July 8, 2025
‘I had to purchase out half of the room so my mother might stick with my daughter. I used to be nursing her earlier than the sport and at halftime.’
Legendary basketball participant Candace Parker, whose Los Angeles Sparks basketball jersey was just lately retired, appeared on a current podcast to debate among the challenges she confronted as a younger mom whereas taking part in within the WNBA after having a baby.
Parker, who’s scheduled to have one other one among her jerseys retired in Chicago on Aug. 25 at Wintrust Area, sat down with one other basketball legend, Naismith Basketball Corridor of Famer Cheryl Miller, whereas speaking to former NFL participant Keyshawn Johnson. Throughout her look on All Information No Brakes with Keyshawn Johnson, she mentioned that, after her daughter was born and she or he returned to the league, she needed to “purchase out” half of a resort room so her mom could possibly be with the new child as she took the courtroom.
On the time, there was no paid maternity depart, and it was uncommon for knowledgeable basketball participant to want to take day off from the sport to ship a child.
“It got here on the time we have been sharing rooms within the WNBA. So I had to purchase out half of the room so my mother might stick with my daughter. I used to be nursing her earlier than the sport and at halftime. I used to be shopping for my mother’s ticket to the video games with us on the industrial flight. That every one got here with it, I simply needed to be again on the market,” Parker advised Johnson and Miller.
This happened in the course of the 2009 season when one other WNBA legend, Lisa Leslie, was taking part in her final season.
Though it needed to be a wrestle being a younger mom and taking part in basketball on the street, she has no regrets. She recalled that having her daughter together with her throughout that point saved her “grounded.”
“I’m tremendous grateful that she was part of my profession as a result of I don’t know what I’d have performed. She saved me grounded. She saved me humble,” Parker stated.
Who is aware of if the scheduling Gods deliberate this, however the three groups that Parker performed on are members in her jersey quantity being raised to the rafters. When the Los Angeles Sparks retired her No. 3 jersey June 29, they performed her former crew, the Chicago Sky. When the Sky retires her No. 3 subsequent month, the crew might be internet hosting one other crew she was part of, the Las Vegas Aces.
She received titles with every crew.
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