number 12 in the league in offensive rating. They averaged just around 97 points per 100 possessions. They're up to 107 as we take this around there on Monday afternoon. And a lot of that is because of Carl Smesko, who is a coach that, you know, Sabrina and I have spent a bunch of time talking to. Like, he has really connected with these Atlanta Dream players. He mixes in. He's known for his offensive principles, I'll say the three point shooting and threes and layups, but he always mixes in a lot of dad humor. Seems to be, I guess, the easiest way to describe his, how he's connecting with some of these players. Like, there's this metric, I want to say that he talks about wanting to win the possession battle by nine possessions, at least nine possessions. And so he says instead of we want to dominate the possession, he'll tell them we want to dominine the possession. Or there's this T shirt that he's made for his staff and I think given away two players on the Dream that says at Lytics, obviously a little play off analytics. There's just like little quips like that.

[Sabrina Merchant]

You can find, like Brianna Jones. None of the players have worn the shirt so far, but they have.

[Ben Pickman]

There's just a lot of, like, little jokes like that that are kind of sprinkled into how Carl teaches. He's always throw, like, asking questions to players, kind of putting them on the spot at practices during training camp. I've seen some of this firsthand again, and it's like, you know, Brittney Griner told me a story of during camp one day. She just like, basically had a brain fart she, like, was asked a question. I forget what it was. And she just, like, she froze. She froze, and then she just pointed down at the ground. And, like, people have just, like, made fun of her initially for that because, like, she was just the kid in the class who didn't know the answer to the test. And. And there's just a lot of, like, good vibes. There's just a lot of good vibes right now. And, you know, the dream again, five and two as we tape this. And there's a big Commissioners cup game that is kind of looming on June 17 between New York and Atlanta. Could be the decider in the Eastern Conference.

[Zena Caida]

There you go. And it's translating well. I mean, they're second in the league in points per game. They're leading the league in rebounds per game. They. I would have not thought this for Atlanta a year ago, but their third best in three pointers made. Okay, thank you, Carlos Mesco.

[Ben Pickman]

Now, that's at. That's Atlantics right there. Xena.

[Zena Caida]

Exactly. Exactly. But now let's. Let's talk a little bit about some of these injuries that have been plaguing players in the W and what teams can do to make sure that they've got players they need while others are sidelined. And if you're watching on Friday, I think the number one team that comes to mind with this is the Indiana Fever. First, Caitlin Clark, we already know she has gone down, been out with her left quad injury. She's been on the sideline cheering on her teammates, and she's currently in the middle of missing at least two weeks of games. But then on Friday night, during the Fever's eventual loss to the Connecticut sun, two more Fever guards went down. Sydney Colson was early in the game. And then. So Sophie Cunningham, I believe, was in the second half. First of all, Ben, what happened with these players on Friday night?

[Ben Pickman]

Yeah, as you mentioned, Sydney Colson goes down kind of late in the first quarter with, I think it's a left leg injury is what they've deemed it. She was dribbling up the court kind of trying to make a move and kind of appeared either to make contact with J.C. sheldon of the Connecticut sun or just kind of roll her ankle on herself. It's a little bit unclear, but she goes down with a leg injury. And then later in the game in the fourth quarter, Sophie Cunningham goes out. I could think with an ankle injury, she's kind of setting a screen. Sheldon is also kind of involved, and there's just a bunch of congestion and that leads to again her going out. And we know, you know, the Indiana Fever have just signed Arie McDonald to a hardship contract. And basically what that is a sign of. We don't yet know who is going to miss the Fevers next game. But basically one of Colson or Cunningham is going to be out because the Fever now to add Airy McDonald will have less than 10 players active. And so the kind of hardship signing is to get them back to 10 again. You lose Clark, who we know is out and then one of Cunningham or Colson will be out. And that's how you get at least one of them, I guess I should say will be out. And that's how you get McDonald kind of being added to the FIFA roster.

[Zena Caida]

Okay, so I want to take a step backwards because I'm happy you mentioned like, you know, the 10 active players and sometimes that can get a little confusing, especially you're seeing three players now go down. So you're mentioning at least one of them is most likely out. Rosters are capped at 12 players and sometimes for different reasons, usually salary cap. Some teams have even fewer than that, like Indiana starting the season with 11 and now being down to 8. And then they're now adding Ari McDonald who is 9. But you just mentioned there's 10. I'm a little confused. Walk it back for me. How do hardship contracts work? How did Eric McDonald end up on this team? What can teams like Indiana do when they're struggling to fill spots but they need to play? Yeah.

