Player power has become increasingly evident in the basketball world. Almost everyone in the NBA has changed franchises in the hopes of winning a championship, including superstars such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and more. The situation is similar in the WNBA where Candace Parker, coming off a championship with the Chicago Sky, recently signed a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Aces. While there are certain similarities in terms of player movements, there are still massive differences in the facilities and amenities provided to both leagues.
In a recent appearance on the Draymond Green podcast, Parker discussed the changing landscape of the basketball world due to trades and player movement. Parker acknowledged that players have more control over their careers now than ever before and that they are more willing to make moves to improve their situations. The 36-year-old also opened up on the issues WNBA players have faced over the years.
Candace Parker opened up about the changing basketball landscape
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While acknowledging that in the past, winning championships was the only measure of success in the NBA, Parker argued that with so many players switching teams and changing organizations, it’s becoming less relevant. “There’s so much switching teams and going places that then you’re gonna have to start not validating championships as well. I think we have different ways of validating and not validating players,” she said.
Parker herself has faced criticism for switching teams, with some comparing her to Kevin Durant. However, Parker pushed back against this comparison. For Parker, her decision to join the Las Vegas Aces was about more than just basketball. She feels she deserves to make that kind of decision after everything she’s given to the game despite the absence of basic amenities.
She said, ?I have not had a locker in my entire career. I’ve been in the WNBA for 16 years and I have not had a locker where it has my name on it and I can leave my sh*t and then come back and know my sh*t gonna be there. I have not had that really that’s my own that you walk into and this is your own area nobody else there’s no old people walking through there’s no.”?
After exposing the reality of the league, Parker continued, “And it’s not to say this is a bad thing but I’m saying like I fought so hard to like bring the WNBA along that I’ve never had a practice facility where I can just go get shots up at night yes.”
Parker wants to emulate Magic Johnson
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Candace Parker’s goals extend beyond just her own career. She wants to be a “female Magic Johnson” and help change the way female sports and athletes are viewed in the business world.?
“I want to take female sports and female athletes and have them looked at differently in Tech in investment in just business in general,” she said. “I want my last couple years, my last year, this is it, I want this to be something that I look back on and I’m like man like I had that, you know? Like I’ve seen progress, this is where we started and this is where we’re at right now.“
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Parker has certainly earned the right to finish her career the way she wants to. She has been one of the flag-bearers of promoting women’s basketball across the world. What are your thoughts on Parker’s comments? Let us know below.