On April 19, 1986, female basketball star Candace Parker was introduced into the world. Widely regarded as one of the greatest WNBA players of all time, she was an icon for her passion and hard work to a generation of basketball players.

Soon after being born in St. Louis, Missouri, she moved to Naperville, Illinois, at the age of two, where she would spend the rest of her childhood. Her family revolved around basketball, so she was introduced to the sport at an early age. Growing up, Candace attended Naperville Central High School. At around this time, she would discover that she was destined for great things on the court. As a fifteen-year-old sophomore, Candace became a national sensation, leading her team to back-to-back state championships in 2003 and 2004. Being one of the most sought-after athletes, Parker began to get college offers left and right. Ultimately, she committed to the University of Tennessee, announcing her choice on ESPN.

Despite having to miss the first season during her freshman year due to a knee injury, Parker soon proved her worth when she was able to return to the court. After leading the Lady Vols to consecutive national championships in 2007 and 2008, she made the big decision to move forward to the WNBA. She was selected as the first overall pick in the 2008 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. In 2016, Candace led the Sparks to win their first WNBA Finals title since 2002 and also won the WNBA Finals MVP Award. To this day, she continues to lead the WNBA with the Las Vegas Aces. “Today I know that there is still work to be done, but along the way, I am achieving my dreams.”