[Sabrina Merchant]

So there's two basic types of hardship contracts in the wnba. One is the emergency hardship, which is what Indiana is utilizing. And it's basically if you have fewer than 10 available players, you can sign an emergency hardship contract to get you back to 10. So what Ben was saying is we know that at least one of Sophie Cunningham or Sidney Colson is out because that would put them at 9 and then Arie brings them back to 10. Presumably if both of them were out, they would have signed two hardships. You know, I would assume one is out. Let's, you know, knock on wood, hope for the fever's health in this case. But yeah, it doesn't even matter how long they're out for. So long as you know you are going to be below 10 for a game, you can sign an emergency hardship for that purpose. You see a similar situation in Phoenix where they just brought in Haley Jones because they're without Natasha Mack, Kalia Copper and Alyssa Thomas. So that puts them from 12 to nine. Haley brings them back to 10. You also have what's called an end of season hardship contract, sort of like a roster hardship contract. And this is what happens when you have two players missing extended time with an injury. So it's a little complicated. Basically, both of them have to be out for at least three weeks. And so you see a team like the Sparks where Cameron Brink and Ray Burrell are both out for an extended period. They sign Leo2King as one of those hardship players. They already have 10 players active. Liatou brings them to 11. But because Borrell and Brink are both out for, you know, those extended absences, they're allowed to bring in a hardship player.

[Zena Caida]

Okay, that makes a lot more sense. Okay. And so thinking about, you know, Haley Jones and Arie McDonald and Leah to King, and we just talked about all of these rookies that recently were cut, waived, right? The pool, it's not like there's a transfer portal, like, where is the pool of all these players come from? How do teams come to this decision? We have had, I think as a league, everyone knows more roster spots. It's one thing to add more teams, but more roster spots are definitely necessary. So we won't exhaust that right now. But with the roster spots you have, how do you choose who to replace or who's available to come replace your players?

[Ben Pickman]

I mean, it's really at the discretion of the respective clubs who are making those decisions. And so there are historical examples we've seen in which, you know, teams sign players who are in their camp. So that was the case that we saw with the sparks. Right. Adding Liao2King back on that hardship contract. She was in LA Sparks training camp. And then suddenly when they had a need for an additional player, like she gets signed to this hardship deal, which we should mention, though it is called a end of season, rest of season hardship, that does not mean she's going to be on the team come September. It is like just kind of a little bit of terminology if you want to become even more confused about how this all works. But in the case of Haley Jones, in the case of Arie McDonald, like, those are players who were not part of the Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever camps. Haley Jones was in Atlanta Dream Camp. McDonald was with the Sparks. We just saw the Connecticut sun in a totally unrelated transaction to an injury, they signed Jalen Brown. She had been with the Fever during camp. She was their final cut. She's now with the Connecticut Sun. So, you know, some cases it might be a player who had experience in a camp. Some player, some cases it might be just another player in the league who, you know, an executive has, you know, positive feedback on and wants to bring in for whatever reason.

[Sabrina Merchant]

And with Indiana, they obviously need a point guard, which is why Eri MacDonald's there, because it makes more sense than to bring back Jaylen Brown, since they clearly need a primary ball handler there.

[Zena Caida]

Which is why I thought the Haley Jones to Phoenix was interesting with who is out with Kalia Copper, Alyssa Thomas, and Natasha Mack. But I'm all for players getting opportunities, so that's, that's good. And hopefully these players that are out heal quickly and are able to get back to their respective positions. Okay, hype and hold my breath, y' all. I mean, this is real cute and all, but I'm ready to get to our guests. Okay, so after this break, let's introduce Candace. How can you free your team from time consuming office tasks? Amazon Business empowers leaders to not only streamline purchasing, but better support their teams. Smart business buying tools enable buyers to find and purchase items fast so they can focus on strategy and growth. It's time to free up your teams and focus on your future. Learn more about the technology, insights and Support [e-mail].

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[Zena Caida]

All right. In sports, let alone women's hoops, there is no such thing as the egot. You guys know what the EGOT is, right? The Emmy, the Grammy, the Oscars, the Tony. Like they have in the entertainment industry. But if there was anyone who would be first to qualify for such a thing in women's basketball it would be our guest. Three time WNBA championship, two time mvp, including a Finals mvp, five time all WNBA first team. She's also been a defensive player of the year and still holds the honor of being the only player to win the Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. Oh, yes. Oh, by the way, she was also pregnant for a portion of that season. So. Welcome to one of the all time greats, Candice Parker. How are you?

