American basketball player Candace Parker
Credit: © SPP Sport Press Photo/Alamy Images

March is Women’s History Month, an annual observance of women’s achievements and contributions to society. This month, Behind the Headlines will feature woman pioneers in a variety of areas.

Candace Parker is an outstanding American women’s basketball player. Parker, a forward, is tall for a female player at 6 feet 4 inches (193 centimeters). She became the first woman to dunk in a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball game and then the first to dunk twice in a single NCAA game. Parker is known for her ability to control the game through offense, often leading in points and rebounds.

Candace Nicole Parker was born on April 19, 1986, in St. Louis, Missouri. Her family later moved to Naperville, Illinois. She was a star player at Naperville Central High School, leading her team to state championships in 2003 and 2004. Parker committed to play at the University of Tennessee in 2004. She played for Team USA on the U18 (under age 18) team that won the gold medal at the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Americas Championship. In 2006, Parker joined the Women’s Senior National Team. The next year, she led the team to win the FIBA Americas Championship, qualifying it for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Parker redshirted her first season at the University of Tennessee due to a knee injury. A so-called redshirt player limits their participation in a sport to avoid losing a year of eligibility. Parker helped lead the University of Tennessee to women’s NCAA basketball championships in 2007 and 2008. In both seasons, she led the team in points and rebounds and was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament’s Final Four phase.

The Los Angeles Sparks of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) made Parker the first player selected in the 2008 WNBA draft. She became the first player to be named the WNBA’s MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same year, for the 2008 season. Parker was named MVP again in 2013. The Los Angeles Sparks defeated the Minnesota Lynx to claim the 2016 WNBA title. Parker scored 28 points and grabbed (caught) 12 rebounds in the final game. She was named the Finals MVP for the tournament. In 2021, Parker signed a two-year contract with the WNBA’s Chicago Sky. That season, she led the team to win the WNBA title against the Phoenix Mercury. In 2023, Parker signed a contract to play for the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces.

Parker has also played in professional leagues in China and Russia, winning numerous league titles and individual awards. She played on United States teams that won gold medals in international competitions, including the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

American basketball player A’ja Wilson
Credit: © Thurman James, CSM/Alamy Images

On Sunday, September 18, the Las Vegas Aces defeated the Connecticut Sun, 78-71, to clinch the best-of-five Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Finals, three games to one. The Las Vegas took home their first championship in team history. Aces guard Chelsea Gray, who had 20 points and 6 assists in Game 4, was named the series MVP. Gray celebrated with league MVP A’ja Wilson and their teammates on the Sun home court at Mohegan Sun Arena, on the Mohegan Reservation in Uncasville, Connecticut. The Connecticut Sun remained without a title in four trips to the Finals.

First-year Aces Coach Becky Hammon, helped the Aces meld their exceptional individual talents into a strong championship unit. Hammon had been an assistant coach with the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs and a seven-time All-Star in a 16 year WNBA career.

The basketball teams met for Game 4 before a large Sun home crowd. The score was close throughout, but the steady Aces extended their two-point halftime lead into a final margin of seven. In addition to Gray’s heroics, Wilson played all 40 minutes of the game, totaling 11 points and 14 rebounds. The Sun’s Alyssa Thomas also played 40 minutes, recording a second straight triple-double in the loss. Aces Kelsey Plum scored 15, and guard Riquna Williams added 18 points to help the Aces win their first title. The Aces’ party continued on September 20, when the team held a rally with their fans on the Las Vegas Strip.

American women’s basketball star Breanna Stewart
Credit: © Zach Bolinger, Icon Sportswire/AP Photo

The Aces’ Wilson won her second MVP award. She also led the WNBA in blocked shots and was named Defensive Player of the Year. The All-WNBA Team included Wilson, her teammate Plum, the Seattle Storm’s Breanna Stewart, the Chicago Sky’s Candace Parker, and Skylar Diggins-Smith of the Phoenix Mercury. The Aces’ Hammon was named Coach of the Year.

