2026 Hall of Fame inductee Candace Parker became the first woman to dunk in an NCAA tournament game in 2006.
Parker achieved the milestone during Tennessee’s first-round tournament game against Army on March 19, 2006. She also became the first woman to dunk twice in an NCAA tournament game, making the moment especially memorable.
Parker played for the Tennessee Lady Vols under coach Pat Summitt. She later led Tennessee to consecutive NCAA championships in 2007 and 2008 and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player both times.
Her NCAA tournament dunk is sometimes confused with her later professional achievement: Parker became the second player to dunk in a WNBA game in 2008. She also won WNBA Rookie of the Year and MVP in 2008, but that is a separate milestone.