The reigning defending gold medalist team suffered a defeat in their opening round against China. But the Volleyball team battled through a tense fifth set to win against Serbia. Thus, in back-to-back games, the team had to play five sets, giving fans another intense close match. Watching the instant classic game, even former Gold winner at the Olympics, Candace Parker couldn’t hide her excitement.

The game was a five-set thriller, Team USA started hot, but the Serbian made a comeback in 3rd and 4th sets to take it to the 5th set.  25-17, 25-20, 20-25, 14-25, 17-15. Serbia’s Star opposite Tijana Bošković was the main player as she also broke her record. She crossed the 30-point barrier for the first time in Paris with a 31-point performance (27 kills, two kills, two aces). Seeing the back-and-forth, Parker tweeted for the first time in close to 3 months.

The 3x WNBA champion was seen busy attending a private function. Candace Parker was attending a wedding in Mexico, in the Los Cabos Municipality of Mexico. She might have finally gotten the chance to catch up with the Olympics and she posted on X right away, appreciating the Serbian player Boskovic and the grit of Team USA.

“USA women’s volleyball with the HUGE WIN!!! LFGGGGGG🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 so much fun to watch. Boskovic from Serbia is TOUGH!”

Last week, the former Aces star had expressed an identical sentiment when she was asked about Caitlin Clark. Candace Parker revealed that the Fever rookie was carrying a “bullseye on her back” and that it was “a hard weight, hard burden to carry, but she’s doing a great job.” Similarly, the 2016 Finals MVP carried the burden of missing out on the Olympics.

Curious Case of Candace Parker missing out on back-to-back Olympics

After helping the team win Gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, Parker contributed with 9.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.5 blocks on 61.4% shooting in eight games at Beijing 2008. In 2012, she contributed with  10.5 points per game, 7.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks on 50.7% shooting in eight games.

However, her 2016 spot was not guaranteed, and she had a feeling about it. “As soon as he was named the coach again, I was like, ‘Ah, well, this is gonna be interesting,‘” Parker spoke about the then Coach Geno Auriemma in 2021. “He doesn’t like me. I don’t like him. We don’t like each other. I don’t think I personally fit,” she concluded. “I don’t think Geno wanted me on the team.” Coach Auriemma denied any involvement. He straight away indicated that it was the selection committee’s decision.

Later in 2020, Dawn Staley was the coach, but Parker did not feel right returning to the team. “I think, Dawn Staley is an amazing coach. She’s awesome. I wish I could have played for her,” Parker said in 2018. “It has nothing to do with her, but for me, mentally, I wouldn’t be able to represent USA Basketball anymore.”

Parker knows the journey of an Olympian which she has lived thoroughly. Being a champion athlete that she is, she truly enjoyed the comeback performance from the Volleyball team. Now, fans hope she will also share her thoughts on the 2nd game of women’s basketball happening tomorrow against Belgium.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.”