Candace Parker officially announced on Sunday that she is retiring from the game after more than a decade. Parker is undeniably one of the most influential, and iconic, players in the history of women’s basketball.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Candace Parker (@candaceparker)

A champion and seven-time WNBA All-Star, Parker is also a mentor, a mother and an inspiration to many. As we celebrate CP3’s legacy, here’s a look back at some of the legendary moments throughout her career:

FIRST WOMAN TO DUNK IN COLLEGE GAME

Parker set the tone from the jump. Back in ’06 as a freshman at Tennessee, she defied the notion that women can’t dunk and showed the world that she can by becoming the first woman, ever, to dunk in the NCAA Tournament.

TOTAL DOMINANCE AT TENNESSEE

Playing for the late and great Pat Summitt, Parker dominated while suiting up for the Volunteers. Her college resume includes:

• Winning ’06 SEC Rookie of the Year.
• Being the fastest player in Lady Vols history to score 1,000 career points.
• Winning ’07 SEC Player of the Year.
• Leading the Lady Vols to back-to-back national championships.
• Averaging 19.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.9 steals, and 2.4 blocks per game.

THE ARRIVAL

Just one day after leading the Lady Vols to yet another NCAA national championship, the Los Angeles Sparks drafted Candace Parker as the overall No. 1 pick in the ’08 draft. Really, that was just the beginning for Parker, who was set to team up with Lisa Leslie.

THE ROOKIE’S REIGN

In her WNBA debut against the Phoenix Mercury, Parker dropped 34 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists—breaking Cynthia Cooper’s previous rookie record in a debut game.

Her dominance and skillset was undeniable. Parker became the first WNBA player to win both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the same year. She was also pregnant with her oldest daughter at the end of the season.

“I was actually pregnant with [Lailaa] at the end of the year, my rookie year,” Candace told WSLAM for the cover of SLAM 233. “I accepted the MVP and Rookie of the Year trophy with my daughter and then from there it’s just been our journey.”

THE 2016 ‘CHIP

During a season that was dedicated to Summitt, Parker showed up and showed out during the 2016 season. After beating the Chicago Sky, 3-1, they advanced to the Finals for the first time since ’03 and went on to defeat the Lynx and bring franchise’s third-ever title back to LA. Parker was named Finals MVP.

“I remember a lot about that series. Just the grind, the focus, the energy that it took to even get through that series,” the 2016 Finals MVP told WSLAM. “I think it also speaks to my innocence, because in 2008, we had a chance to go to the Finals and we lost on a last-second shot. I had a number of baskets that rolled off the rim. And I think that recognizing that, like, we won off of a rebound putback…And everybody after that is telling us that we’re the best thing ever off of one moment. I think it just kind of speaks to how you gotta stay the course.”

RETURN TO THE CHI

It was the free agency announcement that shocked the world. After an illustrious career in LA, Parker announced she was taking her talents to the Chi, a decision that was as much about family and her life off the court as it was about her career.

“I believe a lot of things come full circle,” Parker told us. “I think just over the course of my career I realized how much important people have meant to my career. Coming back home, I mean, my dad fixed my blinds the other day, we went over to his house for Father’s Day, my mom cooks me pregame, picks up my daughter all the time. Dad brings doughnuts over sometimes for my daughter, like, it’s just, I can go see my grandma. I really respect the time that I moved away from home because I needed it. I needed to establish myself in my home and get away from that, but to come back, who I am now, to really appreciate it.”

In our SLAM 233 cover story, CP3 opened up about her decision to join the Sky, returning home to Chicago and more.

READ HERE

THE 2021 ‘CHIP

History. Not only did Parker play a key role in helping lead the Sky to the 2021 WNBA championship, the franchise’s first, but she was renowned for her leadership—in the SLAM 236 cover story, even former teammate Kahleah Copper praised her for it (read here).

TO VEGAS

Yet again, Parker’s decision to take her talents elsewhere, this time Vegas, was centered around family. Despite injury, Parker’s presence added to Aces’s star studded roster as the team went on to win their second title as a franchise.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Candace Parker (@candaceparker)

THANK YOU, CANDACE!

The post Looking Back at Candace Parker’s Legendary Career appeared first on SLAM.