[Candace Parker]

Thanks for having me. I'm great. I appreciate you guys allowing me to join you today.

[Zena Caida]

Of course, of course. And thank you so much for joining us and talking to us about this book. We are very excited to talk about your new memoir which is literally out today. So guys, go get that, Put that in your Amazon books, go get to the bookstores and buy that is the can do mindset. And this isn't gonna be just any old interview. Candace, we wanna get sure that you're part of the conversation because your book is full of insights not only about your life, but also the wnba. You make observations that are relevant right now and you're not just reflecting on the past, but also you're diving into the current state of the league and where it's headed. So we wanna pull a few moments out of your memoir, use that as jumping off points for us to have these conversations and we'll go around and kind of pick a different topic and different moment throughout the book. So we'll start with Ben.

[Ben Pickman]

Yeah, I mean, one of the things that jumped out to me, Candace, about it was the relationship between the WNBA and the NBA, especially as it relates to coaching. You know, in your book you wrote about the Sparks decision to hire Derek Fisher as their coach, you know, in December 2018, ahead of your final few years in LA. And you wrote that, you know, though you had a good relationship with Fish, that you were skeptical at first if he should be coaching in the W. And you go on to say that in women's basketball, the assumption is that any man can come in from the NBA and make us better. But it's hard to be an expert at something when you don't truly know the players or the way the game is played. Basketball is basketball, but our league flow, players and style differ from the NBA. And so I guess like knowing that, knowing that, you know, the Phoenix Mercury have hired Nate Tibbets when he didn't have any WNB experience, that the Aces even have backfilled some openings on their staff with, with, you know, former NBA assistant coaches. The Valkyries have done some of the Same. Like, what do you kind of make of this trend or this idea of this movement, maybe of more coaches with NBA experience getting into the W. I'm.

[Candace Parker]

For, like, the best person getting the job 100%. I would never lie to you in that case. And I think there are a number of guys out there that have done their homework and, you know, make great WNBA coaches. I think the problem that I have right now in the WNBA is that we are a league that is made up of more than 80% African American women. And from my last count, I think there's only one black coach that is a woman in the wnba, and that is Noel Quinn. And with that being said, I think that it is about making it a priority of having women be put in positions where they can be hired. And we've seen the tremendous impact and effect that the NBA has had on African American male coaches. And the NBA making that a point of emphasis of having to interview. And, you know, I would like that to be the case in the wnba. I think there's a number of women out there that are deserving, but I think it also speaks to, you know, our society and what we view as leaders and how your voice has to be. Is it deep? Is it like your leadership style? And now we're in a world where there's so many different ways to lead, and I would just like to see more women have the opportunity to put themselves in a position to be head coaches one day.

[Zena Caida]

Yeah, I'm completely with that.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Do you think it helps that the WNBA added the rule where you can have a third assistant on the staff so long as they're a former player?

[Candace Parker]

I definitely think it helps in terms of the development. If you look at Nate, he actually comes from Orlando Magic, so I know him very well. My brother is a general manager there and speaks so highly of him. And he has my utmost, most support in terms of like every male coach that is hired does. However, I feel like to some extent, some players are not getting that opportunity to be able to learn and grow and develop into what it takes to be a successful coach. Head coach. And so with that being said, yeah, I think adding the third assistant and basically making it so that it has to be a former player. I think that's going to be huge down the line in making sure that we have more players that basically represent or more coaches that represent what the players look like.

[Zena Caida]

Yeah, I keep thinking about, you know, obviously, Teresa Weatherspoon's exit from Chicago and having had the opportunity, but not having had the space to learn and grow and progress. And I think that it's one thing to be able to give them that space, but it's another thing to trust them with the process. And I feel as if former players don't get that as much. I'm curious when you think about previously, when NBA coaches were going to the wnba and this is not just coaching, this is refereeing. This is a lot of different things. Executives, even it was used as a stepping stone to get to the next level, which was considered the NBA. Do you feel like that's still as prevalent now, especially with women's basketball on the rise and really gaining respect?

