Candace Parker has been regarded as one of the greatest college women’s basketball players of all time, and for good reason. During her time with the Tennessee Lady Volunteers, Parker achieved incredible success, leading the team to two national championships in 2007 and 2008. She was named the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player both times and was unanimously voted National Player of the Year in 2008.
Parker’s impressive stats include averaging 19.3 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game throughout her college career. Her efficiency as a scorer, with a true shooting percentage of .583, showcases her dominance on the court. Additionally, her defensive prowess is highlighted by her 2.5 blocks per game, a significant edge over other legendary players like Chamique Holdsclaw, who averaged 0.8 blocks per game.
While Holdsclaw is indeed a formidable opponent, with three straight national championships and two unanimous National Player of the Year awards, Parker’s versatility and ability to carry her team to victory make a strong case for her being the greatest. Parker’s supporting cast, although talented, didn’t match the depth of Holdsclaw’s teammates in some seasons. Notably, Parker’s 2008 national title run was built around her exceptional performance on both offense and defense, often winning games single-handedly.
Some of Parker’s notable achievements include 2x NCAA Champion (2007, 2008), 2x NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, Unanimous National Player of the Year (2008), and SEC Player of the Year. Her career stats are equally impressive, with averages of 19.3 points per game, 8.5 rebounds per game, and 2.5 blocks per game.