The Gamecocks had posted back-to-back undefeated seasons going into the well-anticipated national championship matchup against Iowa. Led by Dawn Staley, their passion, drive, and motivation had been evident all year—their dominant roster includes standout freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley, and WNBA draft Kamilla Cardoso to name a few. As for their head coach, well, her resume speaks for itself: four-time Naismith Coach of the Year and, up until this point, had led the Gamecocks to two ‘chips.

The showdown between Iowa and South Carolina lived up to the hype. In the end, South Carolina proved, yet again, why they are the best of the best. They ultimately defeated the Hawkeyes, 87-75.

We haven’t stopped thinking about how iconic that championship game was. Here, we relive the big-time blocks, standout performances, Dawn’s epic speech and more.

Pregame: Aliyah Boston, WNBA ROY and Broadcaster

Aaliyah Boston, who led the Gamecocks to a national championship back in 2022 and is now a star on the Indiana Fever, has expanded her off-court ventures into broadcasting. For the Final Four, she joined the on-air studio crew and was also a sideline reporter during the national championship game.

Whether she was sharing her expertise and knowledge of the game or interviewing her former college coach, Boston was a star during the entire broadcast. Our favorite part? This very special moment she shared with Staley, just minutes after South Carolina won the title.

Big Energy on the Boards

The Gamecocks were straight up dominant in the paint against Iowa. Cardoso racked up 17 rebounds and forward Chloe Kitts followed right behind her with 10 boards.

 …From Threeeeee!

The “fearless” freshman Tessa Johnson was cooking all night long—hitting shots from deep, making crazy layups in the paint and putting on a 19-point performance coming off the bench. Then there were standouts Te-Hina Paopao and Raven Johnson, who hit clutch shots for the Gamecocks.

The Artistry of MiLaysia

She’s only a freshman, but MiLaysia Fulwiley has shown all season, and especially in the tournament, that she’s a star in the making. Fulwiley showed up on both ends of the floor—from crazy dimes to steals and making plays. We can’t wait to see her game only to continue to evolve.

You can read more about MiLaysia in our recent player spotlight:

The Brilliance of Dawn Staley

The GOAT. This third championship title has only continue to solidify what we’ve always known: she’s the greatest. Period.

“…My freshies are at the top of my heart because they wanted this. And I hope we can erase whatever pain they had last year, experiencing not being able to finish it here. So I’m just super proud where I work,” Staley said per GMA.

As we’ve mentioned before in her SLAM cover, she is a college basketball author of evolution. Her legacy will last forever.

Featured image via Getty Images.

The post The Greatness of Dawn Staley Continues: Leads South Carolina to their Third National Title appeared first on SLAM.

For the next 30 days—Monday through Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full list here. We’ve also got an exclusive retro collegiate collection, out now, that pays homage to each squad’s threads. Shop here.

There’s a reason why we called him the “greatest show in hoops” back then. Long before the lore of Ice Trae sent shivers down the backs of everyone in Madison Square Garden during the playoffs, Trae Young was silencing the doubters in the Lloyd Noble Center, too. 

The 2017-18 Oklahoma Sooners didn’t just have a star freshman, they had a rebel. He simply couldn’t be held to the limits of the three-point line, or held back by the opinions of others about his size or potential. As we wrote in our SLAM 214 cover story of him, “not only has he completely rearranged mock draft orders and the itineraries of NBA scouts, he’s also rearranged the media coverage of college basketball—this publication included.” 

Young’s destiny in Norman, the same city where he grew up and went to high school, was written long before he rocked crimson and cream. He was the ball boy for the men’s team back in ‘06, and the Young family lived less than 15 minutes from the campus.

“With me having the opportunity to play for a [future] Hall of Fame coach and play in my backyard and represent my city and state—it was something that I wanted to do and to take a different route was something that I took as a challenge,” Young told us in 2018. 

He was set to join a team that had an 11-20 record the year prior in 2016-17, and his arrival meant helping carry the team that was full of talent and had some experience, junior Christian James was the team’s second-leading scorer with 11.9 points, the Sooners would catch the attention of the world. As Trae hit mid range floaters and shots from the logo, his teammates held their own alongside him. Between November and January, the Sooners even posted a ten-game winning streak. 