[Candace Parker]

Well, listen, it's usually more money, more problems, but I think the dollar sign is definitely where more people are going to flock to. And now you're seeing more coaches open to the idea of coaching the wnba because that value, that dollar sign is going to continue to rise, which is then going to give the players more player development. The strategy in the WNBA is going to continue to. The bar is going to continue to be raised. And so, you know, I think if you look at the landscape, it is tough to coach in the NBA, right? Yeah, it is tough. And not from a standpoint of, like, the level of basketball, from the standpoint of scheduling, from the standpoint of having something outside of just coaching, to have a family, to have a relationship, to have a life. And in the wnba, it's a half, basically half the NBA season. And I think it's going to start picking up in terms of the value of what they're able to pay coaches. And so I think it is going to be a premier destination. When you look at the balance of what you're trying to do from a human level, of being able to obviously coach, do what you love, but also have the other side where it is, you know, you do have four, five, six months in the off season. There's not, you know, the summer league and then there's not leading into the. Like, there's not all of that. And so I think it is a great balance, and it's gonna, you know, some people are gonna look at it as a premier destination.

[Zena Caida]

Okay, well, that's. I'm so happy you just mentioned that because balance is huge, especially when it comes to the media side. And as someone that covers the NBA and the wnba, I'm still struggling to find some balance. And I'm very curious as to how you're doing it. But let's switch gears and talk about that media coverage and the wnba. In your book, you said The WNBA is a full grown adult and we are actually stunting the league's growth by not engaging the game more critically. And you continued, the WNBA has reached a fork in the road. Either we continue with gentle commentating and remain in this space of gendered expectations of mediocrity from women athletes, or we push everyone to see the WNBA as the home of physical, skillful basketball. I have so many thoughts on this. I'm so happy you said this because it's true. But first I want to ask you right now, list out the differences, the biggest ones, between the way that the men's game is covered and the women's game. And how are those differences contributing to the stunting of growth for the women's league?

[Candace Parker]

Well, first I want to say, like I'm the first to say, I don't know if it's able, you're able to Compare NBA and WNBA. The NBA is what, 77 years old and you know, I just was throwing out the first pitch to the Cubs. They're 150 years. Like the knowledge and the history alone is really different. And so with that being said, I challenge people that are covering the WNBA and it starts with visibility because first you have to see it, right? And we've seen that. What happens when you put it on abc? The numbers don't lie. And when you don't put it up against the NFL, which every other sports league is running from going head, right? When you don't put rivalry games buried against NBA playoffs. And so we're seeing that when you are knowledgeable about the sport, then you're able to speak about it in a different way and you're able to have the debates with backing it up by facts and not just going and trying to talk about, you know, what somebody was wearing or what somebody said, like we're really breaking down the game. And I've never had a problem with someone telling me, you know, hey Candace, I don't like what you said. I think in the WNBA we have an issue when someone says we don't like you because you are a woman or because you play women's basketball. And so I think just in commentating and in media, we need to continue to educate ourselves and really be fans of the game and really follow it to really be able to have an opinion. And so that's the thing that I think can't just pretend to know about the game. People would tear you to shreds if you talked about the Knicks that way and you weren't knowledgeable. So I think we need to do the same on that end. We need to educate ourselves about who's playing, what their strengths are, so that when we watch the game, we can explain it to the fans in a way that is, you know, a basketball appearance, but also just the grandma that wants to tune in for entertainment.

[Zena Caida]

I want to follow up on that because I will say, as someone that is a grown woman that will never, ever, ever be on a basketball court again, I am so jealous that there is something like film study for the young girls out there to be able to watch. You know, I've watched your film study with Keke Iriafen and Anissa Morrow, and you breaking down the game with them in ways that even in college was not available to me. There's been such an elevation in the ways in which, in the access people have to learn about the game, which is a great positive, but something that is still prevalent. Outside of all the information that more young players are getting, fans are getting, et cetera. There's still this element of the friendly reporters or like having the media be friends with the players and having this dynamic in which you are gentle commentating, as you put it, very beautifully. How do you fix that aspect? Cause I think it's a part of the game that has made it so relatable to fans, right. When they're getting along with the people that they're talking to and being interviewed by, et cetera. But I also feel as if it makes it hard for people to properly critique players in their game and how they can improve. What are your thoughts on that aspect of WNBA coverage and how that can evolve?

[Candace Parker]

Listen, the media is in a tough position, and I say that sitting in a media member's seat, and as a player, I think we critique media as well, and we say, why? This, this, this. For a long time, media has been the driving force behind people watching the wnba.

