Candace Parker might be retired from the WNBA, but she will be staying busy. On Wednesday, adidas announced that the three-time WNBA champion and two-time league MVP was named President of Women's Basketball.
In a press release, adidas said that Parker will "collaborate with the brand" to further the impact of women's basketball. She will help identify needs specific to women athletes and implement initiatives to increase representation and access to the sport.
“Stepping into this new leadership role is a deeply personal next step in my journey with adidas,” Parker said in a statement. “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 announced her retirement from the WNBA last month, citing an ongoing foot injury and peace with her accomplishments. After an illustrious career at Tennessee that included two national championships, she was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft and joined the Los Angeles Sparks. She spent 13 seasons in Los Angeles and won the 2016 championship where she was named Finals MVP. She then went home to play for the Chicago Sky and captured the 2021 championship. She finished her career winning a title in her lone season with the Las Vegas Aces. She made more history as the first player to dunk in an NCAA tournament game was the second to slam one in the WNBA.
The Three Stripes signed Parker to its roster of athletes in 2008 when she won Rookie of the Year and her first league MVP title. The company released her first signature shoe, the Ace Commander, in 2010. She was the first woman to have a signature shoe with adidas and teamed up with the company for apparel and other shoes, including the Exhibit A and Ace Versatility.
Sheryl Swoopes was the first woman basketball player to have a signature sneaker when Nike released the Air Swoopes in 1995. There was a 10-year gap between when Parker got her first signature shoe and the next woman was given the mark of superstardom. In 2021, Puma announced that Breanna Stewart would be next up. The company unveiled her signature shoe, the Stewie 1, a year later.
adidas is home to some of the biggest stars in basketball, including last year's rookie of the year Aliyah Boston, three-time All-Star and 2021 Finals MVP Kahleah Copper, No. 6 overall draft pick Aaliyah Edwards and Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike, who have 10 All-Star appearances between the two of them.
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