Despite a season full of ups and downs, the 2017-18 Sooners ended their season with defeats by Oklahoma State and Rhode Island, but ultimately, the show they put on that year was bigger than the final box score. And as for Young, well, it was only the beginning…

Photos via Getty Images.

The post The 30 Most Influential NCAA MBB Teams of SLAM’s 30 Years: 2018 Oklahoma   appeared first on SLAM.

Angel Reese, the Bayou Barbie, began her career at the University of Maryland before transferring to LSU for her junior year. That season, she averaged a double-double of 23 points and 15 rebounds while becoming a standout on and off the court—from her social media presence to gracing the cover of SLAM 243 alongside teammate and star Flau’jae Johnson.

“I just wanted to figure out who Angel Reese really is,” Reese told us back in 2023, prior to winning the NCAA championship. “Coming to LSU, I feel like I figured out who I am. I’m able to be myself here. It’s just something I really love.”

The 2023-24 SEC Player of the Year explained her decision to Vogue’s Leah Faye Cooper, which she shared just a week before the start of the NCAA Tournament. “I want to start at the bottom again,” she said on her playing in the WNBA. “I want to be a rookie again and build myself back up; I want to be knocked down and learn and grow at the next level.”

The post The Bayou Barbie is Headed to the W: Angel Reese Declares for the 2024 WNBA Draft appeared first on SLAM.

For the next 30 days—Monday through Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full list here. We’ve also got an exclusive retro collegiate collection, out now, that pays homage to each squad’s threads. Shop here.

The Villanova Wildcats entered the 2017-18 season as that team. They’d just won the National Championship the season prior in historic fashion when then-senior forward Kris Jenkins hit a buzzer-beater shot against UNC that left the entire college basketball world shook. It was, and still is, one of the greatest moments in the history of college hoops. It set the precedence for what would come next. 

So, how exactly did Jay Wright’s squad run it back? One of the brilliant minds in the game knew exactly how to coach a hungry, fundamentally-sound squad that included Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Donte DiVincenzo, Eric Paschall and Phil Booth. Brunson is the type of player that, since childhood, has credited his success to his work ethic, and while at ‘Nova, he’d put together a list of goals, individual and team-oriented, that he wanted to accomplish and tape it in his dorm room. That included:

Graduating in the summer of 2018. 

Making the All-American, Big East and Big Five Academic teams. 

2018 First-Team All American, All-Big East, All-Big Five.

Conference regular season and tournament champions. 

Winning an NCAA National Championship.

While there’s many, many factors to a team’s success, Brunson’s mental approach to the game, instilled in him by his father, Rick, and then backed by Wright, set the precedent for what he and his squad would achieve. Manifestation is real, and so were the Wildcats: with Brunson’s court vision, Bridges’ defensive prowess, and DiVincenzo’s scoring outbursts, ‘Nova waltzed through the regular season, finishing 14–4 in Big East play.

“I was a version of myself, I guess I technically didn’t know I had,” Brunson told SLAM in 2022 while reflecting on the 2018 season. “I always knew I was good, playing the post, but we really used it as a weapon.” 

All the while, the No. 1 seed in the East region dominated their way to the NCAA tourney, including wins against Radford, Alabama, West Virginia, and Texas Tech. After defeating Kansas in the Final Four, the Wildcats were composed against Michigan in the Championship: they knocked down clutch shots from deep, connected on dimes from Brunson, and took control of the tempo. The final score: 79-62. 

National Champions, check. 

Photos via Getty Images.

The post The 30 Most Influential NCAA MBB Teams of SLAM’s 30 Years: 2018 Villanova appeared first on SLAM.

For the next 30 days—Monday through Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full list here. We’ve also got an exclusive retro collegiate collection, out now, that pays homage to each squad’s threads. Shop here.

Despite being a youthful roster filled with talented stars, the 2017 Wildcats would be questioned at every corner. De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, Bam Adebayo, and Derek Willis. Those are only a few names that glued this team together and allowed them to go on the crazy run they accomplished during this season. 