[Zena Caida]

Right.

[Candace Parker]

You had to handle it with white gloves because you couldn't critique something that was being critiqued in society for that long. And so. But now I think there's a difference in handling it with white gloves and loving it and being passionate. There's an honesty, authenticity, and there's a truth that you're owed to people. You can't lie to viewers. You can't lie what you see. So we're saying, man, that's an unbelievable play. Like, okay. Or yeah, I don't know what she was doing there. No. Like, the viewers see that she made a turnover or that maybe she needs to work on going to her left I wholeheartedly believe in not attacking anybody. I don't think you should ever attack anybody personally. Their character, who they are. But you can critique what they're doing. And in the same sense that the NBA on TNT was the first of its kind and Ernie, Shaq, Chuck and Kenny being honest and real about what's going on, understanding the balance of entertainment that you want to bring to the viewers, but also honesty, I think that that's, you know, that's the key. And you know, we're seeing now more pregame shows and more post game shows and more, you know, follow ups. And so I think that's where you're going to get to know and love the players. I think the media has a tough job and it is hard to balance, you know, wanting something to succeed, but also, you know, having to critique it. But at the end of the day, I don't think it gets better unless we up our game on our end.

[Zena Caida]

Yeah.

[Candace Parker]

And you know, I think you have a hand in how the viewer watches the game.

[Ben Pickman]

Are those thoughts, I mean, and obviously we should say among your resume points, you were obviously on NBA on TNT this, these past couple years and the NCAA tournament coverage, the men's NCAA tournament coverage on CBS and on that family and networks too. Like, were those thoughts, you know, that you just articulated about the media? Were those things that you appreciated or thought about while you were still playing? Or was it more once you transitioned into the media? Because you also write a little bit about your transition, getting into the press and how it wasn't exactly as smooth maybe as it was as smooth of a time as you did from going from Tennessee to the wnba, I guess, so to speak.

[Candace Parker]

You know, sitting in this position, it's given me, it's opened my eyes to a lot of just the other way around. And I mean that in like how players see media and how media sees players. I'm able to sit in different seats at the same time. And going through that, I don't think you can ever fault somebody that comes with facts. I just think that when you bring opinions to the table, you gotta have something to back it up. So you can't just say stuff. In this day and age, we have a lot of people that are just saying stuff. And with that being said, I don't want to be a part of that. So I'm a big believer in what you say. You may not even remember what you say, but somebody that's listening does. I didn't realize that until I covered my first NCAA tournament. I was Working out in a gym, still playing for the Sparks. And this. This guy's father came up to me and he played at Texas Tech. And I had called one of their games, and he said, you know, I said that he was, you know, I said something about his shooting, like he. He's considered a shooter, but he's only shooting 26% from the field or something.

[Zena Caida]

Like that, which is a fact.

[Candace Parker]

And it stuck with him. So I think you, understanding the weight of what you're saying, you may not ever remember it, but the players do. And I've been on that side, too. I remember. So trying to prove broadcasters wrong in their opinion. I have an entire city of New York that hates me for comments that I made about their team and, you know, whether they were able to win the way that they have their team put together now. And so sometimes you're right, sometimes you're wrong. But I think when you come with fact that, you know, that makes it more valid.

[Zena Caida]

Real quickly, you have sat on both sides as a player and now as a broadcaster. What is a good question to ask a player while they are in the middle of their game?

[Candace Parker]

To me, I always love the questions of, like, what do you see out there that aren't in the stats? What part of the game has been impacted? Whether they're. I mean, usually you're interviewing them when they're up. So what do you think are, you know, those intangibles that are allowing you to come out on top? Because, listen, my daughter does not watch basketball at all. She's a volleyball player. And she could look at the stats and see, hey, they're rebounding more than the other team. But maybe it's because the three man is undersized and that's the reason. Or maybe it's because it's not just the post players. Like, the game plan is for the guards to come back and help box out and rebound. Or maybe, maybe strategically they're trying to get out on the break and they're not winning that battle. They're winning. They're losing the battle of, like, sending people and trusting that they can rebound, you know, because it is a game of chess. So I think it's just asking what's not showing up in the stat sheets. Because, listen, we got AI for that. They can, they can. They can talk about the stats and who's scoring and all that stuff. It's really about the intangibles and the game plan as to why, why that's happening.