Lauren Jackson shoots a free throw during the Seattle Storm 66-53 victory over the San Antonio Silverstars at Key Arena.
Credit: © Andrew Fredrickson, Southcreek Global/ZUMA Press/Alamy Images

Australia is famous for its unique culture, metropolitan cities, and unusual wildlife, among other things. Each week, this seasonal feature will spotlight one of Australia’s many wonders.

Australian basketball legend Lauren Jackson was named to the 2020 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Jackson is one of the greatest players in the history of women’s basketball. Jackson has been an Olympian and WNBA champion. She was inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019 and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020.

Jackson played both the center and forward positions. She stands 6 feet 5 inches (195 centimeters) tall. Jackson won many Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards in both Australia’s Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) and the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) of the United States. She led three professional teams to a number of titles and helped Australia win a world championship.

Lauren Elizabeth Jackson was born on May 11, 1981, in Albury, New South Wales. Her mother, Maree, was a superstar player for the Australian national women’s basketball team, and her father, Gary, was a skilled role player on the men’s national squad. At the age of 15, Lauren won a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). She helped lead the 1998-1999 AIS team to the WNBL title. She led the WNBL’s Canberra Capitals to the championship the following season.

In 2001, the Seattle Storm made Jackson the first pick in the WNBA draft. She played 12 seasons for the Storm, winning MVP awards in 2003, 2007, and 2010. She also won the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2007. The Storm won league titles in 2004 and 2010. Jackson returned to the WNBL for several seasons, leading the Capitals to additional titles at the conclusion of the 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2005-2006, and 2009-2010 seasons. She won MVP awards in 1999, 2000, 2003, and 2004. In four appearances at the Olympic Games, starting in 2000, she led the Australian women’s team to three silver medals and one bronze medal. Jackson won a World Championship in 2006 with the Australian national team and won EuroLeague championships with the Russian squad Spartak Moscow Region in 2008 and 2009 and with the Spanish team Ros Casares Valencia in 2012. She also played seasons in China and Korea. Jackson played her last WNBA game in 2012 and retired from professional basketball in 2016.

A memoir, My Story: A Life in Basketball and Beyond, was published in 2018. In 2019, she was selected as the head of women in basketball for Basketball Australia, the country’s governing body for the sport.

Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm reaches for the ball during Game Three of the WNBA Finals against the Las Vegas Aces on Oct. 6, 2020, at Feld Entertainment Center in Palmetto, Florida.
Credit: © Stephen Gosling, NBAE/Getty Images

On Tuesday, October 6, the Seattle Storm defeated the Las Vegas Aces 92-59 to win the 2020 Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Championship in a three-game sweep. Seattle’s win was the largest margin of victory in finals history. It is Seattle’s second title in three seasons. With the win, Seattle tied the Houston Comets and Minnesota Lynx for the league’s most championship wins.

The celebration looked different than in years past. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic (global outbreak of disease), teams have been in a bubble—nicknamed the “Wubble,” for the WNBA bubble—at IMG Academy sports training complex in Bradenton, Florida, since July. The victors could not celebrate with friends, family, or fans, but they certainly will when they return to Seattle. Before that, however, the players settled for a celebration of making confetti angels on the court.

The legends Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart play for the Seattle Storm. Since Bird joined the team in 2000, she has been part of all four Storm titles. In addition to 2020, the Storm won in 2004, 2010, and 2018. Stewart joined the Storm in 2016, earning Rookie of the Year that same year. She was named the WNBA Most Valuable Player for the 2018 season. Both Bird and Stewart missed the 2019 WNBA season while recovering from injury.

