Is Candace Parker Married? Know More About WNBA Legend’s Personal Life

“The competitor in me always wants 1 more, but it’s time,” were Candace Parker’s words when she announced her retirement on Instagram on April 28. Parker has been a flag-bearer of a league that is only expected to grow further after she left it in a great place. After undergoing surgery last season, Parker re-signed with the Las Vegas Aces in February. However, the 3x WNBA champion is officially hanging her boots after 16 illustrious seasons in the league to spend more time with her family.

Her personal life has been going through some fascinating new developments with her wife, Anna Petrakova, beside her.

Meet Candace Parker’s better-half, Anna Petrakova

With the basketball blood rushing through her veins, Anna Petrakova was born to play. Her father, Viktor Petrakov, was a basketball star who played for CSKA Moscow in the Euro League and also represented the Soviet Union National Basketball Team. Petrakova spoke very little English when she moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 2000. She came here to play for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. As a result, the 17-year-old Petrakova didn’t know how to communicate in English.

This language barrier was a major concern for the then-academic coordinator, Danny Cottonham. As per People Magazine, he said, “She’d just turned 17 the month prior, and it was my job to get her registered and enrolled in classes for that semester. I was not very optimistic about Anna’s future. She spoke fluent Russian, but most of her other communication was with a smile.”

For the next four years, she relentlessly worked hard, and to the surprise of many, she became one of the most successful players in Louisiana’s program. Also, she was the first athlete to be named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Award.

“I learned everything I know about work ethic there. I learned you can pave your way and make your own mark if you work hard and mean well,” Petrakova said, reminiscing about her days at the University, adding, “Lafayette was the perfect place for me. I didn’t know if I would feel welcomed or would I feel like an outcast, but that all went away that first day in Mr. [Cottonham]’s office.”

She started playing basketball at the tender age of 8. Finally, all her dedication paid off when she excelled at the collegiate level. Moreover, she never sustained any major injuries that could affect her path. “Lafayette and the Cajuns were a huge step for me. I loved all of it. I would do it all over again and wouldn’t change a thing,” Petrakova on how she went through a massive transformation that defined her basketball career.

Petrakova played for club Nur in Russia’s Kazan after finishing her career at Louisiana State University. In Russia, she played for several teams like UMMC Ekaterinburg, Spartak, CSKA Moscow, Chevataka Vologda, and Dynamo Kursk. She retired after the 2016-17 season and later acquired the position of an assistant coach for the Russian National Team.

In 2012, Petrakova crossed paths with Candace Parker at UMMC Ekaterinburg, who was there playing in the WNBA offseason. Practicing together, they became close friends before taking things down on the romantic path.

Parker and Petrakova’s relationship

Previously married to former NBA player Sheldon Williams, Candace Parker was going through a difficult time. Their marriage barely lasted for 8 years as they split up in 2016. At the time, Parker and Petrakova were already teammates and friends who were looking for something more. One night during practice, the two shared a warm kiss.

They then dated for three years and in 2019, Parker proposed to Petrakova in front of their family and close friends and tied the knot by the end of that year. Since then, they kept their relationship private until two years of their marriage, when they announced it in December 2021. Significant to note that Parker already has a daughter, Lailaa Nicole, from her previous relationship. In February 2022, this beautiful family of three grew bigger as Parker and Petrokova welcomed their son and named him Airr Larry Petrakov Parker.

But they didn’t stop here as the couple announced last year in December that their third child is on the way, making the family headcount to five. “It’s been amazing to go through this again, and then obviously with my beautiful wife and my daughter [by my side]. Being able to see her as a sister, it’s been amazing,” Parker described her journey with partner Anna and how their family is growing.