[Zena Caida]

I love that.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Moving on to a different topic. Here that's near and dear to me. As somebody who was born and raised in Los Angeles and grew up a Sparks fan, you obviously played for the Sparks from 2008 to 2020 and left ahead of the 2021 season. And you wrote about your decision in the book. The culture was toxic, and whether I wanted to admit it or not, I was a part of that culture and had been absorbed into that toxicity. I had to admit to myself that I didn't like who I'd become in my years with the Sparks. And it takes two to tango. So though I didn't create the culture, I was still at fault in my own way. Can you share a little bit more about just what you mean by that and, like, what sort of went down at the end in Los Angeles?

[Candace Parker]

I think to some extent, I could complain about the problem over and over and over again, but when you become part of the problem, you know, you're part of the reason why the ship goes down. And in that, at some point, when I looked in the mirror, I couldn't tell who I was. And at times, you need to separate from yourself. And I think fans look at basketball as an allegiance, as a loyalty, and there's all of that, but it's also a job. And I think on both sides, we needed a break. And I'm super grateful for the Sparks for believing in me. All years weren't tough. All years weren't difficult. We had some great times, we had some terrible times and bad times. I mean, that's the growing pains of being a part of a family. But all in all, when you're not able to bring your best self to the table, you're not able to be great and want to be great, I think. And, you know, I love basketball. Basketball is my first love. And I could find myself dreading going, you know, going to play or going to. And it's like, that's not who I am, and that's not who they are. And so if we can't both bring our best selves to the table, I think it was better for me to leave. And, you know, now it's becoming more acceptable. At the time, there weren't many people that left during free agency. It was normally demanding a trade. I never demanded a trade. It was the first time that I became a free agent. I had been cored I don't know how many times. And so it was my opportunity to decide where I wanted to go and where I could be great and felt like I had the best chance to win. And regardless of how things ended in Chicago. We could have lost the championship and I still would stand by the decision. I still stand by my decision to go to Vegas and things, you know, we won the championship, I ended up injured and things like that. But you don't know what the road is going to lead to. But I was solid in that decision and I'm just grateful that we've been able to come back together. Obviously leadership has changed with the Sparks and you know, for that reason I think I'm able to come back to the table and love them and be a part of that franchise. I mean, I want the Sparks to succeed. I love that franchise with all my heart. LA is still home to me. My daughter grew up playing in the Staples center like it was her playground. So it was an extremely difficult decision, but it was one that needed to be made.

[Sabrina Merchant]

And we should mention that both the Sparks and Sky are retiring New Jersey this year. Clearly good things between you and both of those organizations.

[Zena Caida]

Very much so. You are so deeply reflective and self aware and it's something that's prevalent in this book. But people have seen it in your documentary and you just mentioned that what you were doing at the time was unprecedented, believing in free agency. And I'm wondering, this capacity for self reflection and self awareness, was that something you had to be able to make that decision? Did you call upon any mentors during that time to help you make that decision? How did that come about for you?

[Candace Parker]

I always lean on my family. I mean, my older brother Anthony is probably like my moral compass. I think he's like the best human I've ever met in my entire life. And I think he understands that I was, you know, when you reach a point where you're just exhausted and whatever step you take, you know the next step has to be the right one. And at that point in time, I think I'm a big believer in decision making and I'm a big reader. So Blink is one of those Malcolm Gladwell books where it talks about when you over, you know, you over, just look into the decision and try to figure out whether it's right and whatever. Then you end up talking yourself out of something that you knew unconsciously, immediately what was the right move. And so I'm a big let's make the decision. Obviously I talk to my wife and my kids and my mom and dad and my family and then I'm a big sleep on it. Decision maker, went to sleep, it still felt right and made a decision. And I did the same thing when I retired I knew it was time. And sometimes you need time for your heart and your head to kind of match up and come to grips with something that you're fighting. I would have loved to stay in LA my entire career, and I don't know what that journey would have looked like, but. But I also know that I'm confident in what I do and the decisions I make, and it's leaning on the people. I mean, I called up D. Wade, I talked to him about his decision to leave Miami, and then he ended up back in Miami. And so, listen, you don't know what your journey's gonna do. I think you just make the best of it and make the best decision possible.

[Zena Caida]

I'm happy you talked about the people you talk to included your wife. And while you're overseas playing in the Olympics and later in Russia, you met your wife, Anya, and it's Pride Month. Happy Pride.

[Candace Parker]

Happy pride.