Fox was the facilitator and a pestering defender who averaged 17 points per game and lived up to his social media handle, swipathefox. Meanwhile, Monk brought intensity and determination from start to finish of every game and Bam left opponents shook in the paint. Collectively this group set the tone at the start of every game. From a drop off to Bam in the paint, pass and shot by Monk, or a pass and crazy move from Fox, this Kentucky team would run you up and down a court like no other. And because they were so young, they never got tired, or at least never showed it. There was always some fight and scoring left in them at every game. Running teams out the gym, the Wildcats had over 15 games where they beat their opponents by at least 10 points in the regular season. They were ultimately a scoring madhouse. 

Led by the only John Calipari, their athleticism, drive, and determination brought them all the way to postseason: first, winning the SEC championship and then the NCAA tournament, where they swept past opponents like Northern Kentucky, Wichita State and UCLA—a game in which Fox dropped 39 points in a matchup against the Bruins’ star, Lonzo Ball. 

The Elite Eight showdown against UNC was, well, elite. The pressure was on, especially for Fox and his Wildcats, who eventually lost to the Tar Heels. An emotional Fox later revealed to us that summer: “Just knowing that was my only opportunity to win a National Championship—competitiveness spilled over,” Fox told SLAM. “Just knowing that we were up 5 with like two to three minutes left, knowing that we could have won that game is what really [hurt]. Just losing that game the way we did. It was tough losing like that. It’s not the same when you have another chance to win it. That was the part that hurt the most.”

Despite the season that could’ve been, the 2017 Wildcats helped cement Kentucky’s legacy as one of the most dominant and competitive programs. Fox, Bam and Monk are all hoopin’ in the L today, and never hesitate to support BBN whenever they get the chance, either. That’s just what happens when you rock Kentucky blue…

Photos via Getty Images.

The post The 30 Most Influential NCAA MBB Teams of SLAM’s 30 Years: 2017 Kentucky  appeared first on SLAM.

For the next 30 days—Monday through Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full list here. We’ve also got an exclusive retro collegiate collection, out now, that pays homage to each squad’s threads. Shop here.

Think about the NBA All Star Dunk contest, imagine witnessing that for a full season. Simply known as “Dunk City”, the 2013 Florida Gulf Coast Eagles literally soared and brought college basketball to new heights with their circus-like dunks each game.  

A true story of the underdog that couldn’t be stopped, the Eagles shocked the world after beating two teams that no one ever imagined they could beat. Their tournament debut was nothing short of spectacular. In an upset for the ages, the No. 15 Eagles stunned the basketball world by toppling the No. 2 Georgetown 78–68. The Dunk City magic didn’t stop there; with a convincing second-round win over No. 7 San Diego State, they became the first No. 15 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.

Throughout the season, the energy of this team was unmatched. There was no structure really, it was just go out, do you, and play, but play like a team. With a lot of iso and drop offs in the paint the eagles ‘13 team was not easy to keep up with. 

At the root of it all was walk-on, yeah I said it walk-on, who turned into a super freak athlete, Sherwood Brown. Who was named the A-Sun Player of the Year and continued to prove he was that guy in March Madness. Alongside Brown, a cast of electrifying players, like Bernard Thompson and Chase Fieler each contributing their unique skills, turned Dunk City into a show that was full of highlight reels. 

Beyond the wins and losses, Dunk City became a phenomenon. A nickname born out of their circus-like lobs and “highlight finishes”, “Dunk City” changed the name of Florida Gulf Coast Eagles men’s basketball.

Although the Eagles faced Florida, ending their magical run with a 62–50 loss. The season concluded with a 26–11 record, leaving an indelible mark on the history of FGCU basketball.

The “Dunk City” nickname will forever be something that fans can be reminded of. A time where undergods soared.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post The 30 Most Influential NCAA MBB Teams of SLAM’s 30 Years: 2013 Florida Gulf Coast  appeared first on SLAM.

For the next 30 days—Monday through Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full list here. We’ve also got an exclusive retro collegiate collection, out now, that pays homage to each squad’s threads. Shop here.