Other key Storm players include Jordin Canada, Alysha Clark, Natasha Howard, and Jewell Lloyd. Alysha Clark, in particular, spoke about the league’s mission to bring attention to Breonna Taylor, as well as Black women and girls in general. In March, Taylor, a Black woman, was shot and killed by police officers executing a botched search. WNBA players put Taylor’s name on the back of their jerseys and raised awareness about social justice issues. After the win, Clark said, “It’s a championship for little Black girls and Black women across the country, honestly. I said it after the game, when I was letting it all soak in: ‘I hope each and every one of them feels just as victorious in this moment as I do, because you should. We see you, we hear you. We acknowledge you, and your life matters.’”

October 14, 2019

On Thursday, October 10, the Washington (D.C.) Mystics defeated the Connecticut Sun 89-78 to win the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) finals presented by YouTube TV. The Mystics won their first title by taking down the Sun three games to two in the best-of-five series. The Mystics made the 2018 finals, but were swept by the Seattle Storm. The Sun were also trying for their first WNBA championship. A capacity crowd of 4,200 fans packed the Entertainment and Sports Arena on the St. Elizabeths East Campus in Washington, D.C., for the deciding game five.

Emma Meesseman of the Washington Mystics shoots over a Connecticut Sun defender in game five of the WNBA finals on Oct. 10, 2019, in Washington, DC. Credit: © Rob Carr, Getty Images

The Mystics had the WNBA’s best record during the regular season (26-8), and the Sun had the second-best record (23-11). In the WNBA, the eight best teams make the playoffs and are seeded according to record, regardless of conference. This system allowed the Mystics and Sun—two Eastern Conference teams—to be seeded no. 1 and no. 2 and eventually meet in the WNBA finals. The Mystics and Sun also received automatic bids to the semifinals as the six lower-seeded teams duked it out in two playoff rounds. The no. 4 seed Las Vegas Aces emerged in one semifinal, which they lost three games to one to Washington. The no. 3 seed Los Angeles Sparks survived the other bracket, but were swept by Connecticut in that semifinal.

In the finals opener on September 29 in D.C., the Mystics jumped out early and held off the Sun for a 95-86 victory. The 2019 WNBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Elena Delle Donne powered the Mystics with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists. Washington forward Ariel Atkins scored 21 points and guard Kristi Toliver added 18. Connecticut guard Courtney Williams sank six three-pointers and led the Sun with 26 points.

In game two in D.C. on October 1, the visiting Suns stole a tough road victory, 99-87. Back spasms sidelined Washington power forward Delle Donne in the first quarter, clearing the way for the Suns to dominate inside. Connecticut center Jonquel Jones scored 32 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, and Sun forward Alyssa Thomas added 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists. Courtney Williams enjoyed another fine performance with 22 points and 6 assists. Washington forward Emma Meesseman filled in more than ably for Delle Donne, scoring 23 points and pulling down 8 rebounds.

The series moved to Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, for game three on October 6. The road Mystics spoiled the Sun homecoming, however, with an impressive 94-81 win. Meesseman came off the bench again to lead a balanced Washington attack with 21 points. Mystics guards Toliver (20 points) and Natasha Cloud (19 points) had strong games, and a hobbled Della Donne added 13 points.

In game four in Connecticut on October 8, the Sun evened the series at 2-2 with a 90-86 victory. Sun center Jones again was a force inside, scoring 18 points with 13 rebounds. Sun forward Thomas had 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 11 assists. Mystics forward Aerial Powers came off the bench to lead the team with 15 points, while four other Mystics scored in double figures—including Meesseman, who had earned a new nickname: “Playoff Emma.”

October 6, 2017

On Wednesday, October 4, the Minnesota Lynx defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 85-76 to win the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Finals at Williams Arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Lynx won their fourth WNBA title by taking down the Sparks three games to two in the best-of-five series. The Sparks, a powerhouse team in their own right, have three WBNA titles, the last of which came in 2016.

Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles, seen here at the free throw line against the Altanta Dream on July 28, 2017, was named the WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player. Credit: © Jamie Lamor Thompson, Shutterstock

The Lynx had the best record during the 2017 WNBA regular season (27-7), and the Sparks finished one game behind (26-8). The Lynx rolled through the Washington Mystics in their best-of-three playoff round, and the Sparks swept the Phoenix Mercury. The WNBA’s best then faced off in a classic championship series.