[Zena Caida]

There you go. But in your book, you wrote about your internal struggle and coming to terms with your feelings with women, and there was a significant difference in how you were treated before and then how you were treated with your wife and being fully out. What do you think made that so hard for you, even in a league where many players were very out and proud of it?

[Candace Parker]

Well, going through it, I've supported someone that has come out before, and at the time, you know, I was dating men. And so I just looked at it like, why is this so difficult for you? Like, nobody cares. It's okay. It's accepting, but when it's you, it's different. And growing up, you know, reading the trashy magazines where you do a little, like, you know, the little tests and whatever.

[Zena Caida]

Who you're compatible with.

[Candace Parker]

Yeah. Who you're compatible with based off of movies and colors. But I always envisioned it coming in a Prince Charming. And so it's scary when you envision something your entire life, and then all of a sudden, life hands you something not in the package that you expect it to come in. And so it took a long time for me to be okay with it myself. And there's no way that you can fight a battle trying to explain yourself and validate who you love with others before you've officially done that and come to grips with it yourself. And so I think everyone probably knows someone that has gone through the struggle. You can't explain it until you're in it. I understand that the world now sees it as all great and the fight is behind us and all those things, but, no, you're still looked at in a Different light based off of who you love, you still get the looks and the glares and all of those things. And so as an individual and as a person that wants to be a role model, I mean, the hardest thing was for me was, like, with my family, I want my nieces and nephews to still look up to me. I want them to still love me, and I want my brothers to still want their kids to look at me as a role model. And so I had to come to grips with that. And honestly, it's been my daughter. It's been my nieces and my nephews that have legit been like. Like we told my nephew, my nephew was literally like, what's for dinner? Like, he didn't care. So just getting the support from my family and my friends, and yes, I have lost some friends, and that's okay, but you have to be at a point where it's okay in your journey to be able to withstand that. And so I'm super grateful for our support system. And I cannot believe it's crazy. I cannot believe it's only been three years. It seems like it's been forever.

[Zena Caida]

Yeah.

[Candace Parker]

But, you know, that just shows that I think we need more visibility. I think we need more people out there that are just living their life and can provide some sort of roadmap and hope for those that are struggling. I can't imagine if someone was in control of my finances or where I lived or how I supported myself, and my decision of who I loved impacted that. And so I just. My heart and love goes out to all of those people that are struggling with this. The mother that doesn't know how to support their daughter, that's coming out. Kids, you know, seeing their parents choose love. This isn't easy to navigate, but at the end of the day, I think it's about having conversations. I think it's about truly being authentic and being open and honest in those conversations.

[Zena Caida]

What are your thoughts on, especially with this shift in transition, the term pretty baller? Because when I was coming up, you were the definition of a pretty baller. Right. I mean, everyone growing up, I remember I had a shoulder injury, and I would tap my shoulder just like you did, and I had my baby hairs and all of that. But as the league continues to evolve, this concept of what basketball should look like and being feminine in basketball, et cetera, has evolved as well. Any thoughts around that?

[Candace Parker]

Here's the thing. I think that now with social media, you're gonna see people be able to follow who they follow. And again, I Say numbers don't lie. Check the scoreboard. There were so many times where females in general, they said, couldn't sell shoes and couldn't be on the covers of video games. And now we're seeing more women have the opportunity to do that. I think that the key is opportunity. I think females come in all shapes and sizes. You know, you talk about clothing and the Runway and the ability to show off who you are and your personality and being unapologetic about that. And so I'm proud of the WNBA because I don't think anybody has dimmed their light to fit into a box. I know myself. I what other people deem me I couldn't control. But I knew what I wanted to bring to the table every single day was Candace Parker. And every single day, I wanted to work harder to get. Get more towards being authentically myself. And so I think the media is going to do what they do. Women in society, it's hard. I mean, you're judged by everything other than playing basketball. And then when you play basketball, it's not good enough. And then when you, you know, play basketball, you got to be competitive, but you can't be muscular. You know, I remember worrying about in college, like, I was power clinging my shoulders, you know, and you see in the hespies, I was wearing this dress and I remember seeing a comment when I accepted from David Beckham the women's sports award, someone saying, like, well, she's pretty, but she's too muscular. And I remember, like, going home, looking in the mirror, being like, really, like, okay, so I can't now. I'm like, I bent 125, like, easy. You know, how many reps okay I got? You know, now it's like one of those things where it's with time you realize, like, everybody is trying to critique everything in this culture and everybody has a voice now with Twitter fingers and all that stuff. You just gotta be you. And I think your community will find you.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Well, we appreciate your time so much, Candace. Thanks for, you know, joining us. On no off season. I just have like one real quick WNBA take for you if you want to react just quickly here before we wrap up.