Word to SLAM 117. Michael Beasley was the freshest of them all in ‘08 when he was suiting up for Kansas State. At the time, “Be Easy” was ranked No. 1 in rebounds and described by former SLAM “scribe” Bonsu Thompson as having “sticky fingers, small forward hops, Chris Brown body control plus gluttonous appetite for food off the glass…” (you can read the original cover story in the SLAM Digital Archive, fyi). Beasley didn’t hold back when describing his own game, either: “Once I step on the floor, I’m superhuman. I feel unstoppable.” 

And he was. Averaging a double-double of 26.2 points and 12.4 rebounds, Beasley was hungry for a Big 12 championship, and a natty. He was ultra-competitive against, well anyone, too, telling us in his own words, “…as soon as somebody get to runnin’ they mouth, that’s when I turn it up.” On a team led by first-year head coach Frank Martin, the Wildcats were young— ranked second and third in scoring were freshman forward Bill “Henry” Walker and guard Jacob Pullen—and restless to win. In the season-opener, they beat Sacramento State by almost a 30-piece and, by January, went on a six-game winning streak. The potential was all there: Beasley’s scoring prowess, coupled with the team’s tenacious defense and unselfish ball movement, became the hallmark of their approach.

In fact, Beasley felt like the only thing he needed to really improve upon was “making it look so easy”—a testament to his confidence and the star role he embraced. While his postseason ambitions didn’t come into fruition—the Wildcats eventually lost in the second round to Wisconsin—he did take home individual accolades including a consensus first-team All-American selection, USBWA National FOY, the Pete Newell Big Man Award, Big 12 Player of the Year, the list goes on. He went on to take his talent to the League and was selected No. 2 in the same ‘08 NBA Draft that his teammate, Walker, was drafted in in the second-round.

That ‘08 season would be remembered not just for the wins and losses but for the electrifying moments and the promise it held for the continued success of the program. It was just the beginning…

Photos via Getty Images.

The post The 30 Most Influential NCAA MBB Teams of SLAM’s 30 Years: ‘08 Kansas State   appeared first on SLAM.

Let’s take it back to ‘08. The Memphis Tigers, led by then-head coach John Calipari, had lost in the South Regional Final the season prior, but going into the ‘07-08 season, all eyes were on them to see what they would do next. 

Of course, the arrival of a 6-3, top-ranked standout from Chicago who had caught the attention of the nation during his time at Simeon Career Academy, gave the hype surrounding the Tigers an extra boost. Boost might be an understatement. We’re talking about the Rose who would eventually become one of the youngest, ever, to win the NBA’s MVP award. Not a what-if story, or what-was, but what remains: he’s one of the most aero-dynamic players of all time and has set the standard for what the word even means. 

Even back then, and with far less tattoos, Derrick Rose was bouncier than ever when he suited up for the Tigers and averaged 15 points and 4 assists per game. His court vision and ability to orchestrate plays elevated the Tigers to unprecedented heights as they embarked on a 26-game winning streak to start the season, earning them a No. 1 ranking for the first time in 25 years. While Calipari, who is one of the greatest college coaches ever, led the helm, Rose and veteran leaders like Joey Dorsey and Chris Douglas-Roberts helped guide the Tigers all the way to the NCAA tournament. 

They defeated No. 16-seeded Texas–Arlington and 8-seed Mississippi State, triumphed over No. 5 seed Michigan State and, in a dramatic regional final, outclassed a No. 2-seeded Texas team and No. 1 seed UCLA to make it all the way to the National Championship game against Kansas. Rose, ever-so composed for someone who had yet to play on the big stage, held his own for an entire 45 minutes of the overtime matchup. He dished out dimes effortlessly, commanded the offense like a true floor general and went at it against two, sometimes three defenders as he made his way to the basket. 

Despite the loss, that game was just a glimpse into the future. The Tigers sent three players to the League that June: in the ‘08 NBA Draft, Rose was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the No. 1 pick, while Douglas-Roberts and Anderson both were drafted in the second round; a testament to Calipari’s legacy in molding the game’s brightest stars. That ‘07-08 season is also tied for the most wins (38) in a single season in NCAA history, a feat only Calipari holds. He’d do it again during his tenure at Kentucky, but the record books will tell you that the ‘07-08 Memphis Team did it first. 

Photos via Getty Images.

The post The 30 Most Influential NCAA MBB Teams of SLAM’s 30 Years: ‘08 Memphis appeared first on SLAM.