“That dream come to life was super surreal. It was cool,” said WNBA legend Candace Parker, and this perfectly captures the magic of achieving a lifelong dream of having her signature shoe. But the interesting part is that she was one of the many who got her signature shoe when the world was far away from social media buzz and people didn’t even talk about it. So what drove her to chase after this groundbreaking achievement back then?

“It’s thinking without tunnel vision. I think a lot of times we put limitations on what something could be,” Candace Parker told Andscape that she just didn’t bind herself to the existing functionality out there. “Boys won’t wear women’s shoes. They won’t wear women’s jerseys,” Parker said further. 

However, Parker had a different story at her home where her nephew wore her jersey to school for ‘Jersey Day’ although Parker’s brother also played for 10 years in the NBA. And that’s how she molded that limitless character in her as she said, “I think it was dreaming without limitations of what I can be. And that’s how I grew up in my household.”

Also, Candace Parker’s signature shoe was not just another random thing, what makes it remarkable is the fact that she was the first female basketball player to score her signature shoe from Adidas, the brand with the three stripes. Parker’s dream was well supported by Adidas, so let’s dive into the partnership between them.

Candace Parker’s Adidas journey

Candace Parker’s love for Adidas started way back on the courts of Naperville, Illinois, where she laced up the brand as a young basketball player. This early connection blossomed into a 16-year partnership that’s still going strong.

In 2008, Parker signed a major deal with Adidas to have her signature sneaker line- the groundbreaking Adidas Ace Commander. This successful partnership continued with the release of the Ace Versatility in 2011. Parker’s story with Adidas took another exciting turn in 2021 when she finally got to play for her hometown Chicago Sky. Adidas celebrated this homecoming with a special Candace Parker Collection of footwear and apparel.

Now, as Parker hangs up her jersey, she’s taking her relationship with Adidas to the next level. Adidas has named her the new president of their Women’s Basketball division. This role allows her to use her experience on and off the court to shape the future of women’s basketball with Adidas, from developing new gear to supporting young athletes.

From wearing the brand on the courts of Naperville to becoming the president of their Women’s Basketball division, Parker has shattered barriers and left a legacy of inspiration for young athletes, proving that limitations are often self-imposed.