WNBA star Candace Parker has made her mark on the basketball court and beyond. She’s a #1 draft pick, WNBA Champion, 5x All-Star, 2x MVP, 2x Olympic gold medalist and 2x NCAA Champion. Off the court, she’s a devoted mom, a broadcaster for Turner Sports and part of the ownership group of the NWSL’s Angel City FC. On this episode, we talk about the life lessons she learned from legendary coach Pat Summitt, how she has been able to prioritize being a mom first without sacrificing her career, and what drives her to compete at the highest level.
Follow Candace: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Show Notes
- How the start of the WNBA influenced her view of what was possible (1:54)
- Why visibility matters (3:21)
- Becoming part of the Angel City FC ownership with her daughter (5:39)
- The influence Pat Summitt had on Candace’s life (7:38)
- “Left foot, right foot, breathe, repeat.” (10:00)
- Start with respect as the foundation (13:39)
- What she would tell her younger self (14:48)
- Her return to professional basketball 8 weeks after pregnancy (15:58)
- Re-defining what it means to be a working mom (17:14)
- How motherhood has changed her perspective (19:03)
- The grind of playing year-round and the sacrifices she’s made for her career (21:14)
- How she works on her mental game (23:56)
- When motivation fails, choose discipline (24:57)
- The characteristics of an ideal teammate (26:59)
- Her leadership journey (28:40)
- How journaling gives her perspective (30:29)
- Her approach to goal setting (33:02)
- What motivates her more- winning or losing? (36:27)
- The importance of being viewed as more than an athlete (37:22)
- Her work with the Pat Summitt Foundation (38:30)
Resources / People Mentioned
- WNBA
- Los Angeles Sparks
- Turner Sports
- Pat Summitt, basketball coach
- Angel City FC
- NWSL
- Natalie Portman, actress
- Eva Longoria, actress
- Jennifer Garner, actress
- Serena Williams, tennis player
- The Pat Summitt Foundation
- University of Tennessee women’s basketball
- Chicago Bulls, NBA
- Anthony Parker, NBA
- 1996 Summer Olympics
- Candace Parker wins MVP, Rookie of the Year
- Sister Sister, TV show
- The Crown, TV show
Recommended For You
Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:
- Elena Delle Donne on Owning Your Happiness
- Carli Lloyd on Outworking the Competition
- Tony Gonzalez on Leveling Up to Maximize Your Potential
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