[Candace Parker]

Let's do it.

[Sabrina Merchant]

All right. So you obviously talk a lot about Minnesota, L.A. in your book. I'm wondering, do you see 2025 sort of as a redux? New York and Minnesota on this collision course for the finals or who would get in the way of that?

[Candace Parker]

Well, so far, undefeated. It looks that way. You know, obviously, I'm partial a little bit I wouldn't count Vegas out of the mix. I think the reason why you play 44 games is to develop into who you are. So I wouldn't count them out, but it looks to be that way. Nafisa Collier's on a mission. Minnesota's always got a chance just because of the system that they run. It's plug in, plug and repeat. I mean they're still running the same stuff from when Sylvia fouls. They're like literally the modern day spurs. Like I literally would call them the spurs and what the system they run and how well they run it. And Cheryl Reese has them like a machine. And then New York on the other side. They look scary, they're dangerous. Natasha Cloud adds another dynamic. Talk about a player just following your lap. That's wild that somebody of that caliber was able to be gotten by the reigning champs. So I just, yes, it looks that way. I would like to, to say Nafisa Collier, early mvp, big shocker. But it, I think the team that can avoid, you know, that three, four matchup or the toughest three seed that can, that can get home court advantage. Like to me, if Minnesota has home court advantage last year, maybe things are a little different.

[Zena Caida]

Okay. And yeah, no big shocker. I think we're all on the same page. Bound fee.

[Candace Parker]

It's not a big shock.

[Zena Caida]

Even Vegas is on the same page.

[Candace Parker]

But Phoenix, I watch out for Phoenix too.

[Zena Caida]

Okay.

[Candace Parker]

I watch out for Phoenix. I really would. In Indiana, once they get everything clicking, I think they're going to be a tough out as well. So I, I like to say things repeat themselves. I know 2016 was full of crazy game winners at the end and the series both went seven and you know, five games for us and seven games for Cleveland and Golden State. So I'd like to think that it's going to be the same with the wba. So just as NBA, we think Boston's just going to repeat, we think the Thunder are going to be there. They're there but they're facing Indiana now.

[Zena Caida]

There you go. I feel like Atlanta is going to have some thoughts around this conversation. But anywho, Candace, thank you so much for joining us on no off season and for sharing your thoughts around the WNBA and of course sharing your book, the can do mindset that is available in stores today. Appreciate you making the time.

[Candace Parker]

Appreciate you. Baby hairs, I see them laid.

[Zena Caida]

I'm official, y' all. I'm official.

[Candace Parker]

I appreciate y' all.

[Paige]

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[Zena Caida]

All right, that is all we've got for you today. We will see you all on Friday for more in depth talk of the game you love and friends. Remember, subscribe subscribe to this show. We have interviews like this all the time. We're fun all the time. Wherever you're listening. Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Leave a Comment Send us an email It's a thing guys. It's a thing. Comment. Communicate with us. We actually love it. Reach out to us on social media. We want to hear from you and also head over to our partner at the Yahoo Sports Hub. I am going to say this correctly so that you guys actually go see it is sports.yahoo.com womenssports but it's women's-sports. Okay, I've been saying it wrong so I apologize about that. On behalf of the Athletic, I'm Zena Cana. I got to talk to Candace Parker today and my childhood dreams were fulfilled. Thanks for listening folks. We will see you next time. No Off Season is hosted by Zoom Zena Kada with Chantelle Jennings, Sabrina Merchant and Ben Pickman. It's produced by Tanika Burrell. Our executive producers are Andrea B. Scott and Cassius Fleming. Our theme music is by Marcus Bagala. Monica Compton is our video editor. Shannon Ryan is managing editor of Women's Basketball at the Athletic. Jesse Burton is our head of audio and Tim McMaster is director of Audio Operations. How can you free your team from time consuming office tasks? Amazon Business empowers leaders to not only streamline purchasing, but better support their teams. Smart business buying tools enable buyers to find and purchase items fast so they can focus on strategy and growth. It's time to free up your team teams and focus on your future. Learn more about the technology, insights and Support [e-mail] hi, it's Paige from Giggly Squad.

[Paige]

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