Her palms were sweaty, knees weak, arms were heavy. Oh no — this isn’t about Slim Shady’s Lose Yourself. This was Candace Parker’s own Lose Yourself moment — raw and unscripted — unfolding live on NBA on TNT. It wasn’t about a last-second shot or a championship ring. It was about something deeper: legacy, loss, and the weight of carrying it forward. Eminem might be dropping a bid for a WNBA team, with an expansion fee reported at $200M, but Parker’s emotional connection to the game — and a legendary coach from Tennessee — might just hold more power than any dollar amount.

Parker’s moment of vulnerability came during the “Storytime with Lefkoe” segment when host Adam Lefkoe asked about her former coach, Pat Summitt. The 3X WNBA Champion’s face tightened as the memories hit. Then, the words started to pour out.

“I would say eye contact is really, really, really important,” Parker shared according to an Instagram post by NBA on TNT. “And she was the first person that made me really truly look at her when she would talk. And so now when I’m at home and I’m parenting my son, my son says, ‘look at me, look at me,’ like all the time, because I didn’t realize I say that all the time.”

Summitt wasn’t just any coach — she was a force. With 1,098 wins, Summitt remains one of the most decorated coaches in basketball history, trailing only Geno Auriemma and Tara VanDerveer. But for Parker, Summitt’s legacy was more than numbers.

“She had this like crystal blue stare that she could get you to wanna run through walls,” Parker said, her voice breaking. “And so being able to carry on her legacy is truly important.” Tears were streaming down already. That emotional weight — the need to honor Summitt’s legacy — seems to be driving Parker’s latest play: her bid to bring a WNBA expansion team to Nashville.

Parker isn’t going at this alone. She’s part of a powerhouse ownership group that includes former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, NFL legend Peyton Manning, and country music stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. Together, they’ve submitted a bid to establish a WNBA team in Nashville by 2028. The proposed team name? The Tennessee Summitt — a direct tribute to the coach who shaped Parker’s career and women’s basketball as a whole.

“This is a real pinch-me moment,” Parker wrote in an emotional Instagram post earlier this year. “When I first came to Tennessee in 2004, I was hopeful it would be a place I’d call home for 4 years. As soon as I got to the state, however, I realized I was wrong and that, in fact, I found a place I’d always know as home.”

For Parker, this is more than business — it’s personal. She led the Lady Volunteers to back-to-back NCAA championships in 2007 and 2008 under Summitt’s leadership. Now, nearly two decades later, Parker’s connection to Tennessee runs deeper than ever.

“Tennessee is the DNA of everything women’s basketball stands for,” Parker said. “I’m excited to be part of the group working to bring a WNBA team to the state and honor Coach Summitt’s legacy.”

Former Governor Haslam captured the heart behind the bid. “We believe a WNBA team, based in Nashville, could serve as a beacon for girls and women, young and old, across Tennessee, while also creating more opportunities for sports fans as our community continues to grow,” he told AP News.

The timing is perfect. The WNBA is riding a wave of unprecedented growth, with record viewership and attendance numbers. The league has announced plans to expand to 16 teams by 2028 — and Nashville’s passionate sports culture makes it an ideal location for the next chapter.

Candace Parker faces stiff competition in WNBA bid

Detroit is making a serious push to bring back the Shock, the WNBA team that won three championships before relocating in 2010. And leading that charge? Eminem. Pistons owner Tom Gores is spearheading the Detroit bid, backed by NBA legends Grant Hill and Chris Webber, Lions quarterback Jared Goff, and General Motors CEO Mary Barra. Eminem’s involvement brings major star power to the table — and serious financial backing.

According to Boardroom, “Eminem’s hometown is getting a shot at bringing back the WNBA, and it’s got some serious backing. This isn’t just talk either — Detroit’s got its eyes on reviving the Detroit Shock… The WNBA is eyeing up to three new teams in its next expansion, and Motor City is ready to add its name back into the mix.”

The Detroit bid isn’t just about money — it’s about building a sustainable franchise. The plan includes a state-of-the-art WNBA practice facility, and the team would play at Little Caesars Arena, home of the Pistons. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver seems optimistic.

“I actually think it’s really just a question of when the Shock comes back,” Silver told Pistons.com, asserting his faith in the group Gores has assembled.

Eminem’s $150 million bid is a big swing. But Parker’s emotional connection to the game is just as strong. Both cities — and both sets of investors — have their own reasons for wanting this win. What’s left to be seen now is which one comes out on top to become the 16th WNBA franchise by 2028.