The Sparks nicked the Lynx in the series opener in Minneapolis, 85-84. LA swing forward Candace Parker dealt with foul trouble but finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Minnesota center Sylvia Fowles had 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Parker and Fowles are two of the best players in WNBA history. Fowles was the regular season’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), while Parker won league MVP honors in 2008 and 2013. Old rivals from the Southeastern Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), they were taken number one (Parker from the University of Tennessee) and number two (Fowles from Louisiana State University) in the 2008 WNBA draft.

The Lynx won a hard-fought game two at home 70-68, with Fowles setting a WNBA Finals record with 17 rebounds (she also added 13 points). Parker led LA with 17 points. Game three at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, went to the hometown Sparks, 75-64. LA forward Nneka Ogwumike (the 2016 WNBA MVP) and guard Odyssey Sims led the Sparks with 16 points each (Parker added 13). Minnesota small forward Maya Moore (league MVP in 2014) paced Minnesota with 16 points. Fowles had 15 points and 11 rebounds. The road Lynx roared back in game four, topping LA 80-69 to force game five at “the Barn” (Williams Arena) in Minnesota. Fowles led all players with 22 points and 14 rebounds.

In the deciding game five, the Lynx led by just three points in the final minute, but they held on for an 85-76 championship-clinching victory. Fowles again dominated, scoring 17 points and increasing her Finals rebound record to 20, while Moore had a Lynx-high 18 points and guard Lyndsay Whalen knocked down 17. For the Sparks, Parker’s valiant 19-point and 15-rebound performance was not enough to carry her team over talent-heavy Minnesota. Fowles was named the WNBA Finals MVP.

The WNBA is an American professional basketball league for women. The league was founded in 1996, and league teams began playing in 1997. The WNBA regular season runs approximately from May to September, followed by the postseason playoffs to determine the league champion.

April 15, 2016

Breanna Stewart (left), Moriah Jefferson (center), and Morgan Tuck pose with the WNBA jerseys they will be wearing when the season starts next month. The University of Connecticut teammates were the top three picks in the 2016 WNBA draft.
Credit: © 2016 NBAE (Photo by Steven Freeman, NBAE/Getty Images)

Last night, April 14, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft was held—fittingly—in Connecticut. The Seattle Storm surprised no one with the top overall pick: University of Connecticut (UConn) superstar Breanna Stewart. In her four years at UConn, Stewart redefined greatness in women’s college basketball. First, she led her team to four consecutive NCAA national titles. Second, she earned the NCAA tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award all four of those years. Third, as the top women’s player overall, Stewart was named Naismith College Player of the Year the past three years. So no, it was no surprise that “Bre” went number one. The Seattle Storm are no doubt counting their lucky stars to have her.

But then came the next two picks, chosen by the San Antonio Stars and the Connecticut (that state again!) Sun: UConn guard Moriah Jefferson and UConn forward Morgan Tuck. Yes, UConn again and again. For the first time, a single school produced the top three basketball picks in the same draft. It is fitting that a team with four-straight NCAA championships and a 75-game winning streak should have its top players go 1-2-3 in the draft. No doubt the college basketball world beyond UConn is happy to see them go. But UConn, as always, surely has terrific players waiting to take their places. Now that Stewart, Jefferson, and Tuck will be professionals on different teams at opposite ends of the country, they’ll have to get used to playing against each other. Will the camaraderie endure?

The fourth player chosen in the draft, by the way, was University of Minnesota guard Rachel Banham, and the rest of the first round was dispersed evenly to colleges around the United States. Sorry, UConn, you can’t have them all… Twice before in the WNBA draft, players from the same school were selected one and two. In the inaugural 1997 draft, USC’s Tina Thompson and Pamela McGee were the top picks. In 2002, the top two selections were Sue Bird and Swin Cash from—where else?